UGA Extension Office

Livestock and Equine

Silhouettes of livestock animals behind the 4-H logo

2020-2021 State FFA and 4-H Rulebook

The Georgia 4-H Livestock Program offers extraordinary educational opportunities in programs that challenge 4-Hers with real-life issues as they learn responsibility through raising, showing and judging livestock. Livestock projects give students the opportunity to practice and acquire new knowledge in the fields of animal science, business, time management and leadership.  Other animal science projects explore the care of companion and specialty animal feeding, handling, grooming, training and veterinary care and address wildlife and marine science animals.

The Houston County Livestock Show Program offers 4-H'ers the opportunity to exhibit market hogs, breeding gilts, market steers, breeding heifers, market goats, market lambs and horses. 4-H'ers have the option of showing their animals at various regional and state level shows. Check our the Upcoming Livestock and Horse Shows page for more information.

If you are showing any livestock this year, please fill out the 2020-2021 Ear Tag Form: https://ugeorgia.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_73WMy88qCkzLLPn

MARKET HOG PROGRAM

4-H'ers 4th grade through 12th grade are eligible to participate. Hogs are purchased from September through early November, with an official weigh-in date the first full week in November.  

Market Hog FAQs

Market Steer, BEEF Heifer, Commercial Dairy Heifer Show

4-H'ers 4th grade through 12th grade are eligible to participate. Steers and heifers must be born after September 1st of the year prior to the next show season. Steers show by weight and it is recommended they are born between September 1st and December 31st to ensure they meet the minimum show weight requirement of 900 pounds by show day. Commercial heifers and Purebred heifers are shown by age and it is recommended they be born between September 1st and March 31st. Registration for the show takes place in early September, but the show season runs from July to late February.

Market Steer FAQs

Beef Heifer FAQs

Commercial Dairy Heifer FAQs

Market Goat & Lamb Show Program

4-H children in 4th through 12th grades are eligible to participate, as well as pre-club members in grades 1-3. Goats and lambs shown need to be born between January and early April of the current show year and need to be purchased between May and mid July. The show season runs from August through mid November.

Market Goat FAQs

Breeding Doe FAQs

Market Lamb FAQs

Breeding Ewe FAQs

STATE 4-H HORSE SHOW

There are no qualifying shows, and you can enter the State Show simply by being a member of your local 4-H club, owning or leasing your horse by March 1, 2021, and completing the Novice Horseman workbook, which can be obtained through your local county extension office.

Classes are offered in five divisions:

  • Stock Seat (Western)
  • Ranch Horse (Western)
  • Hunt Seat (English)
  • Saddle Seat (English)
  • Contest Events (Running)

All classes are offered in three grade groups:

  • Cloverleaf (4th grade, 5th and 6th grade students with limited experience)
  • Junior (5th and 6th grade students with demonstrated skills, 7th – 8th grade students)
  • Senior (9th – 12th grade students)

A champion and reserve champion are named in each division and age category.

Equine FAQs