Showing Horned Animals

Showing Horned Animals

Section 9.3 in the 4-H Policy and Procedure Handbook provides information for 4-H members need to know before starting an animal project:

• Market steers must be polled or dehorned; healed horns or re-growth must not extend more than two inches from the hairline. Horned breeding animals must have the horn tips covered as a safety precaution.
• Horned, non-dairy goats or sheep may be exhibited in 4-H showmanship classes where animals are not exchanged between youth in the show ring. For a horned animal to be exhibited, it must have its horn tips covered. If the sheep or non-dairy goat has scurs (horn re-growth), these scurs cannot exceed 1 inch in length without the horn tips being covered.
• Non-dairy horned goats and sheep may be shown in market and breeding classes, but they must have horn tips covered as a safety precaution. A county may implement a more restrictive policy, but not a less restrictive policy, regarding the exhibition of horned sheep and goats.
• No dairy animals with horns are permitted except in the Junior Heifer Calf class. The definition of horns includes “scurs,” “nubbing,” or “stubs” that extend more than one inch beyond the skin.
• No horned dairy goat animals are allowed.