This year’s NJ Junior Breeder Symposium will be held online, via Zoom, from 8:45 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 27 (NO fee this year). We have put together an all-star line-up of Rutgers professors, veterinarians, animal care professionals, graduate students, and volunteers. Register today (it’s FREE) to learn about animal care, behavior, training, breeding, … [Read more...]
Taking Care of your Horse in the Winter
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...]
Club Support: Three Online Courses on Food Safety and Microbiology
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...]
Livestock and Poultry Identification Resources and Bingo Game
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...]
Club Support: Animal Vital Signs Activity
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...]
Why Spring Vaccinations for Your Horse Matter
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...]
Do you know your horse’s Body Condition Score?
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...]
Helping Youth Understand the Vocabulary of Zoonotic Diseases
The understanding of zoonotic diseases, those that can transfer between animals and people, is one important topic within Animal Science. Still, it can be challenging to instruct youth in ways to prevent the spread of such illnesses; lessons are in-depth, vocabulary is challenging, and as educators we may worry that the material is dry. Michigan State University Extension … [Read more...]
Animal Quality Certification Programs: Opportunities for 4-H Youth and Project Mastery
Quality Assurance in Animal Production Adults working in commercial agriculture are often required to maintain a quality assurance certification. For example, Pork Quality Assurance Plus aids pork producers in maintaining best practices for food safety. Another example is the Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) program. While youth in 4-H learn many aspects of animal care and … [Read more...]
Sheep Identification – USDA Requirements
Proper identification is an important aspect of raising sheep. Whether you are a 4-H member raising only one market lamb per year or working toward establishing your own breeding operation, you will need to know U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) identification requirements and NJ Division of Animal Health rules. Scrapie Identification is required by the USDA for almost … [Read more...]