Animal Science

Join our 4-H Animal Science Program email list!

Receive event information and program updates!

The availability of animal science projects varies by club and county. Please check with your local club to see what is available. 

Older youth supervising younger youth feeding pig

Curriculum & education contest preparation

Calendars

You can subscribe to the 4-H Google Calendars to keep track of upcoming events of interest. Event listings are sponsored by California 4-H as well as other organizations. Please contact Erica Pettey at eapettey@ucanr.edu to get your event added to the Google calendar. 

National 4-H Competitions

Every year California 4-H is well represented by a variety of teams competing at national contests. To compete in national contests 4-H youth must first qualify at a State Qualifying Event.

Livestock Judging

Dairy Judging

National 4-H Dairy Judging competition at the World Dairy Expo (Madison, WI). The World Dairy Expo is the international dairy meeting place, a five-day event showcasing the finest in dairy genetics and the newest technologies available to the dairy industry.

Poultry Judging & Avian Bowl

4-H National Poultry and Egg Conference (Louisville, KY)

State Qualifying Events

Participants who qualify for national competition will receive additional information from the State 4-H office.

Livestock Judging - UC Davis CA & ES, March 2, 2024

Date:  Saturday, March 2, 2024

Location:  UC Davis campus (see additional information on Field Day website for contest specific locations)

Youth competing in the Senior 4-H division of each of these contests will be eligible to qualify for a national 4-H competition. 

Registration Deadline:  February 9, 2024

Registration Information: Registration of 4-H teams and individual entries must be managed by your county office. Accounts have been created for this purpose and your county staff needs to reach out to JudgingCard.com to activate these accounts. Please have them email info@judgingcard.com to gain access to the account. Registrations can not be made through the JudgingCard system by parents, coaches or youth members. JudgingCard accounts are meant to be accessed at the county level. 

Late Registration Deadline: February 20, 2024 (contact the Field Day Coordinator at caes-field-day@caes.ucdavis.edu to register after February 9, 2024)

Poultry Judging - UC Davis CA & ES, March 2, 2024

Date:  Saturday, March 2, 2024

Location:  UC Davis campus (see additional information on Field Day website for contest specific locations)

Youth competing in the Senior 4-H division of each of these contests will be eligible to qualify for a national 4-H competition. 

Registration Deadline:  February 9, 2024

Registration Information: Registration of 4-H teams and individual entries must be managed by your county office. Accounts have been created for this purpose and your county staff needs to reach out to JudgingCard.com to activate these accounts. Please have them email info@judgingcard.com to gain access to the account. Registrations can not be made through the JudgingCard system by parents, coaches or youth members. JudgingCard accounts are meant to be accessed at the county level. 

Late Registration Deadline: February 20, 2024 (contact the Field Day Coordinator at caes-field-day@caes.ucdavis.edu to register after February 9, 2024)

Avian Bowl - Greater Society of Poultry Fanciers' Show, Feb. 24, 2024

Avian Bowl

2024 Avian Bowl - State Qualifier Contest

At the Greater Society of Poultry Fanciers' Show (Fresno, CA)

Date: February 24, 2024

* Eligible to qualify for the National 4-H Avian Bowl contest

Deadline to enter: Entry must be postmarked or faxed by February 12th

Entry Form and more information

Avian Bowl Study Materials

Dairy Judging - UC Davis CA & ES, March 2, 2024

Date:  Saturday, March 2, 2024

Location:  UC Davis campus (see additional information on Field Day website for contest specific locations)

Youth competing in the Senior 4-H division of each of these contests will be eligible to qualify for a national 4-H competition. 

Registration Deadline:  February 9, 2024

Registration Information: Registration of 4-H teams and individual entries must be managed by your county office. Accounts have been created for this purpose and your county staff needs to reach out to JudgingCard.com to activate these accounts. Please have them email info@judgingcard.com to gain access to the account. Registrations can not be made through the JudgingCard system by parents, coaches or youth members. JudgingCard accounts are meant to be accessed at the county level. 

Late Registration Deadline: February 20, 2024 (contact the Field Day Coordinator at caes-field-day@caes.ucdavis.edu to register after February 9, 2024)

Curriculum

Curriculum for 4-H projects is available through UC ANR Publications and Shop 4-H

Animal Science Project Sheets 

Project Sheets are a guide for Project Leaders to develop lessons with meaningful content and a reference for families and youth to learn about the types of projects that might be available. Not all projects have Project Sheets available. You will find links for available Project Sheets below. 

Youth caring for chickens outdoors

Avian Projects

Youth holding rabbit in a garden of flowers

Small Animal Projects

Youth with goat on a leash

Goat Projects

Adult helping a youth on a horse

Large Animal Projects

Youth looking at jar with leaves and specimen

Other projects

Questions? 

Please contact Erica Pettey at eapettey@ucanr.edu.