The Cornell University Department of Animal Science is pleased to announce Animal Crackers 2016 “Animal Crackers: Kids are Udderly Moomentous!” on Saturday, May 7 at Cornell University. The upcoming program will incorporate both goat and dairy cattle topics for youth ages nine to 12 or those with a beginners and intermediate knowledge of the species.
All youth, 4-H and non-4-H are invited to participate. Adult chaperones are also invited to attend to make Udderly Moomentous a family event!
Interesting, educational, hands-on activities are planned to make Animal Crackers a memorable teaching event. Participants will have the opportunity to learn goat or dairy care, biology, or management while having fun in two different learning tracts (goat): beginners and intermediates. There will also be sessions on making ice cream, animal demonstrations, and much more!
Beginner and Intermediate 4-H members in the Goat project will learn:
Beginners:
Here Come the “Kids” – This is your chance to maneuver a kid through the pelvic cage for a safe delivery, learn how to treat a weak newborn kid and get ready for kidding!
I’m stuffed – This is your chance to explore the insides of a fistulated cow and examine goat cuds to really understand what being a ruminant means. Participants will also identify different feed ingredients and learn what to look for on a feed label.
Have Pack, Will Travel – Learn to do a health check to make sure your goat is ready for hiking. Each team will assemble a goat first aid kit, pack up a goat and challenge themselves through an obstacle course.
Behind the Scenes – Come practice showmanship with either dairy or meat goats (your choice). You’ll also practice hoof-trimming skills and explore how hoof trimming affects the appearance of your animal. Participants will discuss the fitting requirements for competing with dairy, fiber or meat goats.
Intermediate:
Worm Watch – Come grab a microscope and FAMACHA chart. Learn to keep your goats healthy by monitoring them regularly for parasites such as worms, coccidia and “crypto”.
Mad Vet Science – Get out your dissection tools and examine the parts of a goat’s anatomy to figure out their function and maybe even solve the causes of death or infertility.
It’s a Balancing Act – You can use the internet to check your goats’ food choices. Create well-balanced feed diets using the online Langston Goat Feed Formulation Program and learn how proper diet impacts important diseases such as acidosis, enterotoxemia and ketosis.
Making it Mine – Get creative and make your very own label for marketing goat products! Learn what to include when selling breeding stock, manure or soap as compared to meat or dairy products.
Those interested in Dairy projects will learn:
Holy Moly Cow! Here’s your chance to feel a rumen in motion as you stick your arm into a fistulated cow. Learn more about how the most efficient “green machine” and rumen bugs work together.
What’s in My TMR? To keep dairy cows healthy just like us, they need the right combination of nutrients daily. Find out how to make the healthiest, tastiest meal for your cow and how all of the feeds work together.
Got Colostrum! You’ve milked the cow and you have a clean bucket of colostrum. It looks good, but does it have enough antibodies to protect your newborn calf? The instructors can help with an easy farm level approach to measuring and managing good quality colostrum.
Cowsocial Moodia! Dairy friends don’t let non-dairy friends go without dairy. Learn how to talk to your peers about dairy and share your story.
Cow Signals: Come learn about cow behavior, safety and what makes a house a home for a dairy animal.
Show Cowtainer: You are heading to the county or state fair with a dairy animal. Learn about what “must haves” you should pack in your show box and what they are used for.
The cost of the program is $15 for youth (adult chaperones are free) and everyone is asked to bring their own lunch. Registration for the event must be done through your local Cornell Cooperative Extension Office and must be completed no later than April 29. All groups must have at least one chaperone per species tract.
More information can be found on the Animal Crackers website, http://4h.ansci.cornell.edu/events-2/animal-crackers/topics/. To find out more about the Tioga County 4-H Program contact the 4-H Office, Cornell Cooperative Extension in Tioga County at 687-4020 or visit www.cce.cornell.edu/tioga.
