4-H-M-1075-07
4-H Market Lamb Record Guide Check Project Taken:
Lambs, Rams, and You
Your Animal’s Photo Here!
Shear Delight Leading the Flock
Year 20__ __ Name ______________________________ Club _______________________________ County _____________________________ Address ____________________________ Age ______ Years in 4-H ______________ Date project completed ________________
Introduction The 4-H Market Lamb project is designed for youths who want to learn about sheep production. This project is an ideal introductory livestock project. It does not require a great deal of financial investment, is relatively short in duration (60-90 days), and provides a more rapid return on investment than many other livestock projects. Lambs are smaller and safer for the younger 4-H members to handle and train and provide similar experiences and training in selection, feeding, care, and management of livestock. This project is for 4-H members (9 to 21 years of age) who want to learn how to select and raise a lamb from weaning to market weight. The final objective of the project is to sell or consume a wholesome, quality food product. Completing this project will help youths develop a better understanding of animal needs and welfare, and a better understanding (consumer awareness) of food (meat animal) production.
Why Is Biosecurity Important? Biosecurity means doing everything possible to protect the health of livestock by preventing the transmission of disease. An outbreak of animal disease not only could harm your poultry or livestock, but it also could affect nearby animals and quickly spread through your area. The economic consequences of a disease outbreak could be devastating. Taking commonsense precautions to prevent disease from coming onto your farm is the best investment you can make. The Commissioner of Agriculture strongly urges you to evaluate your disaster prevention practices and develop habits that will protect you, your farming operation, and the public. Make these simple steps part of your daily routine to decrease the risk of your poultry and livestock getting sick. • Restrict vehicle traffic on the farm and direct routes. • Schedule and accompany all farm visitors. Limit areas to be visited. • Know each visitor’s exposure to animals for the past four days. • Provide protective clothing and/or footwear for visitors. Footbaths are optional. • Maintain a log of visitors and vehicles that enter the farm. • Wear clean, disinfected boots when visiting other farms and stockyards. Sanitize all equipment and trailers between visits. • Do not feed ruminant animals feeds containing animal by-products.
• Isolate all new animals by at least 300 yards from your other animals for 21 days. Test them before they enter the herd. Maintain strict entry and exit sanitation for all personnel in the isolation area. • Remove and promptly dispose of fallen animals. (Bury, compost, incinerate, or have removed.) • Keep pets out of confined feeding facilities. • Be aware of all wildlife and pet movements, when possible. • Ban all known foreign food and food products from the farm. • Control rodents and flies thoroughly. • Report all suspicious activity and events to local authorities.
Emergency Phone Numbers West Virginia Department of Agriculture (Commissioner of Agriculture).............................. 304-558-2201 APHIS Veterinary Service........................................................................................................ 866-873-2824 APHIS Web site....................................................................................www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_health/ Scrapie Eradication Web site...........................www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_health/animal_diease/scrapie/
Revised in 2007 by the 4-H sheep curriculum development committee: Brad Smith, Grant County Extension Agent; Fane Irvine, Pocahontas County Extension Agent; Debra Friend, Braxton/Clay County Extension Agent; Carol R. Schuller, Senior Project Coordinator; and Jean M. Woloshuk, Extension Specialist, 4-H Youth Agriculture. Developed and written in 1997 by the 4-H sheep curriculum development committee.
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Market Lamb Profiile Example:
Lamb ID Tag # Lamb ID Tag # 07 13 _____________ _____________ Scrapie # Point of Origin Breed/Breed Combination
Lamb ID Tag # _____________
Lamb ID Tag # _____________
Lamb ID Tag # _____________
Lamb ID Tag # _____________
WV0003127 Red Oak Farms Suffolk Cross
Birth Date
2/12/07
Purchase/Start Weight
60 lb.
Purchase Price/Value ($/Head)
$85.00
Market Lamb Profiile Lamb ID Tag # _____________
Lamb ID Tag # _____________
Scrapie # Point of Origin Breed/Breed Combination Birth Date Purchase/Start Weight Purchase Price/Value ($/Head) (add additional pages if necessary)
Identifi cation All sheep and goats must have a Federal Scrapie Identification number prior to leaving the farm. Your lambs should have had a Federal Scrapie eartag put in them by the breeder who produced the lambs. If they do not have a Federal Scrapie eartag, you need to contact West Virginia Department of Agriculture, Animal Health Division at (304) 558-2214. The department will assist you in getting the appropriate tags for your lambs. West Virginia University Extension Service 4-H Youth Development
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Goal Setting for the 4-H Market Lamb Project For almost everything in life, you set goals, then work toward achieving those goals. 4-H Market Lamb projects are no different. Your goals for this project may be to exhibit the champion market lamb, win the showmanship competition, produce a lamb with an Average Daily Gain (ADG) of more than 0.75 pounds, a Loin Eye Area (LEA) of more than 2.5 square inches, and a backfat of 0.15 inches. The most important underlying goal for all market livestock projects is to produce a wholesome, high-quality, edible product. List your project goals and your plan of how you will attain them. Goal
Plan to reach your goal To select an appropriately sized lamb that should reach the ideal market weight from day of purchase to the show.
Example: To produce an ideally finished 125 lb. lamb with 0.15 inches of back fat
Average Daily Gain For market lambs, you should set a goal based on the weight class in which you expect your lambs to “finish.” A finished weight is when your lamb should have enough fat cover to grade choice. Example: You purchase a lamb June 1 that weighs 60 pounds. Your lamb will be exhibited at the county fair August 15. The target weight you have set for your lamb is 120 pounds. So, your lamb needs to gain 60 pounds in 75 days. Average daily gain will tell you how much your lamb needs to gain to reach the target weight. Average Daily Gain (ADG) =
Gain Number of days in the feeding period
For our example:
ADG =
60 pounds
= 0.80 pound/day
75 days Feed Conversion On average, lambs fed in the United States require about 6 pounds of feed to gain 1 pound. Calculating feed conversion for your market lamb will help you to determine how much feed you need to buy and give you an idea of how much this project may cost. Generally speaking, improving feed conversion will make a difference in the profit you can expect from your market lamb project. In fact, improving the feed conversion (reducing the amount of feed it takes to put on a pound of gain) by 1 pound will save about $7.50 per head.
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Example: By using the feed conversion of 6 pounds of feed per pound of gain, you will need to feed 360 pounds of feed to get our example market lamb to gain 60 pounds (6 pounds of feed per pound of gain × 60 pounds of gain needed). At the end of your project, calculate the feed conversion to determine if your lamb was above or below average for the sheep industry. Feed Conversion =
Total pounds of feed Total gain
Calculating Amounts of Feed Ingredients Calculating the amounts of your proposed feed ingredients is an important part of any agricultural enterprise. Calculating these ingredients will help you determine the needed amounts of feed to buy. However, keep in mind that this is the amount of feed that the lambs need and any wasted feed will inaccurately increase the amount needed. Example: In our example, we need 360 pounds of feed, which is composed of 25% hay and 75% complete feed. 360 pounds × 0.25 = 90 pounds hay needed 360 pounds × 0.75 = 270 pounds complete feed needed Feed Cost per Pound of Gain This is another number that plays a major role in determining the profit of your market lamb project. This goes hand-in-hand with the feed conversion calculation. The better the feed conversion of your lamb, the cheaper your feed costs per pound of gain. Example: The feed in our example situation cost an average of $10.00 per 100 pounds. The total cost was $10.00/100 pounds × 360 pounds = $36.00 Feed cost per pound of gain =
Total feed cost Gain
For our example: Feed cost per pound of gain =
$36.00
= 0.60 (for each pound of gain, feed costs $0.60)
60 pounds
Record the following information for your lambs: Example: Lamb ID 123 Tag # ______ Starting weight
60 lbs.
Projected finished weight
120 lbs.
Days until show Average daily gain needed
Lamb ID Tag # _____
Lamb ID Tag # _____
75 0.80 lbs./day
West Virginia University Extension Service 4-H Youth Development
Lamb ID Tag # _____
Lamb ID Tag # _____
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Market Lamb Feeding Record Complete one feed record for the lambs fed together in your project. This report should include all feeds used in this project. The feeding periods should change each time you change what you feed your animal(s). Record the beginning and ending dates for each feeding period. Include only days your animal(s) are actually grazing in the days on pasture (don’t include time in a dry lot). To calculate the free-choice parts of your ration; for example, hay, minerals, protein tubs, salt blocks, etc., follow this example to calculate what your project animal is consuming each day. This June 1, I put out a 35-pound square bale of hay for a group of 5 lambs. I have to put out another bale 14 days later. On average, each lamb would have consumed 0.5 pound per day. 35 pounds of hay
= 2.5 pounds per day
14 days 2.5 pounds/day
= 0.5 pound per lamb per day
5 lambs If you do not have scales to weigh bales of hay, contact your WVU County Extension Office to see if portable scales are available to weigh the bale. Or, ask for a copy of the fact sheet Using Hydraulics as a Scale on the Farm or download the fact sheet from the Web (www.wvu.edu/~agexten/forglvst/Using%20 Hydraulics%20as%20a%20Scale%20on%20the%20Farm.pdf). Practice Exercise for you: 15 lambs are fed in a group. You place a 600-pound round bale of hay in a feeder on November 15. You must place another bale in the feeder on December 1. On average, how many pounds of hay are the lambs eating each day? _________________________ pounds per day per lamb Now, calculate any feeds that are offered free choice for your project animal(s) and transfer to the feeding record during the appropriate feeding period. For a more accurate intake, you may need to estimate pounds of hay wasted (not consumed) before the next round bale is placed in the feeder. The type of feed will affect the amount of hay wasted. For more information, visit the Web (www.ext.nodak.edu/extpubs/ansci/range/as1190w.htm).
West Virginia University Extension Service 4-H Youth Development
West Virginia University Extension Service 4-H Youth Development
6/15/2007
Example: 6/1/2007
Totals
End Date
Start Date
Feeding Period
4
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Number Days of Head in in Feeeding Group Period
Market Lamb Feeding Record
6
1.5
84
Period
Daily 2
0.5
lb/head/ day
lb/head/ day
Daily
Pounds of Hay
Pounds of Feed Fed
28
Period
Days on Pasture 1
Daily
0.25
lb/head/ day
14
Period
Pounds of Other Supplements (Minerals, Etc.)
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Example: Pasture
Example: Sheep Mix
Example: Hay
Items Purchased (or used if homegrown)
Home Bottom 42 days
1000 lbs.
Master Mix 4459
Total
$0.25/day
$9.40/100 lbs.
$2.00/bale
10 bales
Homegrown 11/15
Cost per Unit
Date Purchased Amount
Manufacturer and Product Number
Market Lamb Feed Cost Record
$10.50
$94.00
$20.00
Total Cost
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Market Lamb Performance Summary The calculations needed to complete this chart are found on pages 2 and 3 of this record guide. For help with the calculations, ask a parent, project leader, Extension agent, etc. Example
Date project was started
June 1
Date project was closed
August 15
Total days in the feeding period
75
Starting weight
60
Ending weight
120
Total gain
60
Total pounds of feed fed (hay and grain)
360
Total feed cost
$36
Feed cost/pound of gain Average daily gain Feed conversion rate
Lamb______ Lamb______
$0.60 0.8 6
West Virginia University Extension Service 4-H Youth Development
Lamb______
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Market Lamb Health Care ou should expect to receive a health record with any animal Y that you purchase. Include a copy of the health record with your record guide. The health record should include any vaccinations and treatments that your lamb received before you purchased it.
Injection site
Give injections according to label instructions. Subcutaneous (SQ) means under the skin. Intramuscular (IM) means in the muscle. Intravenous (IV) means in a vein. When the label directions permit, always give injections under the skin so that the muscle tissue is not injured. Give injections at clean, dry sites on the animal, avoiding the areas where the muscle (meat cuts) are of high value.
Health Care Purchase Record (Record the products you purchased for the health of your animal.) Please record any health products purchased or used for your lamb in the following table. Include vaccines, dewormers, antibiotics, etc. Cost should be for your project animal(s) only. For example, if you buy 960 ml of dewormer for $70, and you use 7 ml to deworm your animal, your cost is: $70/960 ml = $0.07 per ml $0.07/ml 7 ml = $0.49 for your animal.
Product Example: Ivomec
Company
Lot Number
Expiration Date
Merial
K5489
8/15/09
Total Cost for Your Product Cost Lambs
$70.00
$0.49
Total
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Market Lamb Preventative Health Care Record (This is a record of what you administered to your animal.) Record any vaccination/health products given to your lamb. Vaccine Type Example: BarVac CD/T
Date Given
When Cleared for Harvest*
Where/How Was It Given
Who Did It
June 1
June 22
SQ in neck
Dad
*Date given + days to withdraw (on label insert). Example: August 30 date given + 21 days withdraw time = September 20 animal ready for market. Attach original or copy of vaccine box or product label insert.
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Market Lamb Additional Treatment Information
Record any other treatments (antibiotics, foot trimming, etc.) given to your lamb.
Product
Date Given
When Cleared for Slaughter
Where/How Was It Given
Who Did It
(if not recorded on purchase record)
Example: Penicillin, 5cc
6/3
(28 Days) 7/1
IM in neck (right side)
Dad
$0.70
Cost
Total
Other Expenses (other than feed and health practices) Item
Date
Cost
Equipment Bedding Grooming Supplies Sales Fees (Commission) Lamb Check-Off Trucking Fees Insurance Merchandising/Advertising Entry Fees Other Total West Virginia University Extension Service 4-H Youth Development
M502 M502 M502
To: Jackson’s Mill, WV From: Weston, WV, and return
To: Jane Lew, WV From: Weston, WV
To: Lewisburg, WV From: Weston, WV
West Virginia University Extension Service 4-H Youth Development
To: From:
To: From:
To: From:
To: From:
To: From:
To: From:
To: From:
To: From:
Other ID Number
Location
840123555666789
840123555666789
840123555666789
Official EID
7/15/08
7/12/08
12/5/07
Date
Premises identification number where your animal was housed: ___________________________________
State Fair
Fair Weigh-in For transport to State Fair
Event
Lewisburg, WV 999A2XX
John Smith 122A2RR
Jackson’s Mill, WV 111A2WW
Premises ID
Record all movement of your project animal(s) and include premise identification numbers, where possible. Include any time your animal is moved from its primary location. An example has been included to help you complete the chart (the EID tag and premise ID numbers given are fictional). Indicate whether your animal returned to the premise where it was primarily housed.
What is premises? The premises is the location where an animal is born, cared for, exhibited, or marketed. Examples include farms, ranches, feed yards, auction barns, fairs, and livestock exhibitions. To obtain a premise identification number for your farm or the place where your project animal is housed, contact the W.Va. Department of Agriculture (www.wvagriculture.com or 304-558-2214).
Project Animal Travel Log
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Carcass Information Based on the live weight of your lamb and what you have learned about judging lambs, work through the following calculations to estimate the following carcass traits. How do the actual calculations compare to the carcass and ultrasound data, if available?
Example
Live Weight
120 lbs.
Carcass Weight (a)
62 lbs.
Loin Eye Area (b)
3.1 square inches
Fat Thickness (c)
0.15 inch
Quality Grade (d)
Choice
Yield Grade (e)
Lamb______
Lamb______
Lamb______
1.9
( a ) Carcass weights of most slaughter lambs will average 50-55% of live weight. This is often referred to as Dressing Percentage. Heavy-muscled and fatter lambs generally dress higher. Example: 120 lb. live animal × 52% average carcass weight = 62.4 lbs. ( b )
Loin eye area (LEA) will usually range from 2.0 to 3.0 square inches. Our goal should be to produce heavier muscled lambs that have 2.5 square inches of LEA per 50 pounds of carcass weight. If you have a heavily muscled lamb, loin eye area is roughly equal to: 0.05 × carcass weight. For our example: 0.05 × 62 lbs. = 3.1 square inches.
( c )
Fat thickness on market lambs usually will measure between 0.1 and 0.5 inches at the 12th rib. The ideal finish on a lamb is 0.15 to 0.2 inches of fat. Did the judge say what he thought your lamb’s fat thickness was? If not, record what you thought it was, ask your Extension agent what he or she thought, or record an actual measurement.
( d )
Quality grades are used to predict palatability characteristics such as tenderness, juiciness, and flavor. The quality grade of a lamb carcass is determined by conformation, maturity, flank streaking, firmness of the lean and fat, and amount of external fat. The quality grades used by the USDA for lambs are Prime, Choice, Good, and Utility. For more information, see the “United States Standards for Grades of Lamb, Yearling Mutton, and Mutton Carcasses” (www.ams.usda.gov/Lsg/stand/standards/lamb-car.pdf).
( e )
Yield grade refers to the expected yield of boneless, closely trimmed retail cuts. Yield grades are numbered 1 to 5, with 1 being more desirable because it represents a higher yield of meat and yield grade 5 representing the lowest yield. Yield grade is determined primarily by the fat thickness on a lamb carcass and can be estimated by the equation: YG = 0.4 + (10 × fat thickness). Example: 0.4 + (10 × 0.15) = 1.9
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Market Lamb Show Record Record the results of all shows and showmanship events your lamb entered during the year . Name and Place of Show/Fair
Animal ID
Date
Placing
Premiums/ Ribbons
Total Value of Premiums Won
Record of Demonstrations, Talks, and Activities During the 4-H Year Record your participation in events such as judging contests, project workshops, visits to farm operations, demonstrations, etc. Date
Location
Activity
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Comments
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Your Project Story Your project story should trace your progress through the year. Describe the four areas listed below.
• Some of the important things you learned about your animal • Some of the important things you learned about yourself • Your accomplishments • Improvements you need to make
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Market Lamb Financial Summary Income
Price received for your project animal(s)
__________________________
Show premiums won (Page 13)
__________________________
Other (awards, scholarships, etc.)
__________________________
Total Income
Expenses
Cost or value of your project animal(s) at the beginning of your project
__________________________
Cost of feed bought or used (Page 6)
__________________________
Cost of health care (Page 8)
__________________________
Cost of additional treatment procedures (Page 10)
__________________________
Cost of other expenses (Page 10) __________________________ Total Expenses
Total Income
Less Total Expenses Net Income
Merchandising Summary List any potential buyers contacted before your show/sale. _____________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________ Decribe any other methods used to sell your animal(s). ________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________ Who purchased your animal? ____________________________________________________________ At what price? _________________ Please include a copy of your thank-you letter.
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West Virginia University Extension Service 4-H Youth Development
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4-H Project Evaluation Now that you have finished this project, it is time for you to think about what you have learned. We also would like to know what you have learned and if the project needs to be improved. Your comments will help the people write the projects. Please write answers to the following questions. Then give this form to your 4-H leader or mail it to: Project Evaluation State 4-H Office Knapp Hall, PO Box 6031 Morgantown, WV 26506-6031 Title of Project ____________________________________________________________________ Girl Boy (circle one)
Age ______ Grade in School _________ Years in 4-H ___________
1. Was this your first project in this subject?_ ___________________________________________________ 2. Why did you pick this project?_____________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________ 3. What was your favorite part of this project?___________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________ 4. By doing this project, what did you learn that you didn’t know before?_____________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________ 5. Did you do the activities in the project book? Why or why not?___________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________ 6. What activities did you like doing?_ ________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________ 7. How would you change this project to make it better?___________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________ 8. Would you tell others to take this project? Why or why not?_ ____________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________ 9. What other 4-H projects have you taken?_____________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________ 10. If you have something else to say, write it on the back. West Virginia University Extension Service 4-H Youth Development
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Market Lamb Project Score Sheet
If you are taking this project without an animal, check with your Extension agent for approval. It is suggested that the Self-Determined project be used with the National 4-H Curriculum Sheep project book as a resource. Consult with your Extension agent to plan your project work.
If you elect to do additional “More Challenges” activities, please check the seven activities you want to be graded on. Record in a notebook the what, when, where, and how you accomplished each selected “More Challenges” activity. Include your notebook with your project book for grading.
Sheep Project Book
Complete seven activities in the Sheep Achievement Program of the National 4-H Curriculum Project Book (Each activity is worth 5 points ~ Total 35 possible points)
Complete Planning Guide in National 4-H Curriculum Project Book on pages 3 and 4 (Worth 5 points)
Sheep Record Guide (Worth 20 points)
__________
__________
__________
Exhibit/Production Score (Total 20 possible points)
__________
This may be the actual exhibition of your animal or other designated project or service determined with your Extension agent. Activity Record (Worth 20 points)
__________
Total
Comments:
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Tail Docking Policy for Youth Shows (4-H and FFA) (www.wvu.edu/~agexten/youth/index.htm) As a youth livestock producer, you are in a unique position. While 4-H and FFA livestock projects are a small part of the livestock industry as a whole, they often are the “window” through which the public sees animal agriculture. It is essential that the view seen by the public as consumers is a positive one. The ethical treatment of animals and the elimination of unethical practices in the show ring are important to our youth programs and the entire livestock industry. The West Virginia 4-H Program and the West Virginia Association of Agricultural Educators Program Policy Committee of the FFA have discussed the practice of extreme or ultra-short docking of lambs’ tails. After extensive study of the matter, the groups adopted the following policy. The policy that applies to 4-H and FFA breeding sheep and market lamb projects and the exhibition of these animals by youths at fairs and shows in West Virginia is: “Lambs born after January 1, 2002 will be accepted for exhibition only if tails are not docked shorter than the level of the distal end of the caudal tail fold. Lambs that are properly docked will have a minimum tail length of .7 inches at show, measured by the approved measurement device, which will be placed against the base of the tail and pinbones.” If a market lamb and/or breeding sheep have been eliminated at an official check-in at a 4-H and/or FFA show, event/activity due to dock length as stated in our current policy they are ineligible for show in any future 4-H and/or FFA market lamb or breeding sheep shows, events, or activities. Sheep producers and youth show officials support a change in youth (4-H and FFA) project and show rules. As organizations that promote educational programming with life skills attainment, it is prudent to exemplify ethical treatment of animals and utilize quality management practices. Proper Use of the DeTail Device: With the lamb standing square, place the DeTail Device under the tail, with the tail contained in the trough. Ensure that the flange is in firm contact with the pin bones, the trough is firmly against the base of the tail, and the barrel of the device is held level. Use disinfectant on the device after measuring each sheep. If the end of the tail meets at least the edge of the 0.7-inch recessed line closest to the lamb, it is deemed to have met the minimum standard. This device should not be used as a guide for docking location. It is still advised to dock all lambs at the distal end of the caudal fold (American Veterinary Medical Association [AVMA], American Sheep Industry (ASI), etc). Rule Enforcement Protocol: It is recommended that enforcement of the 0.7-inch minimum standard be done at the weigh-in of animals at the show by a three-person committee. One person should be designated to measure all lambs. If the initial measurement identifies a lamb as below the standard, the two other show officials will each make one measurement of the suspect animal. All three measurement officials must agree that the lamb is below the 0.7-inch minimum before the lamb is disqualified from exhibition.
For more information about the DeTail Device or background information about the lamb tail docking rule, visit the Web (www.wvu.edu/~agexten/youth/tailbroch.pdf). You may want to download and reproduce a copy of the Use of the DeTail Device to Address the Tail Docking Issue in Show Lambs brochure for your use.
West Virginia University Extension Service 4-H Youth Development
Programs and activities offered by the West Virginia University Extension Service are available to all persons without regard to race, color, sex, disability, religion, age, veteran status, political beliefs, sexual orientation, national origin, and marital or family status. Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work, Acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Director , Cooperative Extension Service, West Virginia University. Trade or brand names used in this publication are for educational purposes only. The use of such product names does not imply endorsement by the WVU Extension Service to the exclusion of other products that may be equally suitable. 4H07-248
