"Animal Science" merit badge covers a subject near and dear to many a carnivore's heart: where our agricultural meat comes from. OK, maybe not the "Horse Option", but everything else looks like farm food that walks.
A century ago, most Americans were tied to the land somehow, raising their food to either support themselves or their communities.
2007's merit badge count says it all now: 2608 for the whole year. Even in rural county like mine, I would be hard pressed to find a Scout who has earned this one. (
BSA Fact Sheet)
Local agriculture is making a comeback though--more and more people are interested in where their food comes from. Many are taking the steps to buy it locally from local producers. So this information is still valuable to understand the quality of our food products.
Moo.
In the Animal Science merit badge, you will identify multiple breeds of livestock and where they come from; list and know the symptoms of their diseases; explain their digestive systems; tell how to manage a type of large animal; understand the value of animal breeding programs; within one of six animal groups, address the agricultural issues that group; and finally investigate three career options in this field.
1. Name four breeds of livestock in each of the following classifications: horses, dairy cattle, beef cattle, sheep, hogs. Tell their principal uses and merits. Tell where the breeds originated.
2. List five diseases that afflict the animals in each of the classifications in requirement 1. Also list five diseases of poultry. Describe the symptoms of each disease and explain how each is contracted and how it could be prevented.
3. Explain the major differences in the digestive systems of ruminants, horses, pigs, and poultry. Explain how the differences in structure and function among these four types of digestive tracts affect the nutritional management of these species.
4. Select one type of animal--beef cow, dairy cow, horse, sheep, goat, or hog, or a poultry flock--and tell how you would properly manage it. Include in your discussion nutritional (feeding) concerns, housing, disease prevention, waste control/removal, and breeding programs if appropriate.
5. Explain the importance of setting clear goals for any animal breeding program. Tell how purebred lines of animals are produced. Explain the practice of crossbreeding and the value of this practice.
6. Complete ONE of the following options:
Beef Cattle Option
A) Visit a farm or ranch where beef cattle are produced under any of these systems:
i) Feeding market cattle for harvest
ii) Cow/calf operation, producing cattle for sale to commercial feeders
iii) Producing purebred cattle for sale as breeding stock to others.
Talk with the operator to learn how the cattle were handled, fed, weighed, and shipped. Describe what you saw and explain what you learned. If you cannot visit a cattle ranch or farm, view a video from a breed association, or research the Internet (with your parent's permission) for information on beef cattle production. Tell about your findings.
B) Sketch a plan of a feedlot to include its forage and grain storage facilities, and loading chute for 30 or more fattening steers; or sketch a corral plan with cutting and loading chutes for handling 50 or more beef cows and their calves at one time.
C) Make a sketch showing the principal wholesale and retail cuts of beef. Tell about the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) dual grading system of beef. Tell the basis of each grade in each system.
D) Define the following terms: bull, steer, bullock, cow, heifer, freemartin, heiferette, calf.
Dairying Option
A) Tell how a cow or a goat converts forage and grain into milk. Explain the differences in feeds typically used for dairy cows versus those fed to beef cows.
B) Make a chart showing the components in cow's milk or goat's milk. Chart the amount of each component.
C) Explain the requirements for producing grade A milk. Tell how and why milk is pasteurized.
D) Tell about the kinds of equipment used for milking and the sanitation standards that must be met on dairy farms.
E) Define the following terms: bull, cow, steer, heifer, springer; buck, doe, kid.
F) Visit a dairy farm or a milk processing plant. Describe what you saw and explain what you learned. If you cannot visit a dairy farm or processing plant, view a video from a breed or dairy association, or research the Internet (with your parent's permission) for information on dairying. Tell about your findings.
Horse Option
A) Make a sketch of a useful saddle horse barn and exercise yard.
B) Tell about the history of the horse and the benefits it has brought to people. Using the four breeds of horses you chose in requirement 1, discuss the different special uses of each breed.
C) Define the following terms: mare, stallion, gelding, foal, colt, filly; mustang, quarter horse, draft horse, pacer, trotter; pinto, calico, palomino, roan, overo, tobiano.
D) Visit a horse farm. Describe what you saw and explain what you learned. If you cannot visit a horse farm, view a video from a breed association, or research the Internet (with your parent's permission) for information on horses. Tell about your findings.
E) Outline the proper feeding of a horse doing light work. Explain why the amount and kind of feed will change according to the kind of horse and the work it does. Describe what colic is, what can cause it, and its symptoms.
Sheep Option
A) Make a sketch of a live lamb. Show the location of the various wholesale and retail cuts.
B Discuss how wools are sorted and graded.
C) Do ONE of the following:
i) Raise a lamb from weaning to market weight. Keep records of feed intake, weight gains, medication, vaccination, and mortality. Present your records for review by your counselor.
ii) Visit a farm or ranch where sheep are raised. Describe what you saw and explain what you learned. If you cannot visit a sheep farm or ranch, view a video from a breed association, or research the Internet (with your parent's permission) for information on sheep. Tell about your findings.
D) Describe some differences between the production of purebred and commercial lambs. Then select two breeds that would be appropriate for the production of crossbred market lambs in your region. Identify which breed the ram should be.
E) Define the following terms: wether, ewe, ram, lamb.
Hog Option
A) Make a sketch showing the principal wholesale and retail cuts of pork. Tell about the recommended USDA grades of pork. Tell the basis for each grade.
B) utline in writing the proper feeding programs used from the breeding of a gilt or sow through the weaning of the litter. Discuss the feeding programs for the growth and finishing periods.
C) Do ONE of the following:
i) Raise a feeder pig from weaning to market weight. Keep records of feed intake, weight gains, medication, vaccination, and mortality. Present your records for review by your counselor.
ii) Visit a farm where hogs are produced, or visit a packing plant handling hogs. Describe what you saw and explain what you learned. If you cannot visit a hog production unit or packing plant, view a video from a packer or processor, or research the Internet (with your parent's permission) for information on hogs. Tell about your findings.
E) Define the following terms: gilt, sow, barrow, boar.
Avian Option
A) Make a sketch of a layer house or broiler house showing nests, roosts, feeders, waterers, and means of ventilation. Explain how insulation, ventilation, temperature controls, automatic lights, and other environmental controls are used to protect birds from heat, cold, and bad weather.
B) Explain why overcrowding is dangerous for poultry flocks.
C) Tell about the grading of eggs. Tell how broilers (fryers) are graded. Describe the classes of chicken meat.
D) Do ONE of the following:
i) Manage an egg-producing flock for five months. Keep records of feed purchased, eggs sold, medication, vaccination, and mortality. Present your records for review by your counselor.
ii) Raise 20 chicks from hatching. Keep records of feed intake, weight gains, medication, vaccination, and mortality. Present your records for review by your counselor.
iii) Visit a commercial avian production facility. Describe what you saw and explain what you learned. If you cannot visit a commercial facility, view a video from a poultry association, or research the Internet (with your parent's permission) for information on poultry production. Tell about your findings.
E) Define the following terms: hen, rooster, chick, capon; tom, poult.
7. Find out about three career opportunities in animal science. Pick one and find out the education, training, and experience required for this profession. Discuss this with your counselor, and explain why this profession might interest you.
Resource List:
2)
Worksheet on Animal Science from usscouts.org. This is a great tool to organize your work, projects and thoughts.
3)
LocalHarvest is a great place to look for locally produced food: beef, turkey, pork, lamb, and chicken. And veggies. And lots more.
4) More on local eating and food sources--
100milediet.org. Can you really get all of your food in under 100 miles from home? For
Thanksgiving?
5) Wikipedia:
Horse meat is a food source in much of Europe and Asia.
Do you have a resource for the Animal Science merit badge? Please let me know via
email or the comments below.
A wet weekend at a picnic table under cover is good time to 
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