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Animal Science is a popular project in 4-H. It involves all the aspects of STEM - Science, Technology, Engineering and Math. Animal Science projects also build responsibility, leadership and resilience. You don't need to own an animal to do an animal science project - please check with your county for the project you are interested in.
4‑H Animal Science also includes agricultural science topics such as veterinary science, animal health, showmanship, animal training, biosecurity and zoonotic diseases.
Animal Science Projects
Animal Science Projects
The availability of animal science projects varies by club and county. Please check with your club and county to see what is available.
Livestock and Other Large Animal
Livestock and Other Large Animal
Ages 9 and up
Alpacas
Learn about Alpacas, their care and management. May also include information on their use as a wool or pack animal.
Animal Husbandry
Learn about the historical and current agricultural practice of breeding and raising livestock.
Cattle
Learn about the raising, care, and management of cattle. Animals may be raised for meat, show, sale, or breeding. Subcategories include Calf Processing, Replacement Heifer, and Veal Calf.
Cattle: Beef
Learn about beef cattle and their care and management. Members may raise animals for meat or for breeding. Ownership is preferred. Opportunities are available for non-owners.
Cattle: Dairy
Learn about dairy cattle, their care and management. Members may raise animals for milk, breeding, or sale as bred heifers. Ownership is preferred. Opportunities are available for non- owners.
Goats
Learn about goats and their general care, management, and various uses. Members may raise animals for pets, breeding, sale, or show. Subcategories include Pygmy, Pack, and Nigerian.
Project Sheets
Goats (ages 9+)
Goats: Dairy (ages 9+)
Goats: Meat/Market (ages 9+)
Goats: Nigerian
Goats: Pygmy
Goats: Dairy
Learn about dairy goats, their care and management. Members may raise animals for market, milk, or breeding. Opportunities are available for non-owners and owners alike.
Project Sheets
Goats (ages 9+)
Goats: Dairy (ages 9+)
Goats: Meat/Market (ages 9+)
Goats: Meat
Learn about meat goats and their care and management. Animals may be raised for meat, show, sale, or breeding.
Project Sheets
Goats (ages 9+)
Goats: Meat/Market (ages 9+)
Sheep
Learn about the care and management of sheep. Members may raise animals for pets, show, wool, breeding, or sale. Ownership is preferred.
Swine
Learn about the care and management of swine. Members may raise animals for pets, show, sale, or breeding. Ownership is preferred.
Horses and/or Ponies
Learn how to care for, feed, and ride a horse of pony. The animal may be either owned or leased. Handicapped riding and the "horseless project" (learning about equines without access to one) are offered in some counties. Subcategories of this project include Breeding, Draft, Drill, Judging, Driving, English, Gymkhana & Dressage, Miniature, Trail Riding, and Western.
Livestock Judging
Learn how to judge various species of livestock according to breed or market specifications. May include, but are not limited to, species such as Cow, Horse, Sheep, Goat, Swine, Turkey, Chicken, Rabbit, Cavies, and Dogs. May include instruction in carcass and egg judging.
Llamas
Learn about llamas and their care and management. May include information on their use as pack or wool animals.
Therapeutic Animals
Learn about the care and training of therapeutic animals. Members may be training or assisting with a therapeutic animal during the animal's working hours.
Therapeutic Animals project sheet Large Animals
Equine Hippology/Judging
HIPPOLOGY contests allow 4-H youth to exhibit their knowledge and understanding of equine science and husbandry in a friendly but competitive setting.
HORSE JUDGING contests allow 4-H youth to evaluate and rank horses based on specific physical characteristics or performance. Youth learn to evaluate horse conformation, muscling, balance, structure, breed type and other factors. Advanced youth learn how to give oral reasons to justify their placement and explain the reasoning for their decisions.
Avian
Avian
Avian Bowl (ages 9 and up)
The California 4-H Avian Bowl is a knowledge-based competition that encourages you to expand your understanding of avian science. In this quiz-bowl format event, teams of 2-4 members answer questions from the National 4-H Avian Bowl Manual. The contest lets you demonstrate your expertise, develop teamwork skills, and foster a deeper interest in poultry and avian species.
The California 4-h State Avian Bowl is a qualifier for the National 4-H Avian Bowl contest.
Birds
Learn about birds and their care and management as a part of Avian Science. Birds may be raised for pets, show, breeding, meat, eggs, or sale. Project may include information about commercial practices in birds. Subcategories include Emu and Ostrich, Exotic, Poultry, and Turkey.
Birds: Turkey
Avian Science project focused on turkeys.
Embryology
Learn about the stages in the development of an egg embryo. Members may hatch eggs and study the development at regular intervals, preserve embryos and make reports.
Poultry
Avian Science project focused on poultry.
Poultry: Market
From market chickens to market turkeys and market ducks, you can learn to raise, show and eat poultry. Starting with deciding which poultry you want to raise and learning how to house and feed them, this project will give youth an understanding of where our food sources start and how to raise them with care and love. Market poultry members will learn:
The proper care for raising market poultry responsibly and humanely.
The options in feeding, housing, and ethics.
Small Animal and Other Animal Science Projects
Small Animal and Other Animal Science Projects
Cats
Learn about the care and feeding of household cats. May include management and grooming. Cats may be raised for pets, shows, or breeding.
Cavies (Guinea Pigs)
Learn the care, feeding, and management of cavies. Members may raise animals for pets, market, showing, or breeding.
Dog
Learn about dogs, their care, and their feeding. May include obedience training of animal. Subcategories include Agility, Care and Training, and Stock.
Entomology
Learn to collect, identify, and possibly mount insects. Learn about insect's individual traits and habitats, and their relationship with humans in their uses and control.
Pets and small animals
Learn about, care for, and train pets and small animals such as cats, hamsters, birds, and rats. May include breeding and sale.
Rabbits
Learn the care, feeding, and management of rabbits. Members may raise animals for pets, fur, show, or breeding.
Rabbits: Market/Meat
Reptiles
Learn about the care, feeding, and management of various species of reptiles. These species may include Snakes, Turtles and Tortoises, and Lizards.
Amphibians
Bees
Learn about bees and their care and required equipment. Member may manage one or more hives while learning about the handling and sale of honey and the bee industry.
Marine Biology
Learn about marine biology including plant and animal life in the ocean. Marine science focuses on biological aspects of the ocean while oceanography focuses on the geological and meteorology aspects.
Service Animals/Therapeutic
Learn about the care and training of therapeutic animals. Members may be training or assisting with a therapeutic animal during the animal's working hours.
Guide dogs and service animals are used in a wide variety of applications in society.
Veterinary Science
Learn about the range of behavior and characteristics of a normal animal. Learn about diseases, their causes and prevention, and precautions to control those diseases that affect humans.
Veterinary Science: Biosecurity
The goal of this project is to teach participants how to keep themselves and their animals safe in a variety of situations.
Zoology
Learn about animals, their classification and physical traits. May include learning about habitats and animal interactions with humans.
State Qualifier - Horse Bowl
State Qualifiers & National Contests
State Qualifiers & National Contests
To compete in national contests 4-H youth must first qualify at a State Qualifying Event. Participants who qualify for national competitions will receive additional information from the State 4-H office.
Roles & Responsibilities for staff, coaches, chaperones and youth for National Contests (PDF)
Guidelines from National 4-H Headquarters for Multi-state Competititve Events (PDF)
Questions?
Questions?
Please contact Erica Pettey at eapettey@ucanr.edu.
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