4-H Animal Science Resource Blog

STEM Connections, know-how & Inspiration

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  • Alpaca/Llama
  • Dairy Cattle
  • Dog
  • Goat
  • Herpetology
  • Horse and Pony
  • Poultry
  • Rabbit/Cavy/Small Animal
  • Sheep
  • Swine

What the COVID-19 Pandemic Reminds Us About Animal Biosecurity

June 15, 2021

  COVID-19: What We Know  The SARS-COV2 virus spreads between people easily, through the respiratory droplets produced (such as in breathing or coughing). As we have practiced in the past year, masks and social distancing help slow the spread of COVID-19.  Vocabulary: SARS-COV2 is the virus and it causes COVID-19, the disease.   COVID-19 and Animals  In some … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Animal Health, Animal Project Areas, Current Issue Tagged With: animal health, biosecurity, covid19

Zoonosis Prevention: A Kahoot Quiz Game

May 17, 2021

Thank you to all who participated in the first all-virtual Junior Breeder Symposium on Saturday, March 27, 2021. If you missed the event, or want to try the Zoonosis Prevention game again, it is live now!  The Kahoot quiz game can be played individually by clicking here. You may also go to kahoot.it and use Game PIN: 01733729. It is available through the above link until … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Alpaca/Llama, Animal Health, Club Programming Idea, Dairy Cattle, Dog, Featured Resource, Focus on STEM, Goat, Herpetology, Horse and Pony, Poultry, Rabbit/Cavy/Small Animal, Sheep, Swine Tagged With: animal health, care, featured resource, health, Kahoot game, youth STEM, zoonosis education

4-H Members Take on New Challenge with Lambing

May 13, 2021

4-H member with 3-week old lamb

The arrival of Spring brings thoughts of new life in many forms…the first brave flowers, buds on the trees and the cheerful green of new grass. However, nothing says Spring more than newborn lambs in all their bouncy, soft and adorable glory. I spoke with two Cape May County 4-H members who are raising lambs this spring to learn what it is like to raise their own lambs … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Animal Health, Sheep Tagged With: animal health, breeding, care, lambs

Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease

May 10, 2021

Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease Virus (RHDV) is a highly contagious and fatal disease that affects both wild and domestic rabbits. Until 2020, it had not been known to affect any North American native rabbits, however, cases of the disease have been reported in cottontail rabbits and hares as well as in domestic rabbits in states including Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Animal Health, Current Issue, Rabbit/Cavy/Small Animal Tagged With: animal health, Rabbit Disease, Rabbits

Taking Care of your Horse in the Winter

January 4, 2021

Horse with Winter blanket

As the weather gets colder I get more questions as to what horse owners can do to keep their horses from losing weight, how to keep them warmer, and how to go about safely riding them all winter long. Hopefully I can address some of your thoughts and concerns here before more real winter weather hits us in New Jersey. In the winter all horses need extra energy to help keep … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Animal Health, Current Issue, Horse and Pony

Club Support: Three Online Courses on Food Safety and Microbiology

November 13, 2020

If you are looking for ways to supplement your 4-H club or other youth program in the area of Animal Science, Animal U by the Iowa State University has a wealth of interactive and educational resources. The web trainings here are educational yet highly accessible to youth audiences. Production livestock projects may benefit from asking youth to complete the Food Safety and … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Alpaca/Llama, Animal Health, Animal Project Areas, Career Profile, Club Programming Idea, Dairy Cattle, Dog, Featured Resource, Goat, Herpetology, Herpetology, Horse and Pony, Poultry, Rabbit/Cavy/Small Animal, Sheep, Swine

Livestock and Poultry Identification Resources and Bingo Game

November 9, 2020

Do you know why it is important to identify your animals? Do you know how to properly identify animals? Storms may take down trees and cause damage to barns allowing livestock to walk through downed fences or an electric fence that is no longer hot. If a barn or chicken coop were to become damaged, it is possible that scared animals run quite far from their own home and your … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Alpaca/Llama, Animal Health, Club Programming Idea, Dairy Cattle, Featured Resource, Goat, Horse and Pony, Poultry, Sheep, Swine

Club Support: Animal Vital Signs Activity

November 7, 2020

Pennsylvania 4-H has a resource page of at-home 4-H activities that can be useful to 4-H clubs meeting remotely during COVID-19 social distancing. One series of at-home activities that may be assigned to club members this year is appropriate for companion animal projects as well as livestock: the Animal Vital Signs series: "Vital Information" - What is Normal? … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Alpaca/Llama, Animal Health, Club Programming Idea, Dairy Cattle, Dog, Featured Resource, Focus on STEM, Goat, Horse and Pony, Poultry, Rabbit/Cavy/Small Animal, Sheep, STEM Learning, Swine

Why Spring Vaccinations for Your Horse Matter

April 29, 2020

In these uncertain times, some horse owners are trying to save money and are asking themselves if spring shots matter. Are vaccinations critical for your horse’s health? The answer is yes! Understanding which vaccines are the most important and why is also critical. For many, vaccinations are considered important only insofar as a health certificate or proof of vaccination … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Animal Health, Horse and Pony

Do you know your horse’s Body Condition Score?

March 17, 2020

Winter cold can be tough on a horse. If they have been out in the cold, they may have shed some of those extra pounds. On the other end, if your horse had little exercise and lots of feed it may have put on a few pounds. How do you know if your horse is in good condition after the winter? If your horse has spent a long time under a blanket, you may not have been looking at … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Animal Health, Featured Resource, Horse and Pony

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New Jersey 4-H provides educational outreach programming for youth in grades K-13 (one year out of high school) through 4-H clubs, special interest programs, school enrichment, afterschool programs, and overnight camping.

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