Livestock Judging
Junior Livestock Evaluation
The junior livestock evaluation contest functions to test students' abilities to identify, evaluate, and discuss relative differences in breeding and market livestock. Students will rank 8 classes of livestock (cattle, swine, sheep, and goats), evaluate 2 sets of keep/cull breeding animals, answer 2 sets of questions, deliver 1 set of oral reasons, and complete a 25-question exam related to livestock selection and evaluation.
The Junior Livestock Selection Contest will consist of the following:
8 placing classes--3 cattle, 2 hogs, 2 sheep, 1 goat
1 set of oral reasons--Class to be determined day of the contest
Oral Reasons Scoring Guidelines:
45-50 points: Completely accurate, correct organization, excellent delivery.
40-44 points: Mostly accurate, correct organization, adequate delivery.
30-39 points: Inaccurate in places, improper organization in spots, need more specific detail, average delivery.
20-29 points: Completely inaccurate, prioritization unclear, marginal detail, poor delivery.
<20 points: Minimal effort, did not appear to care or be involved in the competition.
2 sets of questions
10 questions per set. Officials will be instructed to focus questions on obvious and important differences within the class.
All questions will be answered upon conclusion of judging following a 3-minute study period for each class.
Questions classes will vary amongst all four species and may be on a breeding or market class.
2 keep/cull classes
These will be breeding animals (male or female).
Two different species (beef, swine, sheep, or goat) will be represented.
For each animal, contestants should identify KEEP or CULL on the scantron. Contestants should KEEP the 4 most desirable animals and CULL the 4 least desirable animals. Failure to keep exactly 4 animals and to cull exactly 4 animals will result in a score of zero!
Multiple-choice Exam
The exam will focus on components related to livestock judging and evaluation. This would include items related to animal breeding and genetics (EPDs, Indexes, etc.) and livestock marketing and evaluation (average carcass measurements, yield grading, quality grading, etc.). Basic, but relevant industry-oriented questions are also "fair game".
CDE Scoring Summary:
Placing classes....................400 points
Oral Reasons.......................50 points
Questions............................100 points
Keep/Cull...........................100 points
Exam...................................50 points
Senior Livestock Evaluation
The senior livestock evaluation contest functions to test students' abilities to identify, evaluate, and discuss relative differences in breeding and market livestock. Students will rank 8 classes of livestock (cattle, swine, sheep, and goats), evaluate 2 sets of keep/cull breeding animals, answer 2 sets of questions, prepare and deliver 3 sets of oral reasons (1 set/species), and complete a 25-question exam related to livestock selection and evaluation.
The 2015 Senior Livestock Selection Contest will consist of the following:
8 ranking classes--3 cattle, 2 hog, 2 sheep, 1 goat
3 sets of oral reasons--1 set/species (cattle, hogs, sheep/goats)
All specific reasons classes will be determined the day of the contest.
Oral Reasons Scoring Guidelines:
45-50 points: Completely accurate, correct organization, excellent delivery.
40-44 points: Mostly accurate, correct organization, adequate delivery.
30-39 points: Inaccurate in places, improper organization in spots, need more specific detail, average delivery.
20-29 points: Completely inaccurate, prioritization unclear, marginal detail, poor delivery.
<20 points: Minimal effort, did not appear to care or be involved in the competition.
2 sets of questions
10 questions per set. Officials will be instructed to focus questions on obvious and important differences within the class.
All questions will be answered upon conclusion of judging following a 3-minute study period for each class.
Questions classes will vary amongst all four species and may be on a breeding or market class.
2 keep/cull classes
These will be breeding animals (male or female).
Two different species (beef, swine, sheep, or goat) will be represented.
For each animal, contestants should identify KEEP or CULL on the scantron. Contestants should KEEP the 4 most desirable animals and CULL the 4 least desirable animals. Failure to keep exactly 4 animals and to cull exactly 4 animals will result in a score of zero!
Multiple-choice Exam
The exam will focus on components related to livestock judging and evaluation. This would include items related to animal breeding and genetics (EPDs, Indexes, etc.) and livestock marketing and evaluation (average carcass measurements, yield grading, quality grading, etc.). Basic, but relevant industry-oriented questions are also "fair game".
CDE Scoring Summary:
Placing classes......................400 points
Oral reasons..........................150 points
Questions...............................100 points
Keep/Cull..............................100 points
Exam......................................50 points
Required Supplies:
#2 Pencils—Scantrons that are filled out with pen cannot be read by the machine. They will NOT be "rebubbled", and those values will be scored as zeros.
Clipboard—These are a necessity for maintaining and completing the scantrons used to score the contest. Folded and/or mutilated scantrons willNOT feed through the machine, and thus may not be properly scored. If a scantron does not feed through the machine because of obvious contestant "abuse", it will NOT be scored. Care of your scantron is of utmost importance, and a clipboard will greatly facilitate that care.
CLEAN Notebooks (Steno's)—For taking notes to aid in your study and preparation for questions and reasons. While your paper may be "pre-gridded" to facilitate note-taking, pre-written notes and supplementary materials (terms, pictures, formulas, etc.) are NOT allowed and may result in disqualification from the contest.