EVANGELINE PARISH 4-H LIVESTOCK NEWSLETTER NOVEMBER 2010 PARISH, DISTRICT & STATE LIVESTOCK SHOW ENTRY DEADLINE BEEF, DAIRY, SHEEP, AND GOATS: NOVEMBER 23, 2010 SWINE ENTRIES: DECEMBER 9, 2010 A $10.00 entry fee for Evangeline Parish Livestock Show will be charged for each breeding and market animal and this MUST be turned in with entries. Check payable to: EVANGELINE 4-H FOUNDATION LIVESTOCK AND PLEASE NO CASH CALENDAR OF EVENTS November 23, 2010---Beef, Dairy, Sheep & Goat Entries Due December 1, 2010-----Deadline for Southwest District Camper Space December 9, 2010----Pickup Parish Broilers 4-H Office December 2, 2010-----Market Swine validation December 9, 2010----Swine Entries Due December 18, 2010 Showmanship Clinic Chauncey Pitre Show Barn January 5, 2011-------Parish Broiler Entry Deadline January 6, 2011---Livestock Sale Committee Meeting January 6, 2011----State Broilers Pickup Parish Office January 7, 2011 LSU State Broiler entry deadline January 15, 2011---Livestock Work Day January 20-22, 2011----Evangeline Parish Livestock Show & Sale February 1-5, 2011---Southwest District Livestock Show February 12-19, 2011---LSU State Livestock Show Lamar Dixon Gonzales, LA The LSU AgCenter prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disabilities, political beliefs, sexual orientation, martial or family status. Persons with disabilities, who require alternative means for communication of program information or other assistance, should contact the Evangeline Parish Office of the LSU AgCenter at (337-363-5646). NEW REQUIREMENT FOR 2011 Exhibitors will be required to complete the online Quality Assurance and Ethics Certification; we have just added a new link for the certification tutorial on the www.lsuagcenter.com main page. The link is located under the features title. There is also a link on the Livestock Show Office webpage. Each exhibitor will have to complete the general section and the specie section(s) for animals they are showing. Exhibitors will be required to attach a copy of their signed affidavit and certification to their entry form at time of entry. If anyone does not have internet access or needs assistance please contact me as soon as possible. VALIDATION PROCEDURE The validation of Beef Commercial Heifers, Market Lambs, Commercial Ewes, Market Goats, Commercial Does and Market Swine for the 2011 LSU AgCenter State Livestock Show will be conducted at the parish level. All animals will be tagged and DNA samples collected. Animals validated for the 2010 The State Fair of Louisiana that intends to be exhibited at the 2011 LSU State Show (PARISH, DISTRICT AND STATE) are required to attend this validation. Registered (papered) breeding animals DO NOT have to be validated. Evangeline Parish validation will be conducted at the Chauncey Pitre Memorial Barn on the following dates: Commercial heifer, market lambs, Commercial ewes, market goats and commercial does: November 4, 2010 2:30P.M. 6:30 P.M. Market Swine: December 2, 2010-4:30 6:30 P.M.
EXHIBITOR/PARENT RESPONSIBILTY The Evangeline Parish Livestock Show will follow the LSU Spring Livestock Show rules unless otherwise stated in the Evangeline Parish Junior Livestock Show Rules. It is the responsibility of the exhibitor and/or parent to understand and follow the LSU Livestock Show rules, the Southwest District Livestock Show rules and the Evangeline Parish Livestock Show rules. If there are questions on the understanding of rules, call the 4-H Office and I will be glad to assist you. If you are new to the livestock program, I would be glad to meet with you to review rules and guidelines. The LSU Livestock Show Catalog can be obtained on the LSU AgCenter web site at http://www.lsuagcenter.com/en/our_offies/departme nts/livstock_show_office/state_livestock_show/. If you do not have access to the internet and would like a copy call the 4-H office and we will assist you in obtaining a copy. SOUTHWEST DISTRICT LIVESTOCK REMINDERS Camper Spaces Camper space will be available this year. A drawing will be conducted from the entry forms received. The entry form along with a $200.00 check or money order must be received by the Southwest District Livestock Show Office, 7101 Gulf Highway, Lake Charles, LA 70607 by December 1, 2010. (Please see the enclosed letter and entry form for more info.) Entry Fee The exhibitor/parent will make payment when picking up entry cards for market animals. Exhibitors/parents will be responsible to check in breeding animals. Payment will be made at that time. Check schedule for date and time. Weigh Procedure Market animals will continue weigh your own animal at the district show. Each exhibitor of market animals will weigh their own animal. There will be a weigh back of the top 4 animals in each class and their will be a minimum weight that the animals must meet. The exhibitor is responsible for entering and turning in weight cards on their animals. JUNIOR LIVESTOCK SHOW ENTRY PROCEDURE The Junior Livestock Show entry will enter animals for the parish, district, and state livestock shows. The guidelines and instructions for completing the junior livestock show entry form are attached with the entry. Please take the time to read the first page of the entry. Please complete all information that applies to your 4-H project. A signature is required by exhibitor and parent. If you show breeding animals, a copy of the registration paper for each animal must be attached. If there is a delay in exhibitor receiving registration by entry deadline, submit entry by the deadline with all information you can provide and a copy of the registration can be attached at a later date. If you show market animals or commercial heifers, does or ewes, enter the LSU tag and La. Bred tag number. Evangeline bred commercial heifer must have the completed affidavit submitted with entry to participate in the Evangeline Bred Show. This affidavit is simply used to track Evangeline bred commercial heifers. The parish and district showmanship entry must be attached with the entry if you are planning to participate in showmanship on the parish and/or district level. SHOWMANSHIP CLINIC A showmanship clinic is scheduled on December 18 th at the Chauncey Pitre Show Barn. The clinic will focus on showmanship techniques for all species at the following times: Beef and Dairy 8:30 AM 10:30 AM Swine 10:45AM 12:00 Lamb and Goat 1:00PM 3:00 PM Broilers 3:15PM 4:15 PM MARKET ANIMAL SALE PROCEDURE We have a very good market animal sale during the Parish Livestock Show. The success of this program is attributed to the involvement of the 4-H Club members, parents, and leaders. The future of this sale is based on buyer SATISFACTION. We should do everything possible to please the buyers. Let s remember these buyers are doing this as a service and they do not need to do this. They are going out of there way to assist YOU (4-H ers). I have listed steps which will assist 4-H members and parents with the animal sale procedure. Please follow these guidelines: 1) One parent should attend the sale committee meetings in January. A letter will be mailed out at a later date. 2) Exhibitors should give a personal THANK YOU to buyer s right after the sale. If you do not know who bought your animal, ask the parents giving buyers caps. Parents, please get exhibitors to THANK buyers the day of the sale. This does mean a lot to the buyers.
3) Exhibitor should give caps to buyers during the sale. 4) You will receive a letter with information about the buyer and slaughter house location right after the district show. 5) Market animals are NOT TO BE BROUGHT TO SLAUGHER HOUSE UNTIL ONE WEEK AFTER LAST SHOW DATE. You will need to feed animal(s) one week after the show to insure a wholesome product. 6) Take animal off medicated feed. Read feed tag for withdrawal period. You need to follow withdrawal period on all antibiotics. 7) CALL BUYER and slaughter house prior to bringing animal(s). 8) Exhibitor is to pay slaughter cost ONLY. 9) Deliver meat to buyer if possible. 10) A THANK YOU letter or card is to be written for each buyer. The original is to be sent to the 4-H office with a stamped envelope. We will mail them at the 4-H Office. AN EXHIBITOR WILL NOT RECEIVE HIS/HER CHECK UNTIL WE GET THE THANK YOU LETTER(S). 11) An animal ran through Parish Sale MUST show at District to receive money from the sale. ALL GRADUATING SENIORS IN 4-H EXHIBITING LIVESTOCK The participation scholarships will be presented at the 2011 Southwest District Jr. Livestock Show. The enclosed form lists the three (3) main requirements: 1) graduating senior; 2) 3 years of District Livestock Show or Light Horse Show including this year; and 3) 2.0 grade point average. Fill out the enclosed scholarship form and return it to the address shown prior to January 14, 2011. Observe the schedule at the bottom of the form. Those who complete and turn in a scholarship form by the 14 th will have to attend a meeting in the Calcasieu AgCenter, near the Burton Coliseum on Wednesday, Febuary 2 nd at 5:00 PM. They will be asked to write a short essay regarding some phase of their participation in the District Show. The specific subject will be given at the meeting and essays will have to completed and handed in at that time. A committee will review these essays and select the top finalist. These finalists will then be interviewed on Saturday, February 5 th between 9:00 AM and 12:00 Noon.. Remember the deadline to return this form is Friday, January 14, 2011. Send it to the Lake Charles address on the form. LIVESTOCK SHOW FACILTY A work day at the Chauncey Pitre Memorial Barn is scheduled for Saturday, January 15, 2011, beginning at 8:00 A.M. This work day will be to clean, do repairs and set up the barn for the upcoming livestock show. ALL PARENTS OF EXHIBITORS ARE STRONGLY URGED TO ATTEND THIS WORK DAY TO HELP SET UP THE BARN FOR THE UPCOMING SHOW. Your cooperation and participation is greatly appreciated and will help to make the Parish Show run smooth. If you have any questions, please give me a call at 337-363-5646. CALF SCRAMBLE COMPETITION Information for the Calf Scramble is not currently complete. Anyone interested please contact the 4-H Office prior to Dec. 1 st and we will get material to you when it becomes available. HEALTH CARE SHOW ANIMALS HEALTH PAPERS!!!!!! A health care program is a very important part of the livestock show project and can play a significant role in the success of your program. The most expensive thing an exhibitor can do is harbor unhealthy animals. Unhealthy animals will lower feed efficiency which will reduce weight gains and increase feed cost. Unhealthy animals will have a poor appetite causing even lower weigh gains. Unhealthy animals will have a rough dry hair coat (sheep wool loss) which is a characteristic unsuitable in show animals. Unhealthy animals may have droopy ears, hold head down, and act sluggish which again are characteristics unbecoming of show animals. Disease prevention is much less expensive than treatment. Disease is simply defined as deviation (change or different) from the norm. So, what can we do to prevent diseases? DISEASE PREVENTION 1. Prevent exposure to disease producing organism. A. Practice good sanitation keep bedding, housing, feed pans, and water buckets clean from manure and any other foreign matter. B. Isolate new animals when possible, isolate new animals for 30 days to prevent exposure to diseases.
C. Eradiate diseases when possible eliminate and keep diseases from your livestock show program as much as possible. D. Maintain a good environment build a facility that will provide an environment to raise animals. There will be some differences between species, but an animal will need a covered shelter for adverse weather conditions. This shelter should provide comfortable living conditions for animals. E. Water animal at show Do not provide water to an animal from a bucket that another animal drank from. You need to provide animals water from your buckets/pans ONLY. 2. Keep resistance high in animals. A. Provide adequate nutrition feed fresh (free of mold) and highly digestible feed. Make sure the animal s nutritional requirements are met. B. Routine Vaccination Program listed below. Read the label because some vaccines differ on whether they require booster vaccinations and the time interval to administer. C. Selection of sound animals Always select animals for show purposes that have a healthy normal gait. Gait is defined as the way an animal walks or runs. Select an animal that does not have a limp and free of diseases. 3. Prevent the spread of diseases. A. Isolate sick animals when possible, sick animals should be isolated from other animals. B. Early diagnosis You need to know the signs of a sick animal and/or healthy animal. What is abnormal? C. Close observation of livestock project watch your animal(s) everyday to observe any abnormal behavior. D. External parasites you need to control horn flies, stable flies, horse flies, deer flies, and mosquitoes to prevent illness. A good treatment of pyrethrin will help control external parasites. Read label for application. E. Internal parasites the use of dewormers (anthelmintics) to control internal parasites can be very successful. Show animals should be treated for internal parasites every 21 to 31 days. It is best to use a deworming product as long as it will work and then rotate to another product. A continuous rotation of anthelmintics will allow the parasites to build-up resistances to the different drugs and you will not be able to control the parasite. Keep in mind there are many effective anthelmintics on the market use the product that is best for your operation. 4. Veterinarian It is very important that you develop a good working relationship with a local veterinarian. They will give assistances and guidance in maintaining healthy show animals. 5. Good records are helpful Record keeping is needed for a sound vaccination program. It will also assist in the diagnosis and treatment of illness. VACCINATION PROGRAM BEEF/DAIRY 1. Calves (3 to 6 months of age) A. Blackleg 7 or 8 way clostridial complex vaccine. 2. Calves (6 to 10 months of age) A. Brucellosis vaccination for heifers only. (Requires a veterinarian to administer vaccine). B. IBR, BVD, BRSV, PI3 - Caution: Do not use IBR modified live virus on nursing calves because it causes abortion in cattle. If wean calves at 6 months, us IBR & BVD of modified live virus. If wean calves after 6 months, use killed virus at 6 months and 10 months modified live. C. Leptospirosis 5 way vaccine D. Blackleg Booster E. Pasteurella (Optional) 3. Mature cows and bulls Spring A. IBR, BVR, BRSV, PI3 B. Lepospirosis C. Vibriosis 4. Mature Cows and Bulls Fall A. IBR, BVD, BRSV, PI3 B. Leptospirsis VACCINATION PROGRAM MARKET LAMBS 1. Overeating and Tetanus Lambs need two vaccination treatments. If you do know if the lamb was treated, give a first round and three weeks later give the second round. 2. Fungus If you have a problem with lamb fungus, it is recommended to spray barn with Clorox of a 10-20% solution. The barn/stall must be empty for this procedure. You cannot have lambs in barn/stall for 2-3 days after treatment. If a lamb has fungus, spray with topical solution. There are several on the market. The topical solution helps stop growth of the fungus. VACCINATION PROGRAM GOATS 1. Overeating and Tetanus Goats needs two vaccination treatments. If you do know if the lamb was treated, give a first round and three weeks later give the second round. 2. Fungus If you have a problem with lamb fungus, it is recommended to spray barn with Clorox of a 10-20% solution. The barn/stall must be empty for this procedure. You cannot have lambs in barn/stall for 2-3 days after treatment. If a lamb has fungus, spray with topical solution. There are several on the market. The topical solution helps stop growth of the fungus. 3. Foot rot Is a disease caused by bacteria which live in the foot. The goat will become lame due to foot rot. Keep goat feet trimmed and bedding dry to prevent. VACCINATION PROGRAM SWINE 1. In recent years, some show pig producers have either reduced or, in some cases, even eliminated vaccination programs. Lack of proper vaccinations will lead to an increase in inefficiency and disease. Baby show pigs go through many stresses, which can drastically affect immunity negatively and are continuously exposed to disease causing foreign bodies.
2. As exhibitor/parent, it becomes your responsibility to vaccinate. It is much better to address potential problems and not spending more money to treat illness. An illness may last days to weeks and all the while feed efficiency is reduced. 3. I am not recommending a certain company or brand. They are many excellent quality products on the market. You will need to use your best judgment to select the product that works optimal for your operation. As with all medications, whether it is dewormers, feed additives, vaccines or antibiotics, please observe withdrawal times. You can have an excellent vaccination and parasite control program, but your show animal can still get ill. You should be prepared with a plan of action for treatment if your show animals do become sick. It is critical that sick animals be treated as soon as possible after diagnosis of the disease. Remember, you should consult a local veterinarian for assistance with the health of your show animals. GOOD LUCK TO ALL EXHIBITORS FOR A SUCCESSFUL SHOW SEASON!! TODD FONTENOT ASSISTANT EXTENSION AGENT/4-H YOUTH DEVELOPMENT EVANGELINE PARISH tfontenot@agcenter.lsu.edu