Rules and Regulations:

Team and Contestant Eligibility

1. Each state is invited to enter one (1) team of up the four (4) contestants.

2. Teams consist of three or four members. In teams in which there are four members, all will compete, but the member receiving the lowest overall score will be automatically declared the alternate. The scores of the alternate will not be included in any of the team totals, but will be considered in making all individual awards. Teams consisting of three members will have no alternate and all members’ scores will count in determining individual and team awards.

3. The team may be selected by any procedure that the state deems to be appropriate. Team members must be enrolled in 4-H in the state they represent during the current year. Their eligibility must be certified by the State 4-H leader. Registration forms will be sent to state 4-H leaders or state livestock extension specialists by September 1. Completed entry forms should be returned by October 10.

4. Contestants must be at least 14 years of age on January 1 of the current calendar year and not have had their 19th birthday before January 1 of the current calendar year. Four-H members are ineligible if they have completed a collegiate level animal science course.

5. Since this is a new event, judging team participants will be allowed to compete in both livestock judging and the livestock Skillathon. After competing in the Skillathon contest, they are ineligible to compete in the same contest again. Contestants must not have competed previously in any official post secondary livestock quiz bowl or livestock quadrathalon contests.

6. An entry fee of $50 per team will be due with the team entry. These funds are used to help defray the expenses of the contest.

Contest Method of Conduct

1. All contestants and coaches will report to the Kentucky Fair and Exposition Center on Monday, November 13 at 1:30 p.m. At this time, contestants will receive final instructions regarding the contest and will be sorted into groups.

2. The contest will be divided into two rounds. In the first round of the contest, one group will participate in the team oriented classes while the other group will complete the individual competitor classes of the contest. In the second round, the two large groups will switch areas of competition.

3. During the individual competition round of the contest, contestants will be further divided into groups and will remain with that assigned group throughout that contest round of classes. While completing the individual competition classes, there will be no conferring between contestants or between a contestant and anyone else except as directed by contest officials. Contestants will be allowed twelve minutes to complete each individual competition class.

Individual competition round classes:

1. Retail meat cut identification
2. Livestock equipment identification
3. Livestock breed identification
4. Meat judging class
5. Hay judging class
6. Quality assurance exercise

4. Team members will complete one official answer sheet for each team effort class representing the combined effort of all team members. Teams will be allowed fifteen minutes to complete the group assignments of each class and turn in their answer sheet. During the team competition round of the contest, contestants will be allowed to confer only with team members during time period allowed for each class.

Team competition round classes

1. Quality assurance exercise
2. Evaluation of livestock feeding and performance information
3. Feed tag knowledge and feed identification
4. Animal breeding scenario and exercise
5. Livestock quiz (conducted during team round, but completed and scored as an individual competition component)

5. No contest shall wear any clothing, pins, or badges that will in any way reveal his identity or the state which he represents. The contest will be held inside, so dress accordingly. No hats are to be worn.

6. Contestants may use a black steno pad or a clipboard and blank paper. Contestants may also use a small pocket calculator. The contestants may bring no books, notes, pamphlets, or other reference material into the contest area.

7. Contestants are not to pick up or touch any item that is being identified or evaluated in the individual competition classes.

8. Coaches are invited to review contest materials in the contest area at the conclusion of the contest at approximately 5:30 P.M.

9. Complete and return the Team Entry Form, Invitational 4-H Livestock Skillathon Contest along with entry fee to the contest chairman by October 10.

10. The contest awards will be presented in conjunction during the awards breakfast of the National 4-H Livestock Judging Contest. The awards breakfast will be held at 8:30 a.m., Wednesday, November 15 at the North American International Livestock Exposition in the South Wing

Contest Classes

Classes completed as an individual

1. Retail meat cut identification: (50 possible point) Identify uniformly accepted name of a total of ten beef, pork, and lamb retail cuts on display including the wholesale cut from which each retail cut originates.

2. Livestock equipment identification: (50 possible points) Identify the proper name for a specified number of pieces of equipment used in livestock production.

3. Livestock breed identification: (50 possible points) Identify from photographs or pictures a specified number of livestock (beef cattle, swine and sheep) breeds.

4. Meat judging class: Rank a class of four similar retail cuts of meat (50 possible points). Answer questions about the class of meat cuts (25 possible points).

5. Hay judging class: Rank a class of four hay samples with forage analysis information. (50 possible points). Answer 5 questions about the class of hay (25 possible points).

6. Quality assurance exercise: (50 possible points) Demonstrate how to read a medicine label, calculate withdrawal times, complete a treatment record and make responsible management decisions regarding quality assurance.

7. Quiz: (50 possible points) Complete a quiz concerning the total livestock industry.

Total possible individual points = 400

Classes completed as a team

1. Quality assurance exercise: (100 possible points) Demonstrate how to read an animal health product label, calculate dosage rates and withdrawal times, complete a treatment record, be familiar with administration routes, and make responsible management decisions regarding quality assurance.

2. Evaluation of livestock feeding and performance information: (100 possible points) Use basic feeding information to calculate important efficiency measures such as: average daily gain, fee conversion, cost per pound of gain, and break-even costs and then use the information to make management and/or marketing decisions.

3. Feed tag knowledge and fee identification: (100 possible points) Demonstrate ability to read and interpret information of a feed tag and answer questions regarding management decisions. Participants may be asked to identify a specified number of feedstuffs and identify each corresponding nutrient group. (Feed samples and feed names labels will be provided).

4. Animal breeding scenario and exercise: (100 possible points) Team members will evaluate a breeding animal scenario and make animal selection decisions based upon performance data to rank breeding animals for use within the situation.

Possible point total for team classes = 400

Total team scores will be determined by adding the highest three team member individual competition class totals with the total accumulated from the team competition classes. (Possible total team score: 1600 points)

Awards

Individual and team awards will be given in all divisions:

• Top 10 teams overall - Top 10 individuals overall
• Top 4 teams in Quality Assurance - Top 5 individuals in Quality Assurance
• Top 4 teams in Identification - Top 5 individuals in Identification
• Top 4 teams in Evaluation - Top 5 individuals in Evaluation