4-H Livestock Programs and Information

Rabbit Showing Resources

Members of the Rabbit program can download the informative and helpful showmanship guide. E-record books are availalble on the E-Records webpage.

Douglas County Junior Livestock Show

June 2, 2012 at the Douglas County Fairgrounds in Castle Rock. We are adding rabbits this year. All details are in the registration forms and fliers below.

Colorado Agricultural Leadership Foundation

The Colorado Agricultural Leadership Foundation (CALF) sponsors educational programs at Lowell Ranch and provides facilities for club activities.

Animal Care and Housing Form

If you are enrolling in ANY livestock or horse project this 4-H year you MUST have an animal care form on file for each species. These need to be in the office by your species enrollment deadline. For example, if you are taking a beef project you will need to have your form in by March 1st in order to have a tag put in your animal’s ear at weigh in.

If you have any questions about filling out this form, please contact the office at 720-733-6940.

Mandatory Country of Origin Labeling (COOL)

Mandatory Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) was implemented starting on September 30, 2008 by the USDA.  As a result, all cuts of beef, pork, lamb, goat, and chicken must have documentation as to the origin of the animals to be marketed in the U.S. and international meat industry.  This act will require effective documentation of 4-H or FFA market animal projects that will be sold for meat purposes. Read the COOL guide below for more information and complete the Cool form for all project livestock.

Market Beef Planning

Now is the time to begin thinking about purchasing your animal. Call your leader or the Extension Office if you need information on where to purchase market beef. In an attempt to speed up the Brand Inspection at the Beef Weigh-In, the following should be done: Have your cattle brand inspected for any change of ownership prior to the weigh-in date. We will not accept any handwritten bills of sale or brand papers unless they are in the 4-H'ers name. No brand inspection papers will be written the day of beef weigh-in. All breeding cattle being shown at county fair must be brand inspected and in the 4-H member's name.

Livestock Learning Kits Available

Are you taking a new livestock project this year? You can learn all about a variety of animals by checking out one of our Livestock Learning Kits. We have swine, sheep, goat, horse, poultry, rabbit, and dog.

To check out a kit, simply come to the 4-H office during business hours. There is a $50 deposit fee that you get back once the kit is returned. Beat the rush and check one out soon!

 Girls with rabbits

Colorado Premise Identification - for ALL livestock and horse owners

The National Animal Identification System (NAIS) is coming. Right now premise identification is voluntary, however, USDA has established a timeline and Colorado is leading the way in this venture.

Livestock production is vitally important to the U.S. and Colorado’s economy. In today’s global market and with the number of animal disease outbreaks that have been reported around the globe the past decade, there is a need for quick and accurate traceability back to the point of disease introduction. The USDA has created an easy way to identify premises with a goal of tracing disease within 48 hours.

So what does this mean to you? All premises with livestock and poultry (including horses) needs to get registered with a seven-character number. Even a 4-H member doing short term livestock projects during the year needs to obtain a number. All you have to do is register online or fill out a simple card asking for name, owner, address, telephone number, operation type and types of livestock. These cards are available at the Extension office. If you have additional questions, please call the Colorado Animal ID Toll Free Line at 1-877-842-0102.

State 4-H Livestock Web Page

This new site includes a market swine judging practice class, the Livingston Porkulator!, informational materials regarding the NAIS and Premises ID programs and a calendar of state livestock events. It can be found at http://livestock.colostate.edu/youth/