Animal Science
Merit badge requirements
- Name four breeds of livestock in each of the following classifications: horses, dairy cattle, beef cattle, sheep, hogs. Tell their principal uses and merits. Tell where the breeds originated.
- List the principal diseases in your area that afflict the animals in each classification. Describe the proper treatment for the diseases you list.
- Explain the major differences in digestive systems of ruminant and nonruminant animals.
- Tell how you would properly manage a cow, sheep, horse, or hog, including adequate feeding. Tell what must be done to prevent illness, blemishes, defects, and disease arising from improper and unsanitary conditions.
- Tell about three career opportunities in livestock production.
- Complete ONE of the following options:
Dairying Option
- Tell how a cow converts forage and grain into milk.
- Make a chart showing the ingredients in cows' milk. Chart the amount of each.
- Tell the difference between certified and pasteurized milk. Tell how milk is pasteurized.
- Tell about the kinds of equipment and health standards for dairy farms.
- Visit a dairy farm or milk processing plant. Tell about your visit.
- Visit a farm or ranch where beef cattle are produced under any of these systems:
- feeding market cattle for slaughter;
- producing feeder cattle for sale to commercial cattle feeders;
- producing purebreed cattle for sale as breeders.
Talk with the operator. Tell how the cattle were handled, fed, weighed, and shipped.
- feeding market cattle for slaughter;
- Sketch a plan of a fedlot, hay and grain storage facilities, and loading chute for 30 or more fattening steers, or a coral plan with cutting and loading chutes for handling 50 or more beef cows and and their calves at one time.
- Submit a sketch showing the principal wholesale and retail cuts of beef. Tell about USDA dual grading system of beef. Tell about the grades in each system.
- Visit a farm where hog production is a major project, or visit a packing plant or stockyard handling hogs. Describe your visit.
- Outline in writing the proper feeding from the breeding of gilt or sow through the weaning of the litter. Discuss the growth and finishing periods.
- Make a sketch showing the principal wholesale and retail cuts of pork. Tell about the recommended USDA grades of pork. Tell the basis for each grade.
- Make a sketch of a useful saddle horse barn and exercise yard.
- Tell the history of the horse and the benefits it has brought to man.
- Tell about the following terms: mustang, quarterhorse, pinto, draft, gelding, calico, palomino, pacer, trotter, filly, mare, stallion, colt, and foal.
- Visit a horse farm. Describe your visit.
- Keep management records on a brood of 20 chicks (sexed or straight run) for five months. Record feed consumption, medication, mortality, and vaccination. Present the records for review.
- Do ONE of the following:
- manage an egg-producing flock for five months. Keep records of feed purchased, eggs sold, and mortality. Present records for review. Tell about the grading of eggs.
- Raise 20 chicks, poults, or ducklings. Keep records of feed intake and weight gains. Present records for review. Kill and dress two birds. Tell about grades of poultry.
- manage an egg-producing flock for five months. Keep records of feed purchased, eggs sold, and mortality. Present records for review. Tell about the grading of eggs.
- Make a sketch of a live lamb. Show the location of the various wholesale and retail cuts.
- Make an exhibit and explain four blood grades (American) of wool. Tell how wool is processed from shearing to the finished product.
- Visit a farm or ranch where sheep are raised. Tell about your visit, including the feeding program used.
- Describe some differences between the production of native and range lambs.
- Tell how a cow converts forage and grain into milk.
Merit badge requirements courtesy of Troop 
Farmington
Farmington