The Most Important Piece of Equipment

    In livestock production, there are several tools that are used to raise and produce animals. There are water hoses, clippers, blow dryers, chutes, stands, halters, combs, brushes and many other pieces of tack and equipment.

     Of all the pieces of equipment, the ones that should be used and paid the most attention are the humble scales. That's right, the scales can tell us more about how your livestock project is doing than any other piece of equipment. Sure you may think halters, grooming equipment and other pieces of tack can make a big difference in your project, but a scale never lies about what is going on with your project.

     There are two scales every livestock project should have available: scales for livestock and scales for feed. I am not saying you need to spend a lot of money and everybody needs to own these scales, but you should find a set you can use or borrow. Livestock scales may be a community or group asset. They might be available at your county fairgrounds, sale barn, feed store, 4-H club or FFA Chapter. You do not need to use livestock scales everyday, but once a week, every two weeks or monthly can provide you valuable information about how your animal is gaining (or not).

     Small feed scales will help you track your inputs. You might use these every time you start building your feed ration for a single feeding. I would advise you to use the scales at least every time you make a change in your feed amounts. They are most important when you start mixing feed with additives and supplements. You may build a much larger ration than you thought without scales.

      So why are scales important beyond just giving you a weight for your animal or feed ration? The information from these scales can be used to formulate important data to help in your management of your livestock project. Here are some examples

Ration Amounts

     For most livestock, a proper amount of ration is 3% to 5% of their body weight. If you weigh your pig and her weight is 150 lbs. and you need to feed 3% of her weight per day, then do the math:

 

 (150 lbs. X 3% ) ➗ 100 = 4.5 lbs. of feed per day

    

     This means if you feed twice (2) times a day you need to get your feed scales and weigh out 2.25lbs of feed for each ration. This way you will feed her 2.25 lbs. in the morning and 2.25 lbs. in the evening for a total of 4.5 lbs. per day.

Rate of Gain

     A rate of gain is the daily average of weight gained by your animal over a period of time. This can vary as an animal grows. At steer nominations for your county fair, your steer weighs 850 lbs. You want your steer to weigh 1375 lbs. at the fair in 150 days. What is your desired rate of gain? Let's do the math:

(Desired weight 1375 lbs. - Starting weight, 850 lbs.)  ➗ 150 days = 3.5 lbs. per day

      Now you know your desired rate of gain, you could weigh your steer every 30 days to see how they are doing.

     Day 30      Weighed 935 lbs.     

 Rate of gain = (935 lbs. - 850 lbs.) ➗ 30 days = 2.8 lbs. per day

 

     Day 60      Weighed 1023 lbs.    

Rate of gain = (1023 lbs. - 935 lbs.) ➗ 30 days = 2.9 lbs. per day

 

     Day 90      Weighed 1128 lbs.    

Rate of gain = (1128 lbs. - 1023 lbs.) ➗ 30 days = 3.5 lbs. per day

 

     Day 120    Weighed 1242 lbs.    

Rate of gain = (1242 lbs. - 1128 lbs.) ➗ 30 days = 3.8 lbs. per day

 

     Day 150    Weighed 1370 lbs.    

Rate of gain = (1370 lbs. - 1242 lbs.) ➗ 30 days = 4.3 lbs. per day

 

     Total Rate of Gain (1370 lbs. - 850 lbs.) ➗ 150 days = 3.46 lbs. per day

Administering Medication

     Your sheep is sick and the vet gives you medication. You should give it at a rate of 2cc per 50lbs. of body weight each day for 5 days. How much should you be giving? Do the math.

(Sheep weighed 150 lbs. ➗ 50 lbs.) X 2cc of medication = 6cc of medication per day

     Knowing weights is an important part of the proper management of a livestock project. With the weights you can formulate other data. Without using scales, all you can do is guess and wait to be surprised at the end result.


Scott Stinnett
Extension Associate
Kit Carson County
Golden Plains Area
Colorado State University Extension

The Big Show

     The county fair sometimes seems like old habit. Many youth are the second or third generation showing at the county fair. The first time going is easy with surrounded by parents, friends and neighbors. Going to the state fair for the first time can be a little overwhelming.

     First bit of advice is read the state fair rules and regulations. Nothing is worse than getting there and finding out that an animal is disqualified from showing due to a technicality. It may be the animal's age, lack of proper tags or I.D., proof of ownership, or proper veterinary papers. It is disheartening to say the least to have hauled for hours, made hotel reservations, and get told to "pack it up" and head home.

    Next bit of advice is ask questions of those who have gone before. Find out: What tack, bedding or feed to take; Where to park the truck and the trailer; Which roads to take: Which gates to enter; and Where is the best place to stay and eat.

    Once you have a handle on the regulations and got some good practical advice, its time to work on the mental game. Work on your showmanship, remembering what the judge said about you at the county fair. Get some rest. School starts, fall sports begin and the state fair all happen at the same time. If you are exhausted at the fair, it will show in the ring (and maybe on social media when you are caught napping with your animal!) And prepare yourself for tougher competition. Your champion animal at the county fair is going against the other county champions. Only one can be the state fair champion and it is based on one judge's opinion. Be mentally prepared to be a gracious winner and also a good sport if things do not go the way you want.

     Remember the state fair is another opportunity to learn, exhibitor your animal, show your skills and meet new people. Take advantage of everything the fair offers.

This is a pretty short post, but I gotta go. I am headed to the State Fair too!


Scott Stinnett
Extension Associate
Kit Carson County
Golden Plains Area
Colorado State University Extension

The Fair is Over! What Did You Learn?

     County fairs are about a lot of things. The rides, the food, the rodeo, the demolition derby, and the time together with neighbors to visit and enjoy an annual summertime event. For youth livestock exhibitors, it might be the chance to show your animals, hang out with your friends, and make a little extra money during the livestock sale.

     The intent of youth livestock shows are to allow the exhibitors to compete with their fellow youth and display the livestock they have spent time and energy caring for, working with, and preparing to exhibit over the past few months. They are examples, to show the general public, how well the youth of today are preparing themselves to be the future of the livestock industry.

     In preparing to become the future of the livestock industry, youth learn valuable lessons by raising one or multiple animals projects for the fair. Everything from animal feeding, health care, animal handling, grooming, livestock marketing, to record keeping are all part of the process of raising a livestock project.

     So, what did you learn this year? When I ask youth this question, the usual response comes from something they considered that went wrong or was a failure. Learning from a mistake is not a bad thing. We all had to fall a few times to learn to walk. It is easy to focus on negatives. They tend to stick with us. I can still tell you the place, the judge and the heifer I was showing when I was named reserve showman, all because I did not comb the spot the judge touched her while asking me questions during showmanship. I never missed combing my claves again, and have always touched a calf when judging a show to make sure the exhibitor combed the spot.

    The thing about the fair is it tends to show us a mistake that was made way before the fair started. So what did you learn this year? Do you need to pick animals of a different age to be the appropriate weight for fair because they were too light or too heavy? Do you need to change your feeding regiment to grow your animals right? How was your showmanship? How well was your animal groomed? Did you have the tack you needed?

     After the fair, everyone is tired. The animals are gone or turned out on pasture. Tack may or may not be unloaded from the trailer. The stalls and pens may still be dirty from when you loaded up and headed out. There is an abundance of dirty laundry, but nothing to eat in the fridge.

     As you start putting things back together, don't forget to make note of what you learned from this year's fair. Start planning for the next fair or show. To improve, make those changes to how you do things. Your next experience will be better than this year's if you do.



Scott Stinnett
Extension Associate
Kit Carson County
Golden Plains Area
Colorado State University Extension

The Importance of Saying Thank You

   4-H members are asked to complete a lot of tasks throughout the year, including thanking people. Members receive awards from fair, sell livestock projects at the fair sale, and receive awards recognition at the achievement banquet. These are all just some instances when saying thank you is so important, but can easily be overlooked.

      Saying thank you, whether that be verbally or written, is extremely important. Dr. Laura Trice explained in her TED talk (2008) that most of us want to be told thank you to show that we are appreciated for the work that was done. Dr. Trice also gives four reasons for saying thank you, which include someone might really need to know someone is appreciative of them, by hearing thank you someone is more likely to pay it forward, it can make someone smile, and it can also improve a person’s mental and physical health. Additionally, Dr. Bernice Ledbetter (2016) explained that gratitude gained from being thanked can improve self-esteem and increase confidence.

     When it comes to thanking people in person, remember eye contact, body language and tone of voice all leave an impression and can impact the effectiveness of a thank you. Of course, the most obvious thing to say is thank you, but it should also be accompanied by a firm handshake. However, there are other phrases that can have similar meaning, such as those suggested by Kat Boogard (2016), which include “I really appreciate that,” “You’re a Lifesaver,” and “How Can I Repay You?”

     While verbal thank you’s are perhaps the most common, another method of thanking someone, writing is just as important. However, thank you notes have become less and less common in today’s society. Nancy Olson (2017) considered the reasons to write thank you notes to include it’s the right thing to do, it sets you apart from others, and gratitude is good for the brain. Allison Capley (2014) adds that thank you notes help build relationships, demonstrate your communication skills, and it is more personal than a text or email.

     Written thank you notes need to be well-written. In a guide provided by the University Idaho Extension, elements of a thank you note should include a greeting, expressing your gratitude, discussing use of the donation, thanking the donor again, and a closing salutation. Additional recommendations include using plain stationary and cards, always plan ahead, use blue or black ink, handwrite your notes, take your time, and keep them short and sweet, but meaningful. The most important part is simply making sure you write those thank you notes. Spelling and grammar is also important, as this leaves an impression.

     There has been a rise in providing buyer gifts at fair livestock auctions. While this is in no means a requirement, it is another method of saying thank you that many have adopted. Baskets with items they can use when preparing the meat from the animal they purchased, baked goods, and candy are all things that indicate appreciation. Taking things later by the person’s business is another way to say thanks. However, such items should also not replace a verbal and written thank you.

 

     It is important for 4-H members to remember that each contribution (no matter the size) are gifts that the donor felt they were able to give. A sincere thank you can certainly make it more likely the donor will return with their support. Therefore, it is important to remember to say thank you!

 

Amy Kelley

4-H Extension Agent

Cheyenne County

Southeast Area

Colorado State University