Welcome to the 4-H Beef Project! Please read through this guide carefully, as it contains information and suggestions that are important for your project. Leaders can obtain a Leader Project Guide and other resources from the PEI 4-H Office. Hopefully you, as a member, will Learn to do by Doing through hands-on activities that will encourage learning and enjoyment. If you have any questions, contact your District 4-H Officer or your 4-H project leader. 4-H YEAR COMPLETION You complete a project by: completing the project Achievement Day requirements completing a communication project completing a community project completing an agriculture awareness project taking part in Achievement Day You must complete all of the listed aspects in order to show at Fairs and Exhibitions. BEEF ACHIEVEMENT DAY REQUIREMENTS Conformation 25 Showmanship 25 Judging 25 Fitting & Clipping Clinic 25 100 Marks AGE OF CALF YOU CAN SHOW Members 9-21 years of age must exhibit a minimum of one of the following: A heifer calf born January 1 - May 1 A bull calf born January 1 - May 1 A junior steer born January 1 - May 1 A senior steer born October 1 - December 1 A yearling heifer born January 1 - May 1 of the previous year Members must show all of their project animals at their Achievement Day in order to show in 4-H Classes at the Island Fairs and Exhibitions. If an animal is not shown at Achievement Day it cannot show in 4-H Classes at the Fairs and Exhibitions. May 2013 Showmanship Classes Ages for 4-H members as of January 1st of the 4-H year: Junior: 9-11 years Intermediate: 12-14 years Senior: 15-21 years Members may participate in more than one class, but can only have one calf in each class. Members must show their own project animals. Check out the PEI 4-H Web Site www.pei4h.pe.ca
HELPFUL RESOURCES! Internet Sites... www.cattle.ca www.breedersworld.com www.beefinfo.org www.cbef.com www.beefgradingagency.ca www.canadaid.com www.canadianbeefbreeds.com www.cmc-cvc.com A variety of books and videos are available at the PEI 4-H Office which can be borrowed for a two week loan period. To book these, call 368-4833 or drop by the PEI 4-H Office at 40 Enman Crescent, Charlottetown. FITTING AND CLIPPING CLINIC Also as part of your Beef Project, you are required to participate in a fitting and clipping clinic. Your leader will make the arrangements for a session in which you and other project members will learn how to prepare your own animals for showing. This will be worth 20 points towards your achievement day requirements. Things to Remember... DATE LOCATION OF CLINIC JUDGING As part of your Beef Project, you are required to judge a class of beef animals. Your leader will make the arrangements to have the class. In most competitions, four animals are needed; however, between you and your leader, you can decide upon 3 or 4 animals for the class. You will have between 10 and 15 minutes for placing the class, on a piece of paper you may want to put down some reasons for your placing. Once you have placed the class, give your oral reasons to the official judge (this may or may not be your leader). The judge will score you and give your score to your project leader. This will be worth 20 points towards your achievement day requirements. Attention Senior Members... In addition to judging a class of beef animals, senior members are also required to judge a class of dairy animals. All aspects of livestock judging should be important to 4-H members regardless of the livestock project in which they are enrolled. To assist in judging, talk to dairy 4-H members and farmers. The 4-H Livestock Judging Guide is available from the Provincial 4-H Office. Things to Remember... DATE LOCATION OF JUDGING When directed to change positions, do so by leading the animal forward and turning clockwise (to the right). Keep the animal between you and the judge. Come back through the hole, turning right again back into position or where directed to the new position.
BE A GOOD SPORT! In the spirit of learn to do by doing, all those involved in 4-H are encouraged to practice good sportsmanship, use common sense at all 4-H activities, and the work in any 4-H project should be the member s own work.
When you work with your beef animal to prepare it for the show ring there are certain items that will help make your animal look a little more attractive and make your job easier. Below are a list of items that may help you, but you do not necessarily need them in order to show. Rice Root Brush (or similar stiff bristled brush)-to help train hair and remove loose dirt. Scotch Comb used for general fluffing and grooming of animal s hair, and for more advanced members who will be boning legs. Flat Head Clippers-used for clipping head, brisket and trimming underline if desired. Sheep Head Clippers or small clippers with blocking blades-used for clipping out a beef animal to give it the appearance of being wider over the top, through the rear quarter and blending one part (such as the shoulder) into another. Show Cane used to help the showman place the animal s feet and to scratch its underline to keep it calm. Blower-used to both dry the animal after washing and to train the hair. Adhesive-used to bone legs and help shape them to give the appearance of a more correct leg set, among other things, such as shaping tail heads. Oil Base Coat-can be used to help give the animal s hair that extra shine when entering the ring, comes with many different brand names each with their own claims. Remember All cattle need an RFID tag, before they leave the farm this is the law and must be adhered to. Canada has a trace back system which is operated through the Canadian Cattle Identification Agency. The Canadian Cattle Identification Program is an industry initiated and established trace back system designed for the containment and eradication of animal disease. 5 Essential Nutrients Needed for an Animal to be at its Best! Water: Water is the most important nutrient. Vitamins: Help keep the animal healthy, aid in digestion, and help build strong bones and teeth. The sun, green pasture and high quality hay provide vitamins. Minerals: Minerals such as calcium and iron help build and maintain strong bones and teeth. They also help muscles work properly and aid in digestion. Salt should be added to an animal s ration. Carbohydrates: Most of the energy found in feed comes from carbohydrates that are found in grain. Carbohydrates that are not used by the animal are stored as fat. Fat: Fat also provides the animal with energy. The same amount of fat will produce more energy than an equal amount of carbohydrates. Fats are found in grain. Protein: Protein is a growth food that helps build and repair muscles and other body parts. Grain and high quality hay are sources of protein.
PROJECT ENROLLMENT DIRECTORY From time to time throughout the 4-H year, you may wish to contact your leader(s) or another project member for one reason or another. Just fill in the information below, and you will have a handy Project Member Project Leader Directory! MEMBERS NAME E-MAIL PHONE NUMBER LEADERS NAME E-MAIL PHONE NUMBER With cattle, as in any specialty, there are certain terms that are very import to be familiar with in order to make informed decisions. Below are a few terms you as a member should know if dealing with cattle. Dam: the mother of a calf Sire: the father of a calf Purebred: the animal s parents are both members of the same breed Grade/Commercial: the animal s parents are of different breeds or at least one parent is not a purebred Shrinkage: Caused by stress, dehydration or lack of feed. Sometimes feedlot operators deduct about 3% shrink from the live weight of feeders to eliminate the weight of the feed and water the animal has consumed. Dressed weight: this is the weight of the animal s carcass after it has been killed. Dressing percentage: the ratio of meat to bone on the carcass.
PROJECT MEETINGS DIARY Most projects will require at least six to eight project meetings to complete the project. Meeting Date Location Time At this meeting, we...
COMMUNITY PROJECT Each year you are encouraged to provide a service to your community as a 4-H member. This introduces you to the responsibilities of citizenship. You must participate in your club s plan for a community project and you should have a role to play. Describe your involvement with your club community project this year. Our Community Project was I helped by It was beneficial because I learned AGRICULTURE AWARENESS PROJECT Agriculture is one of PEI s main industries. You are expected to participate with your club to complete a project (or provide a service) which helps your club or others become aware of the importance of agriculture in our lives. As in the community project, you should actively participate. Our Agricultural Awareness Project was I helped by It was beneficial because I learned