Market Steer Project Market Steer Handbook

Transcription

1 Market Steer Project 2018 Market Steer Handbook

2 Advisory Committee Dr. Tom Dobbins Mrs. Lucy Charping Dr. Matt Burns Mr. Tim Elmore Director, Clemson Cooperative Extension Greenwood County 4-H Agent SC Beef Specialist Beef Industry Representative, 4-H Club Leader The 2018 Market Steer Project Liaison is Lucy Charping, For immediate questions or concerns regarding your steer or the project in general, please contact Mrs. Charping with any questions before contacting anyone else. This will help save you time in getting the help you need. The Committee works to ensure high learning outcomes and successful project experiences for each participant. They also develop and implement the rules and regulations that govern the project. The Breed Club Representatives will relay to the Committee suggestions from their respective breed club. The Extension representative will relay Project activities to their respective areas. Project Overview The South Carolina Market Steer Project is approximately a 8 month commitment where youth get to experience the market steer and beef industry. Participants select and secure a beef steer and raise him to market (slaughter) weight. Market weight for a beef steer is at least 1,000 pounds with the ideal weight being around 1,250 pounds. Participants will be required to care for, train, and show their steer while documenting their experiences in their project record book. All participants must complete a project record book in order to sale their steer. Participants will document items such as: Weight gain (calculated Average Daily Gain- ADG) Amount of feed being fed All project expenses All health care records, including vaccinations Beef related activities, shows, and events attended

3 All record books conclude with the project story where each participant will reflect on their experiences during the project and discuss what they did and learned. You will be given a record book at the Market Steer Kick-off; if you need another one you can down load it from livestock/youth_ls_beef.html The project comes to an end at the Final Show each year where the project steers will be sold at the Market Steer Project Sale. Participants ARE REQUIRED to sell their steers at the sale. In order for the Sale to be successful and participants get the most amount possible for their steer, each participant MUST help solicit and secure potential buyers/supporters of the project animals. This only helps strengthen the project on multiple levels. One end objective of this project is to sell a wholesome quality food product that is representative of the quality of meat in the beef industry. The objectives of the SC Market Steer Project are for youth to: Develop an understanding of market steer production by purchasing, feeding, caring for and keeping records on one steer. Gain foundational knowledge of feeding and nutrition in order to produce a high quality meat carcass. Implement marketing strategies to solicit and secure buyers for their own steer. Recognize the degree of quality of beef products and understand their importance to human nutrition. Employ business and record keeping skills through the business aspects and economics of purchasing animals, feeds, facilities and equipment for a cattle project. Gain personal skills such as integrity, character, sportsmanship, cooperation and ability to speak in public through participation in related activities, such as demonstrations, talks, judging events, tours and exhibits. Build leadership skills through becoming an advocate for the market steer project and assuming citizenship responsibilities for the beef industry. During the project, youth will learn about the beef cattle industry, nutrition, housing and facilities, health care, and cattle behavior. There are many activities youth can participate in to learn about the care and handling of beef cattle and the beef industry. Some associations have junior memberships and activities. Check with your breed specific associations and state and county level Cattlemen s Associations. It always a good idea to regularly check with local feed stores, newspapers, 4-H & Extension Agents, or FFA Advisors who may hear about or post cattle related workshops or events. Another learning opportunity is the South Carolina Livestock Judging Contest. This contest challenges youth to develop a special vocabulary and knowledge of livestock anatomy and function, to correctly place animals, and verbally defend their decisions. This event teaches youth observation, organization, and verbal skills which are critical to their development.

4 Participant Eligibility Participants are only allowed to register ONE steer! The steer that you register must be under the age of 2! You are REQUIRED to turn in a record book at weigh-in at the final show in order to sale your steer! Steers must be owned and cared for by the participant and housed in South Carolina during the project. Participants must: have access to a farm or adequate acreage with adequate shelter and space to house a market steer for 8 months. be willing to commit to raising a market steer for approximately 8 months. be current residents of South Carolina and active, dues paying members of 4-H or FFA in good standing. be at least 5 years of age but not over 19 years of age on January 1 st of the project year. be responsible for all costs incurred during the duration of the Project (feed, housing, veterinarians, etc.). be aware that often members only break even and some even lose money. It is a time-consuming and sometimes costly project. Participant Responsibilities Participants are expected to treat all animals with respect and proper handling. No abuse of animals will be allowed. Any participant that is suspected of or determined to be abusing animals or acting in an unsportsmanlike manner can be dismissed from a show, removed from the project, or banned from future animal projects as deemed necessary by the project committee. Participants must attend, with their steer, the Market Steer Kick-Off in May. Steer must be present for official weigh-in and identification. Participants must get their steers to at least 1,000 lbs by the Final Show date. Do not cut corners on feed! Participants must contact at least 3 potential buyers for their steer. Copies of letters, s, or a phone number must be submitted as part of the record book. Record books will be handed out at Kick-Off. Completed record books will be due upon conclusion of the steer sale at the Final Show. Turn your record books into Lucy Charping, a member of the Market Steer Project committee, or your local Extension Agent. Youth are responsible for registering for the Final Show. Participating in this project does NOT register anyone for the show.

5 Project Kick-Off The project begins the day of Kick-Off (in May) and continues until the Final Show/Steer Sale in October. There will be a $30.00 registration fee for each steer nominated to cover expenses associated with the program. This fee is due no later than Kick-Off. All steers will be weighed and identified with a project ear tag at the Kick-Off event held in May. You MUST attend the Kick-Off with your animal. We will weigh and tag your steer then. Market Steer Sale Youth are responsible for registering to show at the Final Show. Participating in this project does NOT register anyone for the show. All Final Show rules apply and will be ruled upon by the Final Show Superintendent. To qualify for the Market Steer show at the Union County Show, a steer must weigh a minimum of 1,000 lbs at the official check-in. Steers will then be equally divided into classes based on check-in weights. If a steer does not meet the weight requirement then he will be moved to the Feeder Steer show and will not be eligible to sell in the Market Steer Project Sale. Steers will be judged on the hoof with premiums and ribbons awarded as listed in the current Final Show Premium Guide. Final Show officials reserve the right to inspect the steers and implement an identification program after they are entered in the Final Show. Final Show will be open to ALL market steers (project and non-project animals), however SC 4-H/FFA Market Steers will be recognized separately. ONLY Steers entered in the SC 4-H/FFA Market Steer Project and that make weight, will be eligible for the sale after the show. The Market Steer Project Sale will be held after completion of the Market Steer Show at the Final Show. Participants must contact at least 3 potential buyers for their steer. Copies of letters, s, or a phone number must be submitted with the record book. Participants MUST hand their record book in at weigh-in at the final show so we can sign it. We will hand your book back so that you can finish it. Participants must hand in the completed book by

6 the end of the night at the final show. There will be a 5% sales commission deducted from the sale price of each steer to fund the SC Market Steer Program, yardage, and other costs related to the project. Youth are required to sell their Steers at the Final Show Market Steer Sale in order to experience the full market animal process. No private treaty sales will be allowed. Steers who do not make the 1,000 lb. minimum at sale day will not be allowed to be sold at the Final Show Market Steer Sale. Related Activities Jr. Beef Round-Up (1 st weekend in August) Clemson University s Cooperative Extension Service organizes a weekend of junior beef cattle activities for junior beef enthusiasts and their families. Besides the great camaraderie, there are many opportunities for junior cattlemen to win college scholarships, cash prizes, livestock supplies, and various other awards. South Carolina State Fair Junior Beef Scholarship (October) South Carolina Farm Bureau awards two $2,500 scholarships using the following criteria: 1. Open only to South Carolina youth. 2. Applicant must be an exhibitor at the South Carolina State Fair. 3. Applicant must be a high school student in grade 10, 11, or 12 or presently enrolled in college. 4. Applicant must at some future date pursue a college degree program. 5. The scholarship will be awarded to the individual with the combined top score in the following sections: 10% Evaluate Heifer Class 15% Showmanship 25% Production Quiz 25% Discussion Question 25% Judges Interview South Carolina 4-H/FFA State Livestock Judging Contest (Spring) This contest challenges youth to develop a special vocabulary and knowledge of livestock anatomy and function, to correctly place animals, and verbally defend their decisions. This event teaches youth observation, organization, and verbal skills which are critical to their development.

7 Questions or Concerns ØØ In questioning project rules or issues with your project you should contact the following people/groups in this order 1) Your leader, agriculture teacher, project helper or advisor 2) County Extension 4-H or Livestock Agent ØØ When you may have an issue related to your project during the show, please contact the following people/groups in this order 1) Your leader, agriculture teacher, project helper or advisor 2) Show coordinator or superintendent 3) South Carolina Youth Livestock Program Coordinator

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