Title: (Optional) Evaluate livestock, poultry, dairy, and equine.
Course: Introduction to Animal Systems (18101) > Section: Exploring the Animal Industry

Evaluation should include

- desirable traits in market and breeding livestock
- discussing expected progeny differences (EPDs) and estimated breeding values (EBVs)
- defining and using terms used in the livestock, poultry, and dairy cattle evaluation process and
  - observing and analyzing physical characteristics
  - gathering information independently and through team collaboration
  - communicating the information orally

- classifying livestock according to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) grading system
- assessing desirable traits in market and breeding livestock and defending the livestock selection.

Evaluation should also include preparing and delivering results orally with regard to desirable selection, production, management, and marketing techniques for

- market livestock (e.g., steers, lambs, hogs)
  - degree of muscling
  - degree of finish
  - growth capacity
  - soundness and structural correctness
  - balance
  - frame size

- breeding livestock
  - EPDs
  - EBVs

- poultry
  - carcass evaluation (e.g., chickens or turkeys)
  - egg interior and exterior quality
  - appropriateness for boneless further processed products
  - appropriateness for bone-in further processed products
  - poultry carcass parts identification
  - live poultry evaluation (e.g., meat-type and egg-type )

- dairy
  - and herd management
  - physical characteristics of dairy cattle
  - classes of dairy cattle

- equine
  - breed type
  - quality
  - balance
  - degree of muscling
  - soundness and structural correctness.

Teacher Resources:

- National Dairy Herd Information Association (DHIA), (https://dhia.org/)
- National Sheep Improvement Program (NSIP), (http://nsip.org/)
- National Swine Improvement Federation (NSIF), (https://www.swineimprovementfederation.com/)

Process/Skill Questions:

- What FFA Career Development Events (CDEs) are related to this task/competency?
- Why is it important to understand how to evaluate livestock, poultry, and dairy cattle?
- What are desirable traits in market and breeding livestock?
- How does developing the ability to select livestock satisfy consumer demands, provide increased economic returns to producers, and meet the needs of the industry?
- Why is it important to understand and interpret performance data based on industry standards?
- Why are biosecurity measures important to protect the welfare of animals?