[Print Friendly PDF of the BEEF Project Guide]

4-H’ers must be 8 years old as of September 1st of the current
4-H program year to enroll in a large animal project. 

Beef Project

In the 4-H Beef projects, you will learn:

• how to identify breeds and select quality beef animals;
• best practices for animal care and management;
• safe and ethical practices for animal welfare;
• fiitting and showing skills;
• how to promote the use of beef products and the beef industry; and
• skills such as decision-making, getting along with others, self-responsibility, planning and organizing, and improving your knowledge of general science and technology.

BEEF (For Youth Ages 8-18)

This project series includes activities related to breeds, health, care, grooming, production, reproduction, management, showmanship, marketing, and careers involved with beef cattle. They contain a wide range of interesting hands-on activities that will develop your skills and expand your knowledge.

Member and Leader Manuals (Ages 8-18)

Beef Project ONLINE!

BF 1       Bite into Beef     
BF 2       Here’s the Beef
BF 3       Leading the Charge
BF H      Helper’s Guide     
BF RB      Breeding Animal Record      
BF RM      Market Animal Record           

Cloverbuds (Ages 5-7)

• There is no project guide for this level.

Level 1 (Ages 8-10)

• Bite into Beef explores beef breeds, body parts, halter breaking, grooming, showmanship, feed ingredients, meat cuts, and beef by-products. Available through National 4-H Council.
  

Level 2 (Ages 11-13)

• Here's the Beef explores evaluation of beef leg structure, beef judging and oral reasons, the digestive system, feed rations, livestock handling, parasites, ethics, carcass composition, yield grade, and cuts of meat. Available through National 4-H Council.

Level 3 (Ages 14-18)

• Leading the Charge! teaches 4-H'ers how to determine frame scores, sire selection, Expected Progeny Differences (EPD's), hay quality, nutrient requirements, feed labels, careers in the beef industry, diseases, reproductive systems, calving, and carcass evaluation. Available through National
  4-H Council.

Leader/Helper Guide

This Helper's Guide will help you support youth in his or her efforts to set goals and complete activities, as well as providing resources for the member's to use in completing the series. Available through National 4-H Council.

LEVELS 1-2-3:
Choose from these Project Record Materials:

Livestock Breeding Project Record Book
This is an animal sciences record book for all members in this project area to keep record of their breeding project. In EDIS this publication is DLN 4H 109. [Ordering Info]

Livestock Market Animal Record Book
This is an animal record book for all members in this project area to keep record of their market animals. In EDIS this publication is DLN 4H 108. [Ordering Info]

Supplemental Materials:

General Beef Publications

Beef, Sheep, and Swine Selection and Evaluation - Ohio State University
You may need this optional resource written for beginners when selecting and evaluating livestock.  Order it only once and refer to it when selecting projects or before attending a judging contest. Available through Ohio State University - Item 103R.

A Guide to Raising Beef Cattle
This handbook is for 4-H members ages 10 and up, and includes advice on facilities, breeding, genetics, calving, health care, and marketing for anyone interested in raising cattle. The interest can be for an entire herd as a small business or one or two calves for eating or breeding. Available through National
4-H Council.

Additional Materials

Beef Learning Lab Kit - Ohio State University
This kit includes units on anatomy, breeds, conformation, meat science and quality assurance. These popular kits provide the basis for interactive learning experiences. Kit components include posters, labels, statements, demonstration items, and charts. All posters, charts, prints and situation/task statements are laminated for increased durability with answer keys on the reverse side. Kit includes Velcro to adhere to identification tags, and zipper pouches for tag storage. Each kit is packaged in a durable canvas carrying case for easy use, storage and transportation. Available through Ohio State University - Item 4033K.

Beef Learning Lab CD-ROM - Ohio State University
Based on the learning lab kit, this CD-ROM will provide you with interactive quiz exercises for study of: anatomy ( external features), breed identification, meat science (retail and wholesale meat cut identification), and quality assurance (medication and safe handling procedures). An Adobe Acrobat version of the Educators' Resource Materials Set, and Educators Curriculum Guide is included on the CD-ROM. Works on Macintosh and Windows. Available through Ohio State University - Item 4049CD.

Calf Pattern 
This training aid supports the " Skills for Life" Series and will teach youth how to make a model calf that can be used to teach such skills as dehorning, administering medication and many more.  4-H members can make their realistic model calf with the provided pattern. Available through National 4-H Council.

 

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