Arkansas Animal Science Department Report 2000

Animal Science is very much devoted to youth education and development. During the past year, over 20,000 youth were involved in 4-H livestock projects. Two very successful activities that took place last year were the Mid-American Grassland Evaluation Contest and Livestock Judging Camps. The Grassland Contest is designed to teach students about grassland resource management for livestock and wildlife uses. The contest was held in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. Firstplace honors in the 4-H division went to White County, and second place honors went to Van Buren County. Two Livestock Judging Camps (Fayetteville and Hope) were conducted this past year. A total of 120 youth participated to learn the fundamentals oflivestockjudging, oral communications through reason, and industry standards for selection of beef, sheep and swine. Extension programs in Animal Science continue to grow and receive national attention. Arkansas Grazing Schools, the Arkansas Beef Improvement Program, beef quality assurance, dairy management programs, equine training and management, forage demonstrations, and the Arkansas F eedout Program are just a few such programs. Reports of these programs can be found within this publication. With a totally combined Animal Science Program (teaching, research, and extension), the University of Arkansas is working to meet the needs of the livestock industry