Beef Project Description

• Acquire an understanding of beef cattle production and management through the experience of owning, caring for, and maintaining records on beef cattle.
• Develop the skills, patience and understanding of the handling practices essential in working with beef cattle.
• Develop an appreciation of the cattle industry and its importance in the local community, the province and the country.

• This unit is intended for 4-H members with little or no beef experience.
• A steer or a beef heifer can be fed as a market beef project.
• It provides an opportunity for members to learn about the responsibility involved in caring for a market beef project.
• Each member is to select and provide the majority of the feed, management and care of the market beef project.
• The market beef project must be registered to the 4-H member. Feeding records must be maintained for a minimum of 160 days prior to Achievement Day.
• The club must approve any replacements of the market beef project.
  Achievement
  • Exhibit project animal.
  • Take part in skill competitions as designated by club: showmanship, judging, grooming, project knowledge events.
  • Meet 4-H basic member expectations.
  • Record book up to date.

• Members will gain more experience in the practical aspects of purebred or commercial beef production.
• With successful development of the heifer, the heifer may be retained for subsequent years in the cow/calf unit.
• Each member is to select and provide care for a beef heifer calf. Records are to be maintained on the heifer from weaning through to Achievement Day and, or breeding time of the following year.
• If the member is carrying both the market beef project and the heifer calf, detailed records are to be kept only on the market beef project, and partial records on the heifer calf. If the member is carrying only the heifer calf, the whole record book must be kept on the heifer calf. Partial records are the animal sections of the record book.
  Achievement
  • Exhibit heifer.
  • Other requirements as in Market Beef - Live Unit.

• The cow must be a previous heifer project carried through to this unit.
• Records must be kept on this unit.
  Achievement
  • Exhibit cow and calendar year calf (natural pair). (If a member shows an embryo or orphaned calf as part of the pair, show officials must be notified.)
  • Other requirements as in Market Beef - Live Unit.

• This unit is designed for a beef member with at least three years of 4-H beef project experience, who is interested in advanced beef production.
• Each member selects, feeds, manages and markets at least five beef animals. (District or Regional guidelines may state at least three beef animals.)
• Members must develop a cash flow and business plan for their project.
• Members market their project on their own.
• Members can begin this project any time of the year. Members must arrange to have club leader(s) tour and observe their operation.
  Achievement
  • Conduct a tour or develop a display for club members highlighting management practices learned, cash flow and business plan.
  • Other requirements as in Market Beef - Live Unit.

• This unit is designed for 4-H beef members with no 4-H beef project experience.
• A member 9 to 11 years of age (Juniors) as of January 1 of the current 4-H year may enroll in this project for one (1) year.
• Each member selects, feeds, manages and exhibits a calendar year calf (January 1 to March 1) of that 4-H year.
• Member must keep records on the animal for at least 90 days prior to the Achievement Day event.
• Members have the option of continuing to exhibit this project as a Market Beef - Live or a Heifer Unit.
  Achievement
  • Exhibit project animal.
  • Other requirements as in the Market Beef - Live Unit.

• This unit is intended for 4-H members with at least two years beef experience.
• It provides an opportunity to learn more about the beef industry by following the project from weaning through to the cooler.
• Members can market their project on their own.
• Feeding records must be maintained for the period determined by the club.
  Achievement
  • Exhibit project.
  • Attend Carcass Display.
  • Other requirements as in Market Beef - Live Unit.

• This unit is designed for members at least 15 years of age at the beginning of the club year, who have completed their project studies outlined in Levels 1 to 3 of the beef project.
• Members must arrange with their club leadership to take this as a 4-H project. Members who are taking Green Certificate program through school may also carry this as a 4-H project. Members must have the approval and support of club leadership.
• Requirements of completing a Green Certificate 4­‑H Project are:
• Members must do three (3) de monstrations/talks on the training objectives that they are striving for through the Green Certificate program, during the club year that tie in with the club’s program plan. Units that are offered by Green Certificate are: Cow-Calf Beef Production Technician or Feedlot Technician.
• Under Cow-Calf Beef Production Technician members cover Training Objectives: Handling Cattle, Maintaining Cattle Health, Operating a Feeding Program, Operating General Farm Equipment, Operating Trucks and Tractors, and Personal Working Skills.
• Under Feedlot Technician members cover Training Objectives: Processing and Handling Cattle, Treating Cattle Chute Side, Pen Checking, Feeding Cattle, Operating and Servicing Equipment and Facilities, and Personal Working Skills.
  Achievement
  • Members complete the requirements of the Green Certificate program.
  • Deliver three (3) demonstrations/talks or workshops during the year.
  • Develop and present a display or oral presentation on their Green Certificate Unit to their local 4-H club or district council on their project.
  • Other requirements as in Market Beef - Live Unit.

• This unit is designed for intermediate (12 to 14 years old) and senior (15 to 20 years old) members as of January 1st of the current club year.
• The members must have completed at least three years of 4-H project work and wish to design their own area of study. In this unit, members select, plan, share and evaluate their own projects.
• Further information on this project is available by ordering the Creative Options Project Member Guide or by contacting the 4-H specialist in your region.
  Achievement
  • Conduct a tour or develop a display for club members highlighting management practices learned, cash flow and business plan.
  • Other requirements as in Market Beef - Live Unit.

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