4-H Beef Project

In the 4-H beef project, you can select from a breeding animal or a market animal.  Breeding animals allow you to start your own herd while market animals produce meat products for people.

Youth must be age 8 by October 1st of the current 4-H year to be eligible for enrollment in large animal projects, including Beef, Dairy, Goat, Horse, Sheep, and Swine.

Objectives

• Learn basic principles of animal science through the owning, raising, and care of one or more animals
• Select cattle based on breed characteristics and feed, winter, house, and care for for the market steer, as well as potentially breeding the animal
• Fit, show, and market the steer for auction
• Evaluate a carcass
• Manage a herd, if more than one animal is raised

Helpful Resources

Should I take a Market Beef as a 4-H project? – Ohio 4-H (PDF)

Should I take a Feeder Calf as a 4-H project? – Ohio 4-H (PDF)

4-H Beef Showmanship – North Dakota State University Extension 4-H (YouTube video)

Beef Judging – Iowa State University Extension and Outreach