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

Market Lamb Selection: Finding the Cream of the Flock, Part 2

April 15, 2018

4-H Member Patrick Kelly with his Suffolk market lamb.

In our first blog post, we began the process of planning to find just the right lamb for your 4-H market project. I hope you have been studying up on the parts of the lamb, good conformation traits and determining what size lamb you will need. Now, let’s take a look at your next big steps. The Search for the Right Match Now it’s time for the second phase of your planning. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Focus on STEM, Sheep Tagged With: selection

Field Trip: Learn More About Our Fine Finned Friends!

March 12, 2018

fisherman holding large rainbow trout

New Jersey is a great state to learn about fish! Almost half our counties are on the Atlantic Ocean offering opportunities to learn about marine species. Lakes and streams throughout the state are home to several freshwater fish species. Why study fish? Fish is a significant food source for millions of people across the world. It’s estimated that as much as 25% of the protein … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Field Trip Tagged With: breeding, Field Trip, genetics, reproduction, selection

Math Isn’t Hog Wash When It Comes To 4-H Swine Projects

March 12, 2018

white pigs

For this Agent, there are few memories more traumatic than high school math.  The variables in the equation, the x-factors, the decimal being in the right location!  Years ago as a young student, the math problems would manifest in my imagination as, “if a train leaves Penn Station at 3:00 p.m. going 35 miles per hour for 2 hours, how much snow fell in Amble, Michigan?”  To say … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Focus on STEM, Swine Tagged With: selection

Examining the Many Breeds of Dogs

March 12, 2018

Shetland Sheepdog

Take a look around and you will quickly notice dogs come in a wide variety of physical and behavioral characteristics.  The wolf may be their ancestor, but many dogs look very different from their wild origins.  That is because humans have carefully crafted each breed to fit a specific need or interest.  As a result, there are hundreds of breeds across the world.  There are … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Dog, Featured Resource Tagged With: breeding, dog, genetics, identification, selection

Llamas and Alpacas – Getting to Know Your Animal

January 31, 2018

comparison of llama versus alpaca

Are llamas and alpacas the same? What’s the difference? Where did they come from? What do I do with one after I buy it? And will it spit at me?  These are commonly asked about llamas and alpacas. This post will attempt to answer these questions and more by referencing the Rutgers Cooperative Extension Fact Sheet (FS917) titled Llamas and Alpacas. It is a common … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Alpaca/Llama, Featured Resource Tagged With: identification, selection

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A Project of New Jersey 4-H Youth Development

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.

Regardless of the subject matter – whether it be science, healthy living or citizenship, 4-H uses a learn-by-doing approach to help youth learn responsibility, community awareness and character development.

New Jersey 4-H Youth Development is a department of the Rutgers New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station.

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