General Livestock

Welcome to the Ohio 4-H General Livestock Resource page!

Calendar of Events

2022 State 4-H Animal Sciences (Livestock, Companion & Small Animals) Event Calendar

July

18 - Livestock Judging Entries Due

27 - August 7 - Ohio State Fair

28 - Livestock Judging Contest

Resources

General Resources

• Livestock Safety at the Fair
• Animal Disease Traceability Framework - Official Ear Tags Criteria and Options
• Youth Guide on Animal Welfare for Fairs and Exhibitions
• Leader's Guide on Animal Welfare for Fairs and Exhibitions
• Recommended Fair Weights for 4-H Market Animal Projects
• Livestock Judging Cards (click here and scroll down to additional resources)

FactSheets

• Animal Sciences Factsheets and Resources

COVID-19 Best Practices and Resources

Please keep in mind that the following documents are evolving as new guidelines and situations arise.

Jr Fair Considerations:

• Recommendations for County Pre-Fair Weigh-Ins/Taggings/Poultry Distribution 6.9.20
• Recommendations for a Face-to-Face Exhibition/Fair Season 6.9.20
• Virtual Fair Considerations: Animal Exhibits 5.28.20

Livestock Marketing Considerations:

• Livestock Marketing Considerations for Junior Fair Organizers  5.29.20
• Livestock Marketing Options for Junior Fair Exhibitors and Families 5.29.20
• Poultry and Rabbit Marketing Options for Junior Fair Exhibitors and Families 6.1.20

Presentations

Volunteer Conference 2023

• Ohio Department of Agriculture Update
• 4-H Animal Sciences Update

2022 Ohio State Fair Information

• NEW for Market Swine Exhibitors
  • Premise ID and 840 tag required
  • Premise ID information
• Project Enrollment for 4-H and FFA Members and Showing Animals at the Ohio State Fair
• Skillathon and Record Book Judging Rules
• Outstanding Market Exhibitor (OME) Rules
• Outstanding Breeding Exhibitor (OBE) Rules
• 4-H Livestock Judging Contest Rules and Registration
• 4-H Poultry Judging Contest Rules and Registration
• 4-H Avian Bowl Rules and Registration
• Open and Junior Fair Livestock Rules and Entry Information

Veterinary Feed Directive (VFD) Important Information

On January 1, 2017, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) new regulations addressing on-farm antibiotic use in food-animal production must be implemented. The agency’s effort is aimed at eliminating the use of medically important (to human illness) antibiotics for growth promotion purposes in food-animal production and bringing therapeutic use in feed and water – to treat, control or prevent spe­cific disease – under additional veterinary oversight. Producers, veterinarians, feed mills and suppliers will all face new requirements. This affects everyone (including 4-H members as youth producers) keeping, owning, and/or raising food-producing animals.

Please be aware that anything you may hear about the possibility of 4-H advisors being able to get a VFD for all of their club members is not accurate. Ohio 4-H members (parents/guardians) are the owners/caretakers of their livestock projects and will need to obtain any VFD they might need to properly care for their food-producing animals. To write a VFD, veterinarians must personally see the 4-H members’ animals, become acquainted with their care, and have done so recently enough (within the last six months) that they can make medical judgements. Veterinarians should not write a VFD for an entire club.

It is very important that 4-H members and their families establish a veterinarian-client-patient relationship (VCPR) prior to January 1, 2017. Click on the link below to download the Veterinary Feed Directive (VFD) Fact Sheet for 4-H Youth Livestock Producers and Families, important to read and understand when taking Ohio 4-H food-producing animal projects, even if they are not intended for food production.

• Veterinary Feed Directive (VFD) Fact Sheet for 4-H Youth Livestock Producers and Families

Animal Sciences Lesson Plans

Animal Sciences Lesson Plans HERE

Contact Information

4-H Livestock Curriculum, Research, and Quality Assurance

Elizabeth Share-Duling

4-H State Fair Events (Skillathons, Judging Contests, Avian Bowl)

Dr. Benjamin Wenner

Meats / Carcass Contests 

Lyda Garcia, Ph.D.

Meat Sciences Program

Ohio Department of Agriculture

Dr. Dennis Summers
614-728-6220

Cindy Bodie
614-728-6220