Breeding and Market Sheep

Our 4-H youth can work with breeding & market beef, breeding & market sheep, breeding & market swine, and/or dairy cattle. These projects help them to learn about agriculture and helps them develop an appreciation for the livestock industry. When a child owns and works with their animals, they learn about selection, care, feeding of livestock, animal health, and importance of good record keeping and this information will help them do well in their project. All livestock projects require the youth to take the Meat Quality Assurance (MQA) training that is provided each year.

Why Sheep?

This project teaches you to care for live animals by learning about animal health, nutrition, selection and breeding.

Starting Out, Beginner Jr./Int./Sr.

Starting Out, Beginner

Inspiring youth to:

  • Learn about sheep
  • Learn how to produce a safe, wholesome product
  • Identify the parts of a sheep
  • Learn about nutritional requirements and different types of feed
  • Practice evaluating sheep
  • Learn about a sheep's digestive system
  • Identify common sheep diseases
  • Learn how to keep records
  • Learn how to assume responsibility

 

Learning More, Intermediate, Jr./Int./Sr.

Learning More, Intermediate

Inspiring youth to:

  • Investigate technology's impact on sheep production
  • Learn how to exhibit your animal
  • Purchase, feed, and care for sheep
  • Learn about goal setting
  • Gain knowledge of sound management practices
  • Develop sportsmanship and public speaking skills

 

Exploring Depth, Advanced, Jr./Int./Sr.

Exploring Depth, Advanced

Inspiring youth to:

  • Learn how to deal with current issues related to raising sheep
  • Gain leadership skills by helping others learn about sheep
  • Explore career opportunities in the sheep industry
  • Build lifelong friendships