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

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

Understanding and Treating Sheep Hoof Ailments

April 30, 2019

Photo showing footrot in a sheep's hoof.

Lameness in sheep is not uncommon and can be caused by a range of issues in the hoof. A sheep may favor a hoof due to a small injury or improperly trimmed hooves, but in most cases, lameness indicates an infection. Animals with hoof infections such as footrot suffer from lameness, decreased weight gain, and poor wool growth. Many hoof ailments are contagious and require quick … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Animal Health, Focus on STEM, Sheep Tagged With: 4-H Animal Science, care, diseases, health, youth STEM

Putting Your Best Foot Forward! Trimming Hooves

March 20, 2019

Somerset County 4-H Sheep Club Leader Mary McLaughlin demonstrates hoof trimming.

Proper hoof care is essential for healthy sheep. Hooves are literally the foundation on which your sheep stands. Preventative care and maintenance can reduce costly and detrimental health issues in your flock. Hoof health problems lead to lameness, decreased weight gain, reduced milk production and reduced wool production. Lame animals spend more time lying down, and do not … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Animal Health, Animal Project Areas, Focus on STEM, Sheep Tagged With: anatomy, biosecurity, care, health

Good Nutrition – the Key to Lambing Success

February 21, 2019

Pregnant ewes shown eating hay from a feeder. Photo courtesy of Deer Creek Farms.

Investing in proper nutrition for pregnant and lactating ewes saves both time and money in the long run. Ewes in good body condition prior to delivery have healthier lambs and fewer complications than underweight or overweight ewes. As 70% of fetal lamb growth occurs in the last five weeks of pregnancy, it is important to increase feed for ewes at this time. After lambing, it … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Animal Health, Focus on STEM, Sheep Tagged With: 4-H Animal Science, care, feeds, Focus on STEM, health, New Jersey 4-H, youth STEM

Preparing for Lambing

January 15, 2019

Once your ewes are getting close to their due date, which is approximately 4-1/2 to 5 months after being bred, you need to have your barn ready. You want to protect the newborn lambs from the elements for the first few days or weeks. They always seem to be born on the coldest day of the year! Approximately a month before lambing, it’s recommended to vaccinate the mothers … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Animal Project Areas, Focus on STEM, Sheep, Uncategorized Tagged With: 4-H Animal Science, care, health, New Jersey 4-H

Getting Your Sheep Barn Ready for Winter

November 15, 2018

A Shropshire sheep standing in front of an example of proper winter shelter. Are your sheep ready for winter? The most important thing you can do is to make sure they have enough wool for the cold months. If a sheep has enough wool, it will never be cold. Fortunately, sheep do not need a lot of wool to handle New Jersey winters.  A couple of inches will be fine. Sheep shorn in … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Animal Health, Focus on STEM, Sheep Tagged With: 4-H Animal Science, care, health

Porky Was Wrong; That IS NOT All Folks – Preparing For Your 4-H Market Swine Project

April 12, 2018

Swine

Raising, caring for, and thinking about future 4-H market swine projects is a task that requires a great deal of forward thinking and dedication.  Arguably, the most famous swine in our collective pop-culture memory is Porky Pig.  Equally famous as the character himself is his sign-off, “That’s All Folks!”  As any swine producer will tell you though, when it comes to swine … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Focus on STEM, Swine Tagged With: behavior, care, digestion, health, housing

Fur Mites

March 12, 2018

rabbit

Fur mites, or "walking dandruff," affect mainly rabbits, but also guinea pigs, hedgehogs, rodents, cats, and dogs. Although an uncommon host for the mite, these mites can also be transmitted to humans. The mites are nonburrowing skin parasites which cause the skin to become scaly. On close observation of an infested pet, movement of the dandruff is visible because the mites are … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Featured Resource, Rabbit/Cavy/Small Animal Tagged With: care, health, parasites

Llama and Alpaca Care – Soup to Nuts

March 1, 2018

Llama and Alpaca Care – Soup to Nuts Are you looking for a soup to nuts llama and alpaca care book? Well look no further! The recent book, Llama and Alpaca Care, 1st Edition, by Dr.’s Chris Cebra, David Anderson, Amed Tibary, Robert Van Saun, and LaRue Johnson might be the right resource for you. This 808 page book is designed for camelid caretakers, veterinary students … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Alpaca/Llama, Animal Project Areas, Featured Resource Tagged With: care, featured resource

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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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