Course Description
The selection of livestock for the breeding herd and for slaughter. The team representing the University in the annual Spring Intercollegiate Livestock Judging Contests will be chosen from the students in this course.
Athena Title
LVSTK EVAL SELEC
Semester Course Offered
Offered fall
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
1. The first objective is for students to learn anatomy of and terminology used to describe market and breeding livestock (cattle, hogs, and sheep) and value determining traits for them. 2. Students will learn to evaluate structural soundness, carcass compositional traits, and breed character. 3. Students will also apply their knowledge of livestock value by ranking individual animals within a group from most to least valuable. This requires interpretation of genetic information, evaluation of phenotypic strengths and weaknesses of the livestock, analysis of scenarios for use of livestock, and ranking them within that production situation. 4. Students are then required to orally justify their reasoning and decision-making, using terminology that is current with the livestock industry. 5. Finally, students will interact with livestock industry leaders and experience various production methods.
Topical Outline
- Evaluating phenotypes and estimating values - Interpreting genetic values using EPD's - Organizing notes and presenting reasons - Market swine evaluation - Breeding swine evaluation - Market cattle evaluation - Breeding cattle evaluation - Market sheep evaluation - Breeding sheep evaluation - Market goat evaluation - Breeding goat evaluation - Participate in a livestock judging contest in order to apply new knowledge and skills in a competitive environment and to demonstrate competency
Syllabus
Public CV