Animal skulls can tell us many things about creatures and how they once survived in their natural environment. This publication explains some of the characteristics of skulls that we use to tell us about how the animals lived. Topics include skull diagrams, activity lesson plans, suggestions for future learning activities and sources of animal skulls.
Sometimes, what should be an enjoyable and challenging experience of showing a project animal becomes a traumatic experience which demoralizes youth participants. Major reasons for these calamities are lack of preparation, inadequate knowledge of how to prepare, selection of show animals that the youth is physically incapable of handling, and/or a lack of time commitment from the youth participant. The objective of this paper is to provide information to help reduce the occurrence of show ring fiascos.
Before you ever purchase a show animal, decide if you have the ability to commit to the minimum of 1 to 1¹⁄₂ hours per day required in caring for a show animal. Also, enlist the help of qualified volunteer leaders in selecting a market animal and in designing a feeding, handling, and animal health regimen.
Large frame steers weigh from 1200 to 1400 pounds at finish weight, while medium frame steers are only around 700 pounds. This publication discusses how to select and feed a steer in order to get it to its' desired weight.
As a general rule, lambs are not purchased until they are at least 8 weeks old and exceed 40lbs. in weight. The lamb should gain an average of .5 to .8 lbs. a day. This publication discusses how to feed a show lamb according to its nutrient needs.
