4-H Dairy Rules and Regulations

updated 2018-2019

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Please review this quick reference along with your fair book guidelines. Making sure you AND your parents understand what is expected in your project. This will make your 4-H year a lot more fun!

Bred Dairy Heifer Projects:

• A two year project usually starting with a young calf or a one year project starting with a yearling.
• Member learns about the selection, care, health and reproduction of a dairy heifer, as well as the economics of marketing.
• A sale is held at the end of the project during the Fair so members can market their animal.

4-H registration and project enrollment:

• December 31 is the deadline to reenroll in 4-H in Ravalli County. When enrolling in a Dairy Project, you must sign up on your enrollment card in Dairy Level 1, 2, or 3, Bred Dairy Heifer First Year, Bred Dairy Heifer Second Year.

• January 15 is the deadline for turning in Bred Dairy Registration Form (see following page) to the extension office along with 3 pictures of your animal (front view, left profile, right profile).  This is MANDATORY. If your form and pictures are not turned in on or before January 15, you will not be eligible for entering your 4-H Dairy Project in the Ravalli County Fair. 
• May 1 is the drop/add deadline for all 4-H projects.
• Animal Quality Assurance Training is MANDATORY for 4-H members who have a Dairy Project. Members must become quality assurance certified once between the ages of 9-13 and once again between the ages of 14+.   If you are not Quality Assurance certified at the appropriate level, you will not be allowed to sell your animal at the county fair livestock auction.  Quality Assurance classes are offered multiple times during the year.  Call the extension office for details.

Bred Dairy Heifer Project Requirements (What you need to do during the 4-H Year):

• As a 4‐H member, you are required to complete “My 4‐H Year” form each year.  You are required to have this form up‐to date if you are submitting entries for the Ravalli County Fair. This form is to be signed by your club Leader by September 30th (end of the 4‐H year).
• In addition to “My 4‐H Year”, the animal journal form is required for the dairy project. This form is used to keep track of feed costs, weight, veterinary costs, supplies, etc.
• Project requirements in regard to the level enrolled:  you must complete a minimum of 7 activities and three learning experiences to complete the project for the year.  Please refer to the Clover, Montana 4-H Projects.  

Other important things to remember:

• Fair entry forms are due by the first Friday in August to the Ravalli County Fair Office.
• Mandatory Meeting for all Dairy on Monday of fair week at the Dairy Barn at 7:00 PM. Bring appropriate tools (shovels, rakes, wheelbarrow, etc) to ready the barn for fair.

Bred Dairy Heifer Registration Form

Due to Extension Office: January 15 of year Heifer will be sold

Name:

4-H Club:

Animal’s name, ear tag#, any special markings:

Animal’s Date of Birth:

Please include three pictures of your animal: Left Profile, Right Profile and Front View.

* ** See Bred Dairy Heifer Guidelines for more information. ***

Ravalli County 4-H and FFA Bred Dairy Heifer Project Guidelines

PURPOSE OF PROJECT:

To provide a short-term dairy project for youth where the family may or may not be involved in producing milk but has suitable facilities for raising diary animals.

To promote a diary project that will provide a learning experience for the member in animal selection, the care and raising of the animal, animal health, reproduction and marketing economics.

To encourage holding a bred heifer sale for members to market their animal at the end of the project.

GUIDELINES FOR PROJECT:

Members are encouraged to start with a young calf for a two year project or start with a yearling for a one year project.

Members can enroll in the regular dairy project with any age or sex dairy animal if they are not particularly interested in selling at the fair or if they want to have a continuing and expanding dairy project with facilities for milking.

It is preferred that heifers be from dams of purebred dairy stock but need not be registered.  It is preferred the heifer be from a dam on DHIA test with above average milk production for the breed.

The heifer must be bred to calve within six months of the Fair Sale, which means they must be bred 90 days prior to fair sale.

If a heifer fails to become pregnant in two services, a veterinarian should inspect the heifer.

The heifer should be bred to a registered dairy bull, preferably by artificial insemination. Natural service may be more successful and if absolutely necessary a beef bull can be used.

Brucellosis vaccination:  You will need to have your heifer vaccinated and permanently tagged and tattooed by a veterinarian when heifers are between 4-10 months of age.  This is required to prevent this disease in breeding cattle and possibly people.

Members are encouraged to purchase heifers that they can register or officially identify or enroll in the VIP identification program.

Large Animal Quality Assurance is required.

BREEDING AND HEALTH RECORD

1. A record of breeding and health, a folder, must accompany each heifer to the fair and sale to be given to the buyer.
2. The breeding and health folder must include:

Heifer breed, name and age.

Complete name and breed of sire and dam (if available).

Dams DHI production information for last 305 day lactation.

Milk _____________lbs. (Mature Equivalent)

Fat  _____________lbs.  (Mature Equivalent)

Sire breed and full name that heifer is bred to.

Date of breeding.  Whether A.I. or natural service.

Date heifer should calve.

Pregnancy test certificate from veterinarian.

Date and results of blood test for Brucellosis.  Enclose certificate.

If a heifer is vaccinated under the age of 24 months, no blood test is required, just a copy of the vaccination receipt from the veterinarian.

If the heifer is vaccinated over the age of 24 months, a blood test is required.

All females MUST be blood tested if not vaccinated for Brucellosis.

Type of each vaccination and date (see our recommended vaccination schedule on the next page).

Bill of sale.

REQUIREMENTS FOR SELLING

Member must be enrolled either for a one-year or a two-year project.

Provide breeding and health folder along with bill of sale on fair entry day.

Heifer receive a red ribbon or better in a special bred dairy heifer class at the fair.

Heifer must calve within six months from the sale, which means they must be bred 90 days prior to fair sale.

Blood test indicating heifer is free from Brucellosis. (See H. above).  Occasionally heifers vaccinated later in age will react positive to the Brucellosis blood test.  If this occurs the heifer cannot be entered in the sale.

Recommended Vaccination Schedule for Bred Dairy Project:

Calves:

At birth:

1. ID tag
2. Disinfect Navel
3. Vitamin E/Selenium injection
4. Vitamin A and D injection
5. Scours vaccine, 8-way clostridial vaccination (may be necessary if you are unsure about colostrum quality or if there has been problems in the past)
6. Colostrum through nursing within 6 hours, otherwise tube with colostrum

2 Months:

1. 8-way clostridial vaccination
2. Modified Live IBR, PI3, BVD, BRSV (do not use modified live if nursing a cow that has not had MLV)
3. If weaning your heifer at this time, give these shots 2 weeks prior to weaning. Your heifer is under stress during weaning and the vaccines are less effective at that time.           

4 Months:

1. 8-way clostridial vaccination
2. Modified Live IBR, PI3, BVD, BRSV (do not use modified live if nursing a cow that has not had MLV)
3. Bangs vaccination: Heifer calves are eligible for brucellosis vaccination from 4-12 months of age.  This vaccination has to be administered by a veterinarian.

Yearlings:

12 Months:

1. 8-way clostridial booster
2. IBR, PI3, BVD, BRSV booster
3. Lepto (give before breeding your heifer)

                Before fair:

1. 8-way clostridial booster
2. IBR, PI3, BVD, BRSV booster
3. Lepto booster

Calves are challenged early in life with pathogens that can potentially cause severe disease.  Infectious bovine rhinotracheitis and bovine respiratory syncytial virus can make young calves severely ill and can result in pneumonia.  Modified live vaccines are protective, but killed vaccines are less likely to provide adequate protection against BRSV and IBR.  Maternal antibodies and stress will interfere with the vaccine response, so it is essential to booster calves for adequate immunity.

It is important to understand that vaccinations protect animals over their lifetime, and proper protection starts early in life.  Cutting corners early can result in catastrophe later.  Project and family animals are significant investments and it is unfortunate to loose an animal from lack of immunity.

Prior to the County Fair:

• Submit your completed fair entry form by the first Friday in August.

• At the mandatory barn meeting, which is Monday of fair week at 7:00PM, the dairy superintendent will make stall assignments. Contact the superintendent if you need your stall assignment prior to the mandatory meeting.

• Please decorate your barn area. You can use whatever you want, just remember:  No

• Balloons, and keep the decorations high enough that your animals can’t reach them and eat them. This goes for your ribbons, too.

• About 1 week before the fair, you may want to pick up your fair entry tags at the fairgrounds

• Premium Office. It is located just outside of the southeast corner of the Interstate building, in its own white building. In addition to the fair entry tags, you will receive an exhibitor number on an index card which will be displayed on your upper arm during showmanship and the dairy show. Please be certain to have this number with you during the fair. 

• Wash your animal before bringing it to the fair.

Arriving at the Fair:

• Pick up your exhibit tags at the Premium Office (South end of the Interstate Building – Not the Fair Office), if you haven’t picked them up prior to this time.

• You will bring your animal to the Dairy barn at the county fair on Tuesday of fair week from 10 AM – 8PM.

• Educational posters are to be turned in to the Superintendents on Tuesday also.  Breeding posters are to be hung at your stall.

• Check the dairy barn at fair for listing of classes for dairy, show times, interview schedules, rules and regulations.

• Bedding for your stall will be provided by the fair grounds. A limited supply of animal bedding is available during the fair. You should change the bedding in your animal’s stall as it becomes wet or dirty. Please make a note of the “Clean Bedding” and the “Dirty Bedding” locations. Dispose of the used bedding in the proper location.

• Wednesday of fair is show day for dairy members. Feed your animal(s), keep all of your stalls clean. Herdsmanship is being judged in each barn each day.

• Herdsmanship Contest is a club contest and more information is under the 4‐H/ FFA Livestock and Small Animal General Rules and Regulations.

Equipment you will need at the fair:

You will need very specific items for caring for your dairy cow(s) and the stall area at the fair. Because storage space is often limited during the fair, if several members in the same 4‐H club are showing dairy at the fair, you may want to determine what equipment you need as a group. You can then assign members to bring specific items, so there is not an excess of tools in the storage areas.

Tools you will want for cleaning your area and caring for your animal:

• Halter
• Neck rope
• Wheelbarrow
• Bedding rake/pitchfork
• Shovel‐ flat or square point
• 5 gallon bucket
• Feed (hay and grain)
• Container to store grain (must close tightly)
• Feed pan

You will also want to have your own “Tack Box” in which to keep your personal items. Please keep your tack box locked to protect your items. Suggested items to include in your tack box are:

Soap or Shampoo to wash your cow

Orvis Paste

Showsheen Hair polish and detangler

Garden spray nozzle

Show halter

Baby oil and baby wipes to clean their ears

Rags/old towels

Scissors

Hoof polish-clear

Nail brush and pick

Hard bristle brush, comb, and squeegee brush

Muck boots

Spray bottle

Hair spray

Plastic bread bag and rubber band

Thank you note for “your” buyer at the livestock auction

Sharpie/felt‐marker and pen

Extra safety pins

Extra 3” x 5” cards

During the County Fair:

• If a member is showing more than one species of market animal, he or she must let the Barn Superintendents know which animal they will be selling immediately after the last market show they are involved in.

• You are responsible for the care of your animal during the fair. This includes, but is not limited to, feeding, watering, cleaning pens and walkways in your club area. All feed must be kept in a sealed container. Please do not help yourself to someone else’s animal feed.  You are responsible for your own feed supply.
• Your heifer will be preg checked at the fair to ensure she is due to calve.  This will be arranged by the dairy superintendent.
• Please take the time to visit with fair attendees about your animals and projects. This is part of the reason people attend the fair. Many people who walk through the animal barns would love to know specific facts about your animal and what is involved in its care. They especially like to hear information from youth about raising livestock.
• A limited supply of animal bedding is available during the fair. You should change the bedding in your animal’s stall as it becomes wet or dirty. Please make a note of the “Clean Bedding” and the “Dirty Bedding” locations. Dispose of the used bedding in the proper location.

The Day of the Dairy Show and Dairy Showmanship:

• If a member is showing more than one species of market animal, he or she must let the Barn Superintendents know which animal they will be selling immediately after the last market show they are involved in.

• You are responsible for the care of your animal during the fair. This includes, but is not limited to, feeding, watering, cleaning pens and walkways in your club area. All feed must be kept in a sealed container. Please do not help yourself to someone else’s animal feed.  You are responsible for your own feed supply.
• Your heifer will be preg checked at the fair to ensure she is due to calve.  This will be arranged by the dairy superintendent.
• Please take the time to visit with fair attendees about your animals and projects. This is part of the reason people attend the fair. Many people who walk through the animal barns would love to know specific facts about your animal and what is involved in its care. They especially like to hear information from youth about raising livestock.
• A limited supply of animal bedding is available during the fair. You should change the bedding in your animal’s stall as it becomes wet or dirty. Please make a note of the “Clean Bedding” and the “Dirty Bedding” locations. Dispose of the used bedding in the proper location.

All Animal Exhibitor’s Dress Code (applies to all species; all classes, except showmanship classes; and the livestock sale).

• Dress code: Clean, collared, long sleeved, long tailed shirt tucked into dark pants or jeans, and dark boots or leather footwear (no tennis shoes, rubber boots or sandals) must be worn by livestock exhibitors during livestock Official dress is mandatory for FFA members. Western style or cowboy hats will be allowed.

• Animals presented in the show ring will not be decorated with artificial markings, ribbons, glitter or other foreign items. This includes during judging events and livestock sale.
• If a member does not comply with these rules they will not be allowed to show or sell their animal.

Mandatory dress for all Showmanship classes:

• Dress code: White long sleeved, long-tailed shirts with collar, buttoned up and tucked into black or dark blue pants; dark footwear (no tennis shoes, rubber boots or sandals). FFA official dress is mandatory. Hats are not allowed in dairy, sheep, swine, goats, and dogs.

Selling an animal at Auction:

• Arrive early to make sure your animal is fed and clean.
• Members may show multiple cows but will only be allowed to sell one animal. The Grand and Reserve dairy cows must sell, but in the event that both dairy cows are owned by the same exhibitor, only one will sell.
• With the exception of Grand and Reserve champions and the final ring, the sale order will be determined by random draw. The dairy cow sale order will be Champions, purple, blue and red ribbon cows.

After the County Fair:

• After the livestock auction you must continue to feed and water your animal daily, until the buyer has removed the livestock from the barn.
• Keep pens clean and fresh too.
• You must clean the stall used to house your animal during the county fair.  Stalls must be cleaned by 2 PM on Sunday of fair week.
• Animals Release Time: 7am – 2pm Sunday, after the Fair. Enter and exit through the North Gate only!

• Send out thank you cards as soon as possible to all who contributed to your project.

The following is a copy of the 2019 Ravalli County Fair Book for the Dairy Projects

Department 41

4-H & FFA Dairy

Jen Holmes, Superintendent • 369-1428

Heidi Martin, Co-Superintendent • 360-1742

Animals to be brought in Tuesday of Fair Week from 11 am to 7 pm

RULES AND REGULATIONS

• Refer to General, 4-H, FFA, and Livestock Rules for more information.
• Mandatory Record Book Check: Dairy Superintendent and/or designee will conduct a record book review/interview before 6 pm Wednesday of fair week.
• Stall assignments will be made by the Barn Superintendents, at the barn meeting, on Monday at 7pm.
• Dairy animals are required to have a neck strap rope, or chain in addition to halter for night tie. Tying with a rope and rope halter is suggested.
• Animals with horns will be required to wear horn covers at all times, except when tied in the barn.
• Horned and no-horn animals will be separated while in barn.
• A handler familiar with horned dairy cows will be in barn during hours barn is open.
• Bred Dairy Heifer: The heifer must calve within 6 months of the Fair sale, which means they must be bred 90 days prior to fair sale. Heifer will be preg checked at the fair by a designated veterinarian set by the superintendent. Heifers must be in the barn at this time.
• Breeding and Health Folders for bred dairy heifer for sale project must be turned in on entry day.
• Bred Dairy heifers receiving a white ribbon will not be eligible for sale.
• Animal release time 7 am - 2 pm Sunday, after Fair. Enter and Exit thru North Gate only.
• Resale Animal Purchase Bid Price Agreements for Dairy will be turned in to the 4-H Livestock Administrator just prior to the beginning of the Livestock Sale at 8am Saturday.

Premiums: $3.00; $2.00; $1.00

Class

    A.  Ayrshire

    B.  Brown Swiss

    C.  Guernsey

    D.  Holstein

    E.  Jersey

    F.  Milking Shorthorn

    G.  Other

    H.  Showmanship, Lots 1-3 Only

     I.  Non-Animal, Lots 24 & 25 Only

Lot No.

1. Junior Showmanship - ages 8-11
2. Intermediate Showmanship - ages 12 & 13
3. Senior Showmanship - ages 14 & over

Champion Showman each division - Rosette

Reserve Champion each division - Rosette

Lot No.

4. Junior Heifer Calf - born after March 1, 2018
5. Intermediate Heifer Calf - born Dec. 1, 2017 - Feb. 29, 2018
6. Senior Heifer Calf - born Sept. 1, 2017 - Nov. 30, 2017
7. Summer Yearling Heifer - born June 1, 2017 - Aug. 31, 2017
8. Junior Yearling Heifer - born March 1, 2017 - May 31, 2017
9. Winter Yearling Heifer - born Dec. 1, 2016 - Feb. 28, 2017
10. Senior Yearling Heifer - born Sept. 1, 2016 - Dec. 31, 2016

Champion Dairy Heifer - Rosette

Reserve Champion Dairy Heifer - Rosette

11. Bred dairy heifer to be sold - can only be shown in this lot and in Showmanship

Champion Bred Heifer - Rosette

Reserve Champion Bred Heifer - Rosette

12. Two year old female - born Jan. 1, 2016 - Aug. 31, 2016
13. Two year old female that is not a bred heifer to be sold - born Jan. 1, 2016 - Aug. 31, 2016
14. Two year old cow - born Sept. 1, 2015 - Aug 31, 2016
15. Three year old cow - born Sept. 1, 2014 - Aug. 31, 2015
16. Four year old cow - born Sept. 1, 2013 - Aug. 31, 2014
17. Five year old cow - born Sept. 1, 2012 - Aug. 31, 2013
18. Aged cow - born before Sept. 1, 2012
19. Dry cow - minimum of two completed lactations.
20. Best three females - any age, bred and owned by the Exhibitor.
21. Get-of-Sire - three (3) animals from the same sire.
22. Dairy Herd - four (4) cows milking or dry
23. Produce of one cow - two (2) animals any age.
24. Project interviews and Display - make a wall display, usually one or two 14” x 22” posters depicting some part of the project. Interview will take place on Friday afternoon in the Dairy Barn with your project at your stall.
25. Educational Poster must be made during the current 4-H year by the Exhibitor entering this lot.

Champion Female - Rosette

Reserve Champion Female - Rosette

GRAND CHAMPION OVERALL BREEDS FEMALE - ROSETTE

RESERVE GRAND CHAMPION OVERALL BREEDS FEMALE - ROSETTE