1. IMPACT OF 4‐H REPLACEMENT
BEEF HEIFER DEVELOPMENT CONTEST
F.D. Jousan1 & R.D. Higdon, III2
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATORS CONTEST AWARDS CONTEST EVALUATION CRITERIA
1 F. Dean Jousan, Ph.D.
‐ Bumper‐pull livestock trailer Visual appraisal of heifers (20%) – Assess each heifer’s
Associate Extension Professor, 4‐H Livestock Specialist
Box 9815, Mississippi State, MS 39762 ‐ Laptop computer weight, BCS, health, structural/skeletal soundness, and
djousan@ads.msstate.edu pregnancy status. Youth are scored on their salesmanship
2 Roy D. Higdon, III
‐ Scholarships skills and phenotypic knowledge of their heifers.
Area Extension Agent IV, Animal Sciences/Forages ‐ Cattle health products
P.O. Box 109, Quitman, MS 39355 Records (30%) – Evaluate
royh@ext.msstate.edu ‐ Free artificial insemination school
records, including feed costs,
veterinarian/health costs,
ABSTRACT INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE breeding decisions, etc. that
The 4‐H Replacement Beef Heifer Development Contest was Introduction – The 4‐H beef project teaches youth were made during the contest.
designed to provide a real‐world experience for youth responsibility and care for cattle. Developing beef Youth address their initial contest goals and provide a
interested in raising beef cattle. Over 1,500 Mississippi youth heifers in this contest so they will generate income detailed budget and expense sheet.
annually participate in junior livestock shows, but much more over their lifetime in the herd requires: 1) critical
thinking, 2) developing relationships with individuals Interview (50%) – Youth have
work is involved in developing beef heifers that will generate
who know beef cattle, 3) ability to keep accurate 15 minutes to present an
income over their productive lifetime. Youth chose three
records to remain within budget, and 4) dedication to overview of their heifer
heifers that fit their cattle program and submitted information
complete the contest. project, including goals and all
on each animal’s age, weight and breed‐type along with an
decisions made during the
estimated starting value of each heifer and goals for the contest. Judges ask questions
Objective – To encourage 4‐H’ers to participate in a
contest. The 10‐month contest challenged youth to make about choosing the heifers, record keeping system,
practical beef heifer development program that will
critical decisions regarding the daily well‐being of their heifers, nutrition program, breeding decisions, health records,
benefit them, their family, and fellow beef producers.
to keep accurate records regarding nutrition, health‐related and other production practices.
expenses and breeding decisions, and to manage their
proposed budget versus actual expenses. A panel of judges RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS
consisting of Extension specialists, cattle producers and
industry representatives, scored each youth’s record book, Twenty‐one youth have completed the contest in the initial
appraised each heifer, and discussed the presentation of each three years it has been offered. Youth gained valuable
contestant while youth defended their management CONTEST DESIGN insight into the costs and work needed to properly develop
decisions. Awards for the contest, solicited from county Length of Contest – 10 months (November to August) beef heifers for their cattle herd. The experiences gained by
cattlemen’s associations, industry groups and individuals, youth in the 4‐H Replacement Beef Heifer Development
included a livestock trailer, laptop, and numerous Selection of Heifers – Youth submit the age, weight, Contest will enable them to be successful producers and
scholarships. In addition, youth received free admission to breed, and starting value of all three heifers. leaders in the beef cattle industry.
cattle artificial insemination school sponsored by the
Panel of Judges – Consists of Extension agents, beef
Mississippi State University Extension Service. Each year’s cattle producers, and industry representatives.
IMPACT
winner presented their talk to beef producers at the
• The contest provides an authentic experience for youth in
Mississippi Cattlemen’s Association Annual Convention. 2011 4‐H REPLACEMENT BEEF HEIFER
beef heifer development.
Twenty‐one youth have competed in the initial three years of DEVELOPMENT CONTEST WINNERS
• The beef cattle industry benefits as young cattlemen and
this contest where they have learned about the cattle industry,
cattlewomen become educated producers.
established contacts with industry leaders that will benefit
• Youth positively impact their family’s beef herd and share
them in future endeavors, and shared their experiences with
fellow cattle producers. insights with Mississippi producers, causing them to
reevaluate their heifer development decisions.
Management Plan Budget versus Cost
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The authors acknowledge the numerous county cattlemen’s
associations, individuals, and businesses that have provided
L‐R (1st to 6th Place): Jessica Smith; Corrine Jackson; Kenneth
financial contributions and prizes to make this contest possible.
Stewart; Josh Vowell; Morgan Lane; and Morgan Howe.