April 10 through May 31, 2020 Members of your club (4th grade and above) can earn points each week over the next two months, through the end of May. The 5 clubs with the most points per member after seven weeks will earn $200 to support their club’s efforts to learn or teach animal science. In addition, up to 10 clubs from throughout New Jersey 4-H will earn $100 … [Read more...]
How to Prepare for a 4-H Dairy Cattle Judging Contest
Are you preparing for the State 4-H Dairy Judging Contest? Maybe you are stuck inside and can’t get your club together on the farm. In this day of online learning, there are many options for helping our 4-H members prepare for contests and events. Consider using these resources. The National Holstein Foundation Judging Workbook is an excellent guide for both beginners and … [Read more...]
East Brunswick, NJ Shuts Down Road For Salamander Migration
Originally posted February 11, 2020 | Updated Feb 12, 2020 at Patch.com. Re-posted with permission from author, Carly Baldwin, Patch Staff. Yup, you read that correctly. One of the earliest signs of spring in central New Jersey is the annual salamander and frog migration. EAST BRUNSWICK, NJ — New Jersey residents are used to roads closing for flooding, downed trees … [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...]
Starting a Poultry Science Project at Your School
It isn’t uncommon to see a school or community garden in urban New Jersey, where residents come together to grow fresh food. Some people step it up a notch by introducing new members of the farm: chickens! As backyard chickens become more and more popular, some schools are considering the idea as well and are able to integrate Animal Science into their school day program. In … [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...]
Rutgers Campus Farm to Host Special Day for 4-H Members (canceled due to COVID-19)
For 4-H members and families interested in animals, Saturday, March 28 is your special day! Come and learn about horses, goats, sheep, cattle, and rabbits from leading veterinarians, professors, and other experts – all at your state university in New Brunswick. The Junior Breeder Symposium is for all youth and families interested in learning more about animals. You have the … [Read more...]
Equine Science 4 Kids! New Activity Book to Debut at Junior Breeders Symposium
Originally developed in 2010, Equine Science 4 Kids! (ES4K) is an educational program geared towards those in grades 3 – 9. The program encourages kids to get involved in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields, using horses as a model. By developing hands-on, science-based activities and demonstrations, kids are able to better understand the science behind … [Read more...]
4-H Animal Science Video Contest – Expanded to Include ALL Animal Projects
The informational flyer and entry form for the 4-H Animal Science Video Contest and Film Festival are available on our website. New Jersey 4-H, in cooperation with the New Jersey Junior Breeder Symposium, is sponsoring the contest and film festival, now expanded to include ALL 4-H animal project areas - including ALPACA, CAT, CATTLE (BEEF/DAIRY), DOG, GOAT, HERPETOLOGY, HORSE, … [Read more...]
Improve Your Herd with Good Record Keeping
Record keeping is an important aspect of sheep production. It helps to identify which lambs should be kept as flock replacements, which ewes should be kept in your flock or culled, and which rams sire the best lambs. The National Scrapie Eradication Program requires producers to keep records on all animal dispositions (sheep that leave your flock) for five years. As a 4-H … [Read more...]