Dairy Cattle – Rutgers 4-H Animal Science Resource Blog

Exciting Animal Workshops at Rutgers Campus Farm, Saturday, March 23, 2024

Amelia Valente Minervini — Wed, 14 Feb 2024 14:33:47 +0000

Learn from animal experts – including veterinarians, professors, and industry leaders!

Registration is due by 11:59 p.m., Saturday, March 16 for the Junior Animal Science Symposium, Saturday, March 23, 2024, from 8:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m., for youth (grades K-13), parents, club leaders, and others interested in animals and their care.

This event provides hands-on workshops in Equine, Large Ruminant (Cattle), Small Ruminant (Sheep & Goat), Swine, Poultry, Rabbit, Cavy (Guinea Pig), Small Animals, and Beekeeping! The event is sponsored by the New Jersey Department of Agriculture Junior Breeder program in partnership with Rutgers Cooperative Extension faculty and staff. Preview all session offerings prior to registering. Registration is due by the end of Saturday, March 16!

When: Saturday, March 23, 2024, check-in beginning at 8:30 a.m., welcoming session at 9:00 a.m.

Where: Rutgers Cook Campus Farm, starting at the Round House (round barn)

For More Information: visit our website or contact Amelia Valente Minervini amelia.minervini@njaes.rutgers.edu

Zoonosis Prevention: A Kahoot Quiz Game

Laura Eppinger — Mon, 17 May 2021 18:03:02 +0000

Illustration from CDC

Thank you to all who participated in the first all-virtual Junior Breeder Symposium on Saturday, March 27, 2021.

If you missed the event, or want to try the Zoonosis Prevention game again, it is live now! The Kahoot quiz game can be played individually by clicking here. You may also go to kahoot.it and use Game PIN: 01733729.

It is available through the above link until June 13. After that, contact Laura Eppinger at eppinger@njaes.rutgers.edu to request a new link.

“Diseases Humans and Animals Share,” the CDC lesson about zoonosis prevention for youth, was originally designed to be led in-person but can be taught virtually with this Kahoot game. Enjoy!

By Laura Eppinger, Salem County 4-H Agent, Rutgers Cooperative Extension

Club Support: The Exciting Egg Activities

Wed, 12 May 2021 21:07:14 GMT

Model of an Egg, Made with Play-Doh

Pennsylvania 4-H has gathered a wealth of resources for youth to participate in 4-H at home. Many of the activities can easily be integrated into a 4-H club that is meeting remotely.

For poultry projects, The Exciting Egg lessons are educational and fun:

Parts of an Egg for Cloverbuds

Parts of an Egg for 4th Grade & Up

Instructions for a Play-Doh Egg Model

These directions and worksheets are easy to share or print and distribute. Be sure to also visit the 4-H Exciting Egg site for additional resources, such as educational videos aimed at youth, as well as a lesson plan for adults leading these activities.

By Laura Eppinger, Salem County 4-H Agent, Rutgers Cooperative Extension

Have you ever thought about working with dogs in Africa?

Mon, 10 May 2021 18:17:32 GMT

Paige with her Favorite Dog at CCF

Name: Paige Seitz

Job Title: Livestock Guarding Dog Program Manager

Organization: Cheetah Conservation Fund, Namibia, Africa

Education/Degree: B.S. in Biology, specializing in Zoology

Namibia is made up of farmland and as the human population grows, climate changes occur, and habitats change, the world not only changes for the people in it, but also for the animals that make up the ecosystems. As resources become more limited for both people and animals, they tend to collide in ways that are not favorable; we call this human-wildlife conflict (HWC). CCF uses special breeds of guarding dogs called Anatolian Shepherds and Kangals to protect Namibian farmers’ small stock from predation. Using these dogs allow farmers, livestock, and predators to live peacefully on the same land.

My mornings normally start at 7:40 am and then can go anywhere from 5 pm or later depending on the day. My job consists of the husbandry (feeding, health, enrichment) for the 14 resident dogs on site, plus any litters of puppies on site. At CCF we live in a remote area about 45 minutes from the nearest town. There are many benefits – it is beautiful as there is wildlife all around; we are like a small family as we all work and live on-site; and we see things most other people in their lives will never get to experience.

My advice: try lots of things if you aren’t sure what you’re interested in doing career-wise, because you never know where you might just happen to fit in. I actually went to CCF wanting to become a field researcher on big cats, but after a period of time, I realized I wasn’t made for the field and enjoyed animal care.

Work hard! Nothing in life worth getting is easy. We always explain to farmers that there is no quick fix in life – to make anything work, it takes effort. And as cheesy as it sounds, never give up on your dreams – if I hadn’t followed my dreams, I wouldn’t be where I am today.

Submitted by Amelia Valente, Ocean County 4-H Program Associate, Rutgers Cooperative Extension

Online Animal Science Resources for Members and Leaders While Remote

Chad Ripberger — Thu, 21 Jan 2021 19:53:38 +0000

Online Resources in All Animal Project Areas for Virtual Meetings and At-Home Learning

Many 4H club leaders are having difficulty finding resources they can use during a virtual 4-H meeting or while members are learning about their projects at home. In a quick search, one can find some help. We have compiled a few of those resources here.

Collection of Virtual Resources Compiled by Cornell University

4-H in New York has put together this great list of online resources, conveniently organized by animal project. It includes resources for those interested in beef cattle, dairy cattle, dogs, horses, goats, sheep, poultry, and rabbits, as well as several links to virtual field trips. It also includes links to additional resource lists and lessons by Purdue, Michigan State, and Iowa State.

4-H from Home Activities on National 4-H Site

A collection of activities, lessons, videos, and online courses from land-grant universities across the country. Choose Animal Science to sort the collection by topic.

Breeds of Horses and Livestock by Oklahoma State University

An excellent resource to learn the many breeds of cattle, goats, horses, sheep, swine, and poultry. Each member can research their favorite breed and give a club presentation about that breed.

Poultry Videos by Ohio 4-H in Collaboration with the American Poultry Association

A comprehensive video series highlighting many poultry breeds.

How to Take Care of Your Pets Video Series by Iowa State University

This series of well-produced videos from the veterinary school at Iowa State provides important info and demonstrations about the proper care of dogs, cats, rabbits, and more.

Youth for the Quality Care of Animals (YQCA) Online Curriculum and Certification

A national multi-species quality assurance program for youth ages 8 to 21 with a focus on food safety, animal well-being, and character development. It includes information for youth showing swine, beef cattle, dairy cattle, sheep, goats, market rabbits, and poultry.

This is certainly not an all-inclusive list of online resources for animal science club leaders and members. Many other universities, breed associations, commodity groups, and Ag in the Classroom programs have a wonderful array of materials, and they are increasingly free to download for your virtual meetings or project work. Don’t be afraid to ask your older members to do a short presentation for your meetings. They can still talk about animal care, anatomy, breeds, diseases, nutrition and feeding, and many other topics during the pandemic.

Good luck with your virtual meetings and at-home learning! Please share your remote learning successes with us; email your ideas and photos to 4hblogeditor@njaes.rutgers.edu.

And mark your calendars – our virtual Junior Breeder Symposium is scheduled for Saturday, March 27. Registration will open the week of January 25!

By Carol Ward, Somerset County 4-H Agent, and Chad Ripberger, Mercer County 4-H Agent, Rutgers Cooperative Extension

Club Support: Career Exploration

Thu, 21 Jan 2021 11:30:28 GMT

Career Exploration & Discovery through 4-H

Whether you know exactly what you want to do or have not yet decided, 4-H encourages you to explore a variety of careers, create a resume, and learn about resources in a field of interest. These resources can be organizations or associations related to your interests. For example, if you’re interested in a career as a Veterinarian, you might want to check out the AVMA (American Veterinary Medical Association). There, you can find a tab dedicated to careers and opportunities for aspiring veterinarians, like their Vet Set Go course.

For other options in the area of animal science, visit this Rutgers site, and check out the additional resources at the bottom of the page.

Career Discovery is also a great topic for a 4-H club meeting! You can take time during your virtual meeting to share with your peers about your dream career and SMART goals you plan to accomplish. Use the model below as a guide towards discovering your future career.

Career Development Model by Stony Brook University

Club Leaders can find resources to teach about career discovery on the National 4-H Website. Activities 1 – 7 offer free downloadable articles that include Resume Writing, Action Verbs, a Business Handshake, and a Winning Interview. Though there is a curriculum that you can purchase, check in with your county 4-H office first, for they might have the curriculum already.

By Amelia Valente, 4-H Program Associate of Ocean County, Rutgers Cooperative Extension

Learning how to do research in the field: A Pilot Study in Guyana for Coral Snake Mimicry

Mon, 18 Jan 2021 18:07:12 GMT

Or how research really goes in the field!

Micrurus surinamensis

Everyone talks about research being done in the field. It can sound glamorous, especially when the results are exactly what you hope for or even expect. But the reality is just the opposite. More often than not, it is what you don’t find or what doesn’t work that helps you learn and adjust your experiment.

Anthony Sena, a first year PhD candidate in Dr. Sara Ruane’s lab at Rutgers University, shares his experiences from this past January, 2020 as he did a pilot study in Guyana on coral snake mimicry:

In order to better understand how the venomous coral snake color patterns affect predatory behavior in other organisms such as birds, I performed experimental methods that were previously established by other researchers who study the coral snake mimicry paradigm using clay replicas of coral snakes and their imitators as well as plain colored snakes. For this experiment I made 12 replicas divided into three different groups based on size. In each group there was a replica that was painted to look like Micrurus surinamensis (the aquatic coral snake); it had red, black, and yellow rings in the formation of a tricolor triad, meaning there were three black rings for every repetition of the color pattern. I also made two control colored replicas. One was green and one was brown with black spots. These two replicas were used to imitate other snakes that do not have aposematic coloration (coloration that warns off predators) that could potentially look like snakes that are found in that region. The last replica was one that had the same tricolor triad pattern as M. surinamensis, but instead of a red coloration it had a green coloration. This replica was used primarily to determine if there was a similar response by predators towards the ringed replicas based on their ringed pattern or on the color of the replica itself. Each of these different color patterns were made for a group that represented small snakes (~6”), medium sized snakes (~9”), and large snakes (~12”).

Small Scale Replicas in Open Sandy Area

Medium Scale Replicas in Forest Clearing

Large Scale Replicas on Path’s Edge

I received help in making these replicas from the three other graduate students who were on the trip as well, Justin Bernstein, Erin McHale, and Megan Wilson. The clay that we used to make our replicas was an air-dry clay that became problematic for our uses because the initial point of using clay was to have potential predators that interacted with the replica to leave marks on the soft clay so that I could compare any differences in attacks between the replicas within and among groups. However, since the clay dried hard it would have made markings by other organisms difficult or impossible. Furthermore, we also painted each replica an appropriate color. Unfortunately, the paint that I used was also problematic for use in the field. The paint was a type of paint that could easily be washed off with water, and since this experiment took place in the literal rain forest, it became increasingly likely that the paint would be washed off of the replicas the longer they stayed out in the field. The third and final problematic obstacle we faced prior to the actual experimental setup was the use of a camera trap. Our initial plan was to use a camera trap to be able to view any events that took place during the interim that the replicas spent in the field. However, when attempting to turn on the camera there was no indication that the camera was working properly so I decided to scrap that idea for this pilot and instead just use a comparative methodology between the snakes, that is, if I could.

Materials used for this experiment.

Despite these obstacles, I was still excited to see if there was any hope in understanding the phenomena that I went to Guyana to study. Three locations were chosen close to the edge of the river to place each group. The small sized snakes were placed in a more open and sandy area that had a lot of sunlight. The medium sized group was placed in a wooded area with more canopy cover. And the large group was placed along the path’s edge within the forest area. Photos of each of the replicas were taken to both determine their position and to record any markings that existed prior to placement. After walking through the forest and placing the snakes, a peculiar incident occurred; on my way back, I noticed that within the 15 minutes of placement, half of the large green snake was missing by the time I returned. This was at about 4:30 pm on January 11. The following day, when I went to check on the snakes, three of the small sized snakes were moved and lined up on a nearby log. The three snakes were the red surinamensis replica, the green surinamensis model, and the plain green model. Interestingly, the brown model was not moved. This is most likely because the brown replica looked like a stick and even humans could not see it well to determine that it was a snake replica. It is obvious that these replicas were moved by humans because not only were they placed in a row, this location was in plain site of anyone who may work by the river, as it was only a few yards away from the docking area for the boats. Additionally, when checking on the large replicas, two of them were completely missing (the red and green surinamensis). This could have been due to a potential predator removing these snakes from their location, but it is much more likely that they were taken by humans that were in the area, especially since the large snakes were fairly heavy and potential avian predators in that location, such as the kiskadees (Pitangus sulphuratus), would have been too small to carry it off. However, without the camera trap being used, it is impossible to say for sure how and when they were taken. After two more days the snakes were collected on the morning of Tuesday, January 14. When I collected them there were no other replicas missing, but all of the remaining replicas had their paint washed off by the rain, and they were mostly white with spots of color. However, one interesting replica was the small brown snake. When it was collected again, it was green. On top of the lack of color on most of the replicas, the clay also softened to the point that when they were picked up, the replicas completely fell apart.

Ultimately this pilot study, as a data-oriented experiment, failed in almost every way before, during, and after its execution. However, it did allow me to understand the pitfalls of this kind of experimentation. I conclude from this experience that in the future I must use materials that are conducive to the experiment itself but also the environment that the experiment is being performed in. The clay that is used should not harden and should remain slightly malleable so as to record any impressions left behind by predators or any organism that interacted with it. The paint should not be washable especially in locations with a lot of rainfall. Additionally, I would like to have anchored the snakes down using some aluminum wire, this may not have prevented someone from stealing the replicas, but it could have potentially deterred them. Importantly, and more directly, it would also be beneficial to create a sign that specifically states that an experiment is taking place and describe what to look for and how to avoid interfering; this would be a much more beneficial method of deterring human interaction. As a whole, this experiment also had more variables than were necessary, such as replica shape, size, color, and field placement. Any future experiments should cut down on these variables to make a more streamlined and conservative experiment to test a single question. This experience may not have helped me understand the question of coral snake mimicry, but it did greatly improve my understanding of the rigor and planning necessary for field experimentation.

By Anthony Sena, PhD student in the lab of Dr. Sara Ruane, Assistant Professor, Department of Biological Sciences, Rutgers University-Newark, and Lisa Rothenburger, Somerset County 4-H Agent, Rutgers Cooperative Extension

Goat Extravaganza Quiz Bowl Contest

Wed, 23 Dec 2020 16:44:25 GMT

Since we can’t get together in person for our annual celebration of all things related to the goat project, we have decided to host a virtual quiz bowl contest using Zoom and Kahoot! Here are the details – we hope you’ll join us.

Studying for the quiz bowl contest!

Saturday, February 13, 2021 at 10:00 a.m.

Registration due February 1 (no entry fee)

The contest is for individuals, not teams.
Any registered 4-H member in 4^th grade and above may enter. There isn’t a fee.
We will have at least two divisions, depending on registration. Members will be in the same division as those in their age group.
There will be two rounds of questions per division. All members in a division will participate in the first round of 20 questions. The top 10 will qualify for the finals in their division.

Prizes will be awarded to the top five 4-H members in each division (gift card to 4-H Mall).

NEW this year – in each round, there will be at least one question related to goats in history, popular culture, or the news. This should make it more interesting and entertaining.

Members may study sample questions available on our state 4-H website.

Good luck, and don’t forget to sign up by February 1. Details, including a Zoom link, will be shared after registration closes.

Club Support: Three Online Courses on Food Safety and Microbiology

Sun, 15 Nov 2020 21:05:37 GMT

If you are looking for ways to supplement your 4-H club or other youth program in the area of Animal Science, Animal U by the Iowa State University has a wealth of interactive and educational resources. The web trainings here are educational yet highly accessible to youth audiences.

Production livestock projects may benefit from asking youth to complete the Food Safety and Microbiology interactive online course. This course offers three trainings on the topics:

Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points
Agencies
Microbiology

Each 5-minute module is broken up into short segments with educational overviews, compelling interviews with professionals in food safety, and ties the real lives of youth participants (such as asking: How do you know the food you order at a restaurant is safe to eat?). After each module is complete, youth are given a code to help track their progress and document what they have done.

The second module, an overview of the agencies related to food safety and regulation, explains how the USDA and the FDA keep the food we eat every day safe and healthy. This may also offer important insight for career exploration; today’s 4-Hers can be future growers, farmers, or government agency workers.

Your 4-Hers’ science teachers may be thanking you if you guide your club members to take the third module, about the microbiology of food safety. This covers vocabulary such as Commensal Bacteria, Foodborne Illness, and Pathogens.

Laura Eppinger is the Salem County 4-H Agent through Rutgers Cooperative Extension.

Ideas to Make Virtual Club Meetings Fun and Educational

Chad Ripberger — Fri, 13 Nov 2020 12:47:48 +0000

In this year of the coronavirus pandemic all 4-H staff and volunteers have had to pivot from in-person programs to virtual programs, AND so did the school system. Our 4-H members have had a double whammy of virtual programs and spend a lot of time on their computers. So, how do you continue to keep your members engaged in this environment? They might really want in-person 4-H meetings, but right now you are not able to do that. What you can do is provide them with a sense of belonging by bringing them together with their 4-H friends online. You can also provide a sense of stress release by making learning fun. As a bonus, you can even impart some subject matter knowledge as well.

Jeopardy game about horses from JeopardyLabs.com.

4-H staff know that some of our volunteers are having trouble keeping members engaged. We have been gathering resources to help you with virtual club meetings until we are able to do meetings in person. Successful club meetings in this virtual format may not look like your regular meetings. Youth are “Zoomed out” from school. Many will only participate if it is going to be fun and stress relieving. That does not mean you can’t teach them anything; you just need to couch the learning in a fun delivery mode.

There are platforms that can be used to help make your club meetings fun. If you do not have the computer skills to run the games, why not ask your teen leaders or co-leader to run it for you? Why not pool resources and work together with other clubs in your same project area? For example, I am encouraging all horse clubs (small animal clubs, dairy clubs, etc.) to meet together – that way only one leader has to create a meeting, rather than every leader creating an activity each month. I suggest having virtual meetings as a division – the members miss each other and like to see their 4-H friends.

I hope some of the resources compiled by one of my colleagues will help you. Contact your local 4-H staff – they know how many Zoom accounts may be available and can help you set up a meeting.

Fun Games and Activities to Play on Zoom

Jeopardy – this site has free Jeopardy boards on a variety of topics already on their site. You can also use their template to create your own Jeopardy game on any topic. I simply took Dairy and Horse Bowl questions and inserted them into a blank template. Here is a sample I made for Dairy.
And for you horse enthusiasts, here is one sample from the many horse Jeopardy games.
Scavenger Hunt – this can include “things” (e.g. an old picture not from the phone), to acting out something (e.g. act out a washing machine), to fun dance moves.
Bingo – either make your own card or go to this site.
Kahoot – interactive game using your phone or computer.
Scategories – the rules for this game are simple: there is one letter and five categories (things like “school supplies,” “book title,” and “girl’s name”). You have 60 seconds to come up with a word that fits in each category and starts with the chosen letter. The more unique your answer is compared to your friends’ answers, the more points you get.
Trivia – start asking questions. Have each person send their answer in the Zoom chat at the same time. Make up your own questions or go to this trivia generator.
Name, Place, Animal, Thing – to play, pick a letter. Each player has to list a famous person’s name, a place, an animal, and a thing that begins with that letter. The first person to type them into the Zoom chat wins.
Pictionary – to play, divide your group into teams. Choose a team to play first, as well as a designated “drawer” on that team. The drawer generates a word and has one minute to draw that word for their team to guess. If the team guesses the card correctly, they get a point. Pick your own words or go to this word generator.
Charades – split your group into two teams and make up your own or use this site to choose your words and phrases. The person who’s acting out the charade uses the Zoom “spotlight” feature, and their team has one minute to figure out the phrase.
Imaginary Ball Toss – this is a great “Ice Breaker” activity for the new 4-H year when youth do not yet know each other. Pass the imaginary ball to different people. You must call their name first so they can be ready to catch it! Everyone must catch and toss the ball one time. You may even do multiple balls at once (but makes sure everyone can do one ball well first).
Animal Calls and Movements – assign an animal call and movement to different animals (e.g. for dog, you would be barking and wagging your “tail”). Call out that animal and everyone does the sound and movement together.

We will share more ideas in future posts. Have fun!

By Carol K. Ward, County 4-H Agent, Rutgers Cooperative Extension. Resource list compiled by Lisa S. Rothenburger, County 4-H Agent.

Livestock and Poultry Identification Resources and Bingo Game

Chad Ripberger — Mon, 09 Nov 2020 18:30:44 +0000

Picture of a neck chain often used in a dairy barn to identify a particular cow.

Do you know why it is important to identify your animals? Do you know how to properly identify animals?

Storms may take down trees and cause damage to barns allowing livestock to walk through downed fences or an electric fence that is no longer hot. If a barn or chicken coop were to become damaged, it is possible that scared animals run quite far from their own home and your facilities. How would you identify your chickens and hogs from others that may have also escaped? If there was another outbreak of diseases like Foot and Mouth or Avian Influenza, how would we keep track of where animals have been, where they were born and sold?

The answer to all of this is through proper identification of all animals on your farm. There is a recent webpage developed by Dr Mike Westendorf, a Rutgers University Animal Science Professor. The site includes educational videos that describe the importance of animal identification and the common forms of identification used on farms in this area and around the country. Once the videos are viewed, there is a matching bingo game which can be used for a club meeting or skillathon station. I suggest you check it out!

By Carol K. Ward, County 4-H Agent, Rutgers Cooperative Extension.

Club Support: Animal Vital Signs Activity

Laura Eppinger — Sat, 07 Nov 2020 21:07:52 +0000

Pennsylvania 4-H has a resource page of at-home 4-H activities that can be useful to 4-H clubs meeting remotely during COVID-19 social distancing.

One series of at-home activities that may be assigned to club members this year is appropriate for companion animal projects as well as livestock: the Animal Vital Signs series:

Learn about Vital Signs with these Activities

These activity pages can easily be printed or emailed as links to members. Vocabulary taught in these lessons include: vital signs, body temperature, pulse, and respiration rate.

This can be paired with a career exploration lesson, as the ability to read animal vital signs is essential to farmers, animal trainers, animal nutritionists, animal behaviorists, veterinarians, veterinary assistants, and more.

By Laura Eppinger, Salem County 4-H Agent, Rutgers Cooperative Extension

So You Want to Work in a Zoo?

Amelia Valente Minervini — Fri, 06 Nov 2020 17:13:23 +0000

This past July, 4-H Program Associates Amelia Valente and Brittany Rigg held a S.T.E.P (Short Term Exploratory Program) called Career Detectives. The mission of this program was to expose youth to zoo careers they might be interested in pursuing. Participants virtually connected with several professionals in the field, including Zoo Keepers, Behavioral Specialists, Water Quality Technicians, Diet Specialists, and Herpetologists. These discussions provided members an understanding of the types of careers available and the types of undergraduate degrees to pursue. The members thoroughly enjoyed the experience and the professionals appreciated sharing their knowledge!

The capstone requirement for this program was to create a one-page info sheet about a career of interest. Below are five examples. Check it out – maybe you will discover your future career too! Learn more about careers by looking into the Association for Zoos and Aquariums.

Capstone Project #1

Capstone Project #2

Capstone Project #3

Capstone Project #4

Capstone Project #5

A very special thank you to all of the members who participated: Paul C., Brayden C., Rose F., Claire F., Russel G., Christian L., Scout L., Kayla M., Kristen M., Naomi M., Isabela S., Cat S., Julianne S., Liam W. Stay tuned to Rutgers 4-H from Home for more programs like this!

By Amelia Valente, Ocean County 4-H Program Associate, Rutgers Cooperative Extension.

What can snakes on Madagascar teach us about evolution?

Mon, 02 Nov 2020 20:42:23 GMT

Arianna Kuhn, PhD Candidate, City University of New York, American Museum of Natural History

Arianna posing with a juvinile flap-necked chameleon (Chamaeleo dilepis) seen crossing the road on her first field excursion in Gauteng, South Africa.

As a PhD candidate at the City University of New York, my current work aims to understand the evolutionary events that cause new species to form, but my career in herpetology actually began with geckos from Africa! As an undergraduate at Villanova University, I knew that I wanted to do research in a lab, but I knew little about the diverse fields of biological research active on my own campus. After doing research on the faculty of the biology department, I eventually found the labs of Dr. Todd Jackman and Dr. Aaron Bauer, where I began a project sequencing DNA from gecko tissues collected from sub-Saharan Africa. This project really clicked for me. Running analyses on my own study system that contributed to discovering and describing nine new species was more interesting and fun than I could have ever imagined! Being surrounded by a group of supportive graduate students, postdocs, and advisors that also loved to spend time outdoors catching local herps motivated me to delve deeper into my studies of herpetology and evolutionary biology. These experiences led to additional lizard projects and eventually a Master’s degree, where I spent multiple seasons in the field collecting snakes, geckos, and skinks in Angola.

A tiny Namib day gecko (Rhoptropus barnardi) in Namibe, Angola. This was my first time seeing my study organism in person after doing genetic work on tissues in the lab, so I was very excited!

Fast forward to where I am today—in a doctoral program advised by head Curator of Herpetology at the American Museum of Natural History, Dr. Frank Burbrink. Funded by the National Science Foundation, our team set out to generate the first comprehensive evolutionary history of Madagascar’s Gemsnakes (subfamily: Pseudoxyrhophiinae) to examine how ecology and morphology coevolved to produce this spectacularly diverse group of snakes.

One of my favorite snakes to find in the field is the Malgasy leaf-nosed snake (Langaha madagascariensis). The individual pictured here is a male, and the female snake of this species looks completely different! Scientists are still trying to figure out what exactly the weird projection on the nose of this snake is used for.

A quick recap on why Madagascar is one of the most fascinating biological hotspots on the planet Earth: located off the coast of East Africa, Madagascar is home to a massive assemblage of unique and bizarre animals that have been evolving in complete geographic isolation for more than 80 million years (Noonan & Chippindale, 2006). Madagascar is famous for having incredibly high species richness (number of species) and endemism (animals found nowhere else on earth). For example, more than 350 different species of frog can be found on Madagascar, giving this island the highest frog diversity per square kilometer of any country in the world (Vietes et al. 2009). Researchers have been intrigued by what ecological and historical factors have contributed to this exceptional faunal and floral composition for decades. Many of these species are currently at risk due to extreme habitat loss from deforestation and future climate change (Alnutt et al. 2008). With our research, we hope to uncover how species responded to changes in climate and vegetation in the past to better predict how they might respond in the future, and identify important genetic and landscape attributes that contribute to positive adaptive responses.

A Malagasy blonde hog-nosed snake (Leioheterodon modestus) photographed in Beanka Reserve, Western Madagascar. This species is not closely related to the hog-nosed snakes of North America – the noses of both species are upturned to aid in digging up eggs, but both evolved the trait independently.

Because snakes are one of the most widespread and ecologically significant groups of vertebrates that can be found across the island, they make a perfect study system for understanding diversification in the tropics (Nagy et al 2003). Unlike the more iconic residents of the island, such as lemurs, snakes have received comparably little attention with respect to biodiversity assessment and landscape genetics (Yoder et al. 2016).

Dr. Phillip Skipwith and I capturing a Malgasy giant hog nosed snake (Leioheterodon madagascariensis) we saw crossing the road on our way to Kirindy Forest.

My current project uses the genetic information encoded in the DNA of snakes to understand how they got to the island, why there are so many species, and how these new species formed. This means that I get to travel to Madagascar to undersampled habitats and catch snakes! What a field season looks like in real time is a team of biologists out in the forest flipping over every single rock and log they can find, hoping that one of these structures will have a snake underneath to catch and bring back to the campsite for sampling. During the day, we might stumble across diurnal snakes out basking in the sun, or we might get lucky enough to spot one crossing the road while driving to new survey sites. At night, our team heads out with powerful headlamps, this time looking for nocturnal animals that are hunting on the ground or in the trees.

There are only four species of boa on Madagascar. Here, I am holding the Malagasy ground boa (Acrantophis madagascariensis) – females can grow up to 10 feet long!

When I find a snake, I can catch it with my hands because there are no lethally venomous snakes on Madagascar. Back at the campsite, I take a small tissue sample from the animal that I will bring back to my lab at the American Museum of Natural History. In the lab, I can extract and sequence a huge amount of DNA from this tiny piece of tissue, and this genetic information is the primary data I use to answer questions about how these snakes evolved and adapted to specialized habitats on Madagascar. I can also examine this genetic information to identify new species previously unknown to science. In fact, last year my colleagues discovered as many as 38 potentially new species of gemsnake (Burbrink et al 2019). Looking thousands of years into the past, I am able to identify particular genes that may have helped snakes to adapt to new environments in response to historical climate change events. Once I know this information, I can use future climate projections to better understand how populations of snakes might respond to climate and land use change in the future.

Although it is sad to see a snake that has been killed by a car on the road, we are still able to take tissue samples from these individuals, which make up an important portion of my geographic samples for population genetic studies.

Lycodryas citrinus is a stunning arboreal gemsnake that I have spotted several times cruising through foliage at night in arid regions of western Madagascar. This species is known to give birth to live young rather than laying eggs.

Check out my website to learn more about my research!

By Arianna Kuhn, PhD student in the lab of Dr. Sara Ruane, Assistant Professor, Department of Biological Sciences, Rutgers University-Newark; Lisa Rothenburger, Somerset County 4-H Agent, Rutgers Cooperative Extension

Virtual Zoos Offer Animal Science at Home

Fri, 30 Oct 2020 01:17:27 GMT

Otters visit us on Zoom.

Just because you and the kids are cooped up in the house doesn’t mean you can’t experience the fun of catching up with your favorite furry friends at your favorite zoo or animal conservatory. Zoos and animal habitats have also moved their program online during the COVID-19 pandemic.

When visiting a zoo, online or in-person, you can confirm the organization is kind to and cares for its animals with the the American Humane Program. This group is one of the nation’s most influential certifiers of humane animal practices and promotes the welfare of animals everywhere. By visiting parks that have been Humane Certified, you can visit an organization knowing it cares for their animals as much as you do. Check out this list of Humane Certified Parks.

Virtual field trips to zoos are an affordable and safe option for families, and are also a great way to keep the kids busy at home. Many of the zoo websites on the Humane Certified list also offer great educational opportunities and activities for kids.

Through the Humane Certified Parks link, you’re not just confined to local zoos and animal habitats. You can check out zoos all around the world, all from the comfort of your own home. Whether you want to keep an eye on your favorite otter at the Mote Lab, or check out the exhibits at Zoomarine Italia in Rome, there are a plethora of resources available if you or the kids miss the excitement of exploring nature and wildlife. Try out a virtual zoo field trip for yourself!

Residents of New Jersey and beyond may be familiar with the Turtle Back Zoo. Essex 4-H traditionally hosts their Healthy Small Animal Club meetings at this site, though this is on hiatus currently. Home to animals like sea turtles, jaguars, and goats, the Turtle Back Zoo in West Orange makes for a fun and educational visit. Currently, they are open at limited capacity for in-person experiences through reservations, but they also offer virtual “behind the scenes” looks at some of their most popular exhibits.

By Sidra Razzaq, Department of 4-H Youth Development, Federal Work Study Student and Marissa Staffen, County 4-H Agent, Rutgers Cooperative Extension.

4-H Entries for Statewide Virtual Fair!

Chad Ripberger — Tue, 28 Jul 2020 00:02:51 +0000

Enter the 4-H Virtual Fair by this Friday!

Calling all those in 4-H animal projects – there are multiple classes for each of you at the New Jersey 4-H Virtual Fair, but you only have a few more days to enter!

All information (and a link for entries) is available at the 4-H fair’s website. The many categories for project entries are outlined in the exhibitor’s guide, also available at the same site.

While we hope you will enter the typical animal classes (including showmanship), there are also classes for you to showcase your knowledge and skills in areas such as breed identification, animal care, fitting, training, and several topics within animal and veterinary science. For several classes, you don’t even need a project animal.

In addition to your main animal projects, consider entering some of our other classes, including animal costume contests, photography, foods, garden crops, music, arts, clothing/textiles, crafts, STEM (inventions, LEGO, robotics), and so much more! For those with dogs, you don’t have to be in a dog club/project to show off your dog’s tricks or your homemade agility course. There really is something for everyone!

Submitting entries is simple and free – most classes require just photos and/or a video. For some, you are simply signing up for a time to showcase your project or abilities via Zoom in early August (but you still need to enter those classes by this Friday).

Projects and results will be available to view on the New Jersey 4-H Virtual Fair website in mid-August. Ribbons will be mailed to participants at the conclusion of the virtual fair.

All entries are due this Friday, July 31. We hope you choose to participate!

The Search for Urban Snakes in NJ

Fri, 17 Jul 2020 21:35:35 GMT

Written by Tianqi Huang, a PhD student majoring in Ecology and Evolution at Rutgers University – New Brunswick , currently working on urban snake ecology. Tianqi is co-advised by Dr. Peter Morin and Dr. Sara Ruane.

A DeKay’s brown snake I encountered in Newark, NJ flattening its body as it felt threatened.

Nowadays, a large proportion of world’s population lives in urban areas, but we know that cities are not only home to humans. A variety of animals share our cities with us. Scientists often term them as “urban adaptors” and “urban exploiters”. Among them there are the infamous weedy or pest species like cockroaches and mice, common backyard birds like house sparrows and rock pigeons, and relatively large mammals such as raccoons and white-tailed deer. But do you know, some more elusive and secretive animals also call urban home, like snakes? My research focuses on one of the snake species that frequently occur in urban environments in New Jersey, DeKay’s brown snake (Storeria dekayi).

DeKay’s brown snake is a common semi-fossorial snake species found throughout eastern North America. They are usually grayish brown in color with black spots on their backs. Their bellies are creamy or pinkish white. DeKay’s brown snakes are pretty small. Adult snakes are usually only around 9-14 inches. DeKay’s brown snakes do not lay eggs; they are live-bearing. DeKay’s brown snakes are habitat generalists, which means they can be found in almost all types of terrestrial habitat. However, DeKay’s brown snakes are considered as dietary specialists that only feed on soft-bodied invertebrates. Earthworms and slugs are their most common prey.

A juvenile DeKay’s brown snake with author’s measuring tools.

Scientists often find DeKay’s brown snakes using artificial structure as hiding spots and occurring in high density in urban environments. As a result, they suspect that unlike many other snakes, Dekay’s brown snake might actually favor urban environments. So, can we also consider DeKay’s brown snakes as urban adaptors like sparrows and raccoons? In my research project, I am sampling brown snakes throughout the highly urbanized state of New Jersey and gathering different data from them to answer this question using various approaches.

Eight individuals of DeKay’s brown snake found in Newark, NJ in 40 minutes.

To study snakes, the first step is, of course, to find them. Ecology studies of snakes are always hard because snakes are secretive. However, compared to other snakes, DeKay’s brown snakes commonly form aggregations, which makes my sampling work much easier (although there are still many unsuccessful field days!). For example, one of my study sites is a small area of urban green space in the city center of Newark. The green space is surrounded by paved sidewalks and buildings, and is only about 6,800 square feet in size. However, I have already caught about 40 different individuals of brown snakes there! I remember there was this one time when I caught seven snakes in close proximity in this green space in just ten minutes. Like this Newark population, most of the brown snake populations I have discovered so far inhabit very urbanized areas. Besides the Newark site, some other sites include, for instance, a park surrounded by residential areas in Leonia, an abandoned railway next to an industrial park and highways in Perth Amboy, and a forest patch on Rutgers University-New Brunswick campus.

A juvenile DeKay’s brown snake (lower left) found together with two juvenile common garter snakes in Perth Amboy, NJ.

For each snake I collect, I take photos of them and measure their morphological traits, such as their head dimensions and body length. Photos of snake head patterns can be used to identify recaptured individuals. Data of recaptures are useful to estimate local snake population size. I also obtain data from both snake photos and measurements to compare snakes from localities of different urbanization levels. This comparative approach helps me understand whether certain morphological traits are selected for urban-dwelling of DeKay’s brown snake. Although my research is still ongoing, a rough estimate of the local population shows that there might have more than 60 individuals in the Newark green space alone! Initial morphological comparison results suggest that DeKay’s brown snake display distinct sexual dimorphism (a condition in which two sexes of the same species display different morphological characteristics). For instance, males brown snakes tend to have longer tails and wider heads compared to females. Results also reveal that snake morphological differentiation does occur across different localities. Head shapes among snake populations appear to be different as well.

Two juvenile DeKay’s brown snakes with very different colorations found in Leonia, NJ.

Besides the snakes themselves, I also sample their potential food source, earthworms and slugs in snakes’ habitats to assess if urban environment has the potential to change the feeding habit and dietary structure of DeKay’s brown snakes. In the case of earthworms, only nonnative species can be found in New Jersey. Previous studies have shown that many of these nonnative earthworm species are good urban colonizers that can reach high density in some urbanized areas. Consequently, if abundance of earthworms at my study sites is also high, then abundant earthworms as sufficient food sources have the potential to promote the wellbeing of both snake individuals and populations in urbanized areas. An initial field sampling trial at one of my study sites with abundant snakes supports this idea. I found 48 earthworms of at least three species in a small 30 X 30 cm area with only a 5 cm deep soil layer.

A DeKay’s brown snake found underneath a plywood in Perth Amboy, NJ.

My study of urban DeKay’s brown snake is meaningful because it helps us understand how a less studied taxon respond to urbanization. This could provide valuable information on the ecology, and ultimately preservation, of biodiversity in urbanized areas.

Two other snake species I found in heavily urbanized areas in NJ. Left: three ringneck snakes found underneath plywood in Fort Lee, NJ. Right: a common garter snake basking on a leaf pile in Perth Amboy, NJ.

Check out my website to learn more about my urban snake research!

By Tianqi Huang, PhD Student, Dr.Sara Ruane, PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Biological Sciences, Rutgers University-Newark , & Lisa Rothenburger, Somerset County 4-H Agent, Rutgers Cooperative Extension

What it’s like being a Park Ranger

Wed, 15 Jul 2020 12:00:46 GMT

Park Ranger Career Spotlight

Name: Erin Morton

Job Title: Park Service Associate

Organization: Maryland Park Service

Education/Degree: Bachelors of Science, Major; Wildlife Conservation and Management

1. Are you a 4-H Alumni?

Unfortunately I was not in 4-H, but I always wanted to be!

2. What does a typical work day look like for you? (hours, activities, work environment, responsibilities, etc.)

Working in a state park is very exciting because almost every day is something different. Hours vary throughout the seasons; during the summer there is a day ranger who works 8am-4:30pm, and a night ranger who works 2pm-10:30 pm. The work activities include interacting with park visitors and campers, cleaning and maintaining the park and its facilities, opening and closing day use areas, providing interpretive programs for the public, care of our Scales & Tales program animals, and encouraging people to visit nature in our State Parks.

3. What is the most enjoyable part of your career?

The most enjoyable part of my career is the working with the animals in the Scales & Tales program. The purpose of this program is to use native non-releasable raptor and reptiles to educate the public on native wildlife and what actions they can do to help protect our wildlife. The Tales portion of the program is a story about how the animal was injured and how it could have been avoided. We have several turtles, snakes, owls, hawks, and a falcon in our program.

4. What are some of the challenges you face in your career?

I was not very comfortable with public speaking when I first started doing Scales & Tales presentations, but practice makes perfect so I am over coming my uncomfortableness. In 4-H I hear you have to give public presentations, whichI find to be so cool because if I was a 4-H’er I would have learned this skill, which would make speaking in front of the public not so bad!

5. What was your favorite science class in school and why?

Entomology, because I really like insects. I still have my insect collection from my entomology class and have added to it since the class. I also have set up several interpretive programs about insects for park visitors to enjoy.

6. Can you share advice for youth aspiring to join your profession? (Colleges, majors, internships, tips, tricks, etc.)

If you are interested in becoming a Park Ranger the best thing to do is get out into the parks, volunteers are always needed, get a seasonal job at your local state/county park, or even participate in the programs they offer like JR Rangers, Park Pals, and day camps! Maryland Conservation Corps is a fantastic program for 18-25 year olds, it is a branch off of AmeriCorps and when you finish you get an education award to use towards college or student loans.

7. Which activities can help youth develop the specific skills needed to succeed in your field?

Public speaking
Write stories/ Journal
Sketch, draw and paint
Be in leadership roles at school and in 4-H
Spend time outside in nature
Stay physically healthy
Keep a tidy/organized room
Babysit/Work with Kids
Garden
Take care of a pet
Community service
Wildlife Observation
Geocaching
Other suggested activities/skills: Computer Skills, Good communication; Learn another language, kayaking/canoeing, hiking, biking, fishing, camping, learning and being able to identify native plants and animals.

Congratulations, Top-Scoring Clubs

Chad Ripberger — Mon, 08 Jun 2020 20:41:32 +0000

A total of 276 4-H members from 88 clubs participated in the 4-H Animal Science Blog Contest from April 10 through May 31, 2020 (keep reading for a list of the top 15 clubs).

These 4-H members evaluated classes of horses and livestock; visited a variety of farms, zoos, and museums; joined educational webinars with experts from across the country; developed new skills; and discovered online resources from eXtension and several of our land-grant university partners. They learned about animal breeds, care, nutrition, products, and training; met a variety of people involved in animal research and conservation; and explored animal science career opportunities and the Department of Animal Sciences at Rutgers. They also shared their favorite animal resources and club activities – some will be featured in upcoming blog posts!

Congratulations to all of our participants! Here are the 15 highest scoring clubs, based on member participation. The top five clubs will receive $200 mini-grants to support their efforts to learn and/or teach animal science (curriculum, guest speakers, field trips, educational workshops, exhibits, outreach, etc.). Clubs ranked 6th through 15th will each receive $100 mini-grants for the same purpose. We’ll be in touch soon to make arrangements with the club leaders.

1	Essex Tech Club	Essex
2	Puppy Tails	Morris
3	Buckaroos	Cumberland
4	Rabbit Rocketeers	Salem
5	Scales and Tails	Cape May
6	Goat Gang	Burlington
7	Kicken Chickens	Sussex
8	County Corners 4-H	Salem
9	Wags N’ Whiskers Dog Club	Somerset
10	Tails and Trails	Monmouth
11	14 Carrot Rabbit Club	Monmouth
12	Kidding Around	Warren
13	Poultry Pride	Cumberland
14	Mt. Airy Dairy	Hunterdon
15	Heads and Tails	Gloucester

If you didn’t have a chance to complete all of the activities, they will remain posted under Club Programming Idea and STEM Learning. Thanks to everyone for your participation!

Week #7 Activities – 4-H Animal Science

Chad Ripberger — Sat, 23 May 2020 15:56:03 +0000

Welcome to our seventh and final week! We have returned to our original format – with one activity for each of our ten animal projects.

You have from now until the end of Friday, May 29 to complete as many of these activities as you like. They are all optional, but you will earn up to 5 points for your club for each activity you complete. The five top-scoring clubs will earn $200. We will also award up to 10 prizes of $100 to clubs scoring just outside of the top five. Good luck and enjoy learning and sharing about your project animals!

Alpaca/Llama

DISCOVER: A llama named Winter from Belgium has recently been in the news. Read this article to discover why scientists are studying antibodies from llamas and how they relate to COVID-19. Complete this Activity.

Dairy Cattle

LEARN: Purdue Extension hosted a live session about dairy showmanship for 4-H members last week. You will view the recorded version to learn from a long-time dairy showman and judge. Complete this Activity.

Dog

TRAIN: In our second week together you had a chance to explore the wonderful videos on the AKC website to learn how to teach your dog a new trick. You will share your training progress and upload a photo of your dog learning one of these tricks. Complete this Activity.

Goat

EXPLORE: Not all goats are raised for milk or meat. In this video from Texas Farm Bureau, you will learn about Angora goats, which are raised for their fiber (mohair). Complete this Activity.

Herpetology

MEET: Hear from a herpetologist with the American Museum of Natural History as he discusses Cuba’s fascinating reptiles and amphibians. Complete this Activity.

Horse & Pony

TOUR: Have you ever seen a horse run on a treadmill? Through a quick tour of the equine exercise physiology lab at Rutgers, you’ll learn why scientists use treadmills to study horses. Complete this Activity.

Poultry

EXPLORE: Learn about various breeds of chickens, ducks, geese, and turkeys from a collection of videos put together by Ohio 4-H and the American Poultry Association. Complete this Activity.

Rabbit/Cavy/Small Animal

WATCH: You will learn how to care for guinea pigs through this short video from a professor in the College of Veterinary Medicine at Iowa State University – you’ll also meet her guinea pig. Complete this Activity.

Sheep

EVALUATE: Learn how to evaluate market lambs from this former livestock judging coach at Iowa State University. He’ll show you how to handle lambs to determine which one has the most muscling. Complete this Activity.

Swine

TOUR: You can’t take a field trip to a farm right now, but you can certainly visit one via a virtual 360 video tour. You will learn about large-scale hog production by visiting a high-tech farm in Canada. Complete this Activity.

Week #6 Activities – 4-H Animal Science

Chad Ripberger — Sat, 16 May 2020 15:04:57 +0000

Welcome to our sixth week! This week you will explore animal science jobs and careers!

You have from now until the end of Friday, May 22 to complete as many of these activities as you like. They are all optional, but you will earn up to 5 points for your club for each activity you complete. At the end of our seven weeks, the five top-scoring clubs will earn $200. We will also award up to 10 prizes of $100 to clubs scoring just outside of the top five. Good luck and enjoy learning and sharing about your project animals!

Video of Animal Careers

EXPLORE: Do you enjoy animals? Would you like to have a career related to animals? If so, there are several options. Through this video created by Cornell, you will learn about careers related to horses, farm animals, companion animals, and wildlife. Complete this Activity.

List of Animal Careers

EXPLORE: Cornell has put together a long list of careers related to animals – including those based at farms, zoos, parks, veterinary hospitals, universities, and more! You will explore a few of these animal careers and discover the skills needed for each. Complete this Activity.

Profile of an Animal Career

EXPLORE: Through the blog, we have profiled many people who work with animals. You will learn about one of these fascinating individuals and discover how they have combined their passion for animals with their career. Complete this Activity.

Animal Science at Rutgers

EXPLORE: Did you know that you can study animal science at Rutgers and many other schools? Students majoring in animal science prepare for a variety of career opportunities. You will learn about the animal science major at Rutgers. Complete this Activity.

Week #5 Activities – 4-H Animal Science

Chad Ripberger — Sat, 09 May 2020 13:50:28 +0000

Welcome to our fifth week! This week, we want to learn from you!

You have from now until the end of Friday, May 15 to complete as many of these activities as you like. They are all optional, but you will earn up to 5 points for your club for each activity you complete. At the end of our seven weeks, the five top-scoring clubs will earn $200. We will also award up to 10 prizes of $100 to clubs scoring just outside of the top five. Good luck and enjoy learning and sharing about your project animals!

Online Resource Idea #1

SHARE: We want to hear from you! Share an online resource (activity, how-to video, interactive lesson, educational game, virtual tour, webinar, etc.) related to your animal project that you have found especially helpful – or one that you just discovered that you really like. It should be something that we haven’t already used over the past four weeks. If we also like it, it might be featured in our final two weeks. Complete this Activity.

Online Resource Idea #2

SHARE: Do you have more than one online resource to share? If so, you may enter it here. Complete this Activity.

Club Activity Idea #1

SHARE: I’m sure you do great activities in your club that help you learn about animals. Which of your club’s activities (demonstration, clinic, team challenge, field trip, guest speaker, etc.) do you think is the most interesting? Share something that you think other clubs would also want to do. If we think it’s a great idea, we might feature it in a future blog post. Complete this Activity.

Club Activity Idea #2

SHARE: Do you have more than one club activity to share? If so, you may enter it here. Complete this Activity.

4-H Animal Science Film Festival

WATCH: We just created a website with all of the entries in this year’s animal science video contest. View all of the videos (about 3 minutes each) and then share three things that you learned about animals from your fellow 4-H members. Complete this Activity.

Vote for Your Favorite Animal Video

Chad Ripberger — Fri, 08 May 2020 12:56:46 +0000

A Team Entry from Somerset County 4-H

Welcome to the New Jersey 4-H Animal Science Film Festival! Unfortunately, you will have to provide your own popcorn this year, since we weren’t able to gather at the Round House of the Rutgers Cook Campus Farm as we have done in the past.

However, you have ten great videos to view, and you still get to vote for your favorite. Actually, by doing it this way, a lot more people get to vote. Please share with family and friends and let them know that voting ends May 31.

Congratulations to the 73 4-H members from ten counties who participated this year! You’ll see videos about chickens, dogs, goats, rabbits, and sheep. Our judges scored them using five criteria—educational value, creativity, clarity, pacing, and technical quality. While it was difficult to separate them, their top four lead the list and the others are included in alphabetical order by title.

The clubs of the top four videos and the audience’s favorite will receive gift cards to support their 4-H activities. Don’t forget to vote for your favorite. Enjoy the videos!

Week #4 Activities – 4-H Animal Science

Chad Ripberger — Sat, 02 May 2020 12:48:15 +0000

Welcome to the fourth week of our online learning!

You have from now until the end of Friday, May 8 to complete as many of these activities as you like. They are all optional, but you will earn up to 5 points for your club for each activity you complete. At the end of our seven weeks, the five top-scoring clubs will earn $200. We will also award up to 10 prizes of $100 to clubs scoring just outside of the top five. Good luck and enjoy learning and sharing about your project animals!

Alpaca/Llama

DISCOVER: We discuss alpaca fiber in It’s Shearing Time! Through a visit to Arrow Acres Farm in Monmouth County, you’ll discover how alpaca fiber is processed and used to make hats, scarves, sweaters, and more. Complete this Activity.

Dairy Cattle

TOUR: This week’s virtual field trip is to Sugar Maple Jerseys, a dairy farm in Stockton, New Jersey. You’ll learn what it’s like to milk and care for a herd of Jersey cows. Complete this Activity.

Dog

EXPLORE: As we outlined in Examining the Many Breeds of Dogs, there are several interesting breeds – each with their own history, purpose, and personality. You will choose one breed to learn about, using information from the American Kennel Club and Animal Planet. Complete this Activity.

Goat

MEET: You’ll learn about baby goats by meeting three two-week-old kids as part of Ag in the Classroom from Cornell Cooperative Extension. Complete this Activity.

Herpetology

EXPLORE: Several of our blog posts have featured the efforts of local scientists to conserve amphibians and reptiles. You will explore fascinating amphibians and reptiles that are endangered or threatened in New Jersey. Complete this Activity.

Horse & Pony

JUDGE: This week you’ll judge a class of four horses and determine which ones you think are best. Once again, no experience necessary – give it a try! Complete this Activity.

Poultry

OBSERVE: Last week you saw how a chick develops inside an egg over 21 days. This week, you’ll view some recently hatched chicks on the live 4-H EGG Cam from the University of Nebraska Extension. You’ll also see a chick peck out of an egg. Complete this Activity.

Rabbit/Cavy/Small Animal

WATCH: Want to learn how 4-H members show rabbits? This video from the American Rabbit Breeders Association demonstrates the entire process, step by step. Complete this Activity.

Sheep

ZOOM: Purdue Extension is hosting a live session about sheep showmanship for 4-H members on Tuesday, May 5 at 3:00 p.m. If you miss the live session, you may also view the recorded version after Tuesday. Complete this Activity.

Swine

DISCOVER: You’ll learn all about swine production through a fun and interactive lesson from Iowa State University. Complete this Activity.

Dairy Cattle – Rutgers 4-H Animal Science Resource Blog

Exciting Animal Workshops at Rutgers Campus Farm, Saturday, March 23, 2024

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