Extension Communications
3614 Administrative Services Building
Ames, Iowa 50011-3614
(515) 294-9915
5/28/03
Contacts:
Denise Schwab, 4-H Youth Development, 515-294-3187, dschwab@iastate.edu
Carol Ouverson, Continuing Education and Communication Services, (515)
294-9640, couverso@iastate.edu
Tracy S. Petersen, Continuing Education and Communication Services, (515)
294-9915
Lamb Classic Entries Being Accepted
AMES, Iowa -- Entries are being accepted for the 2003 Lamb Performance Classic, sponsored by Iowa State University Extension 4-H Youth Development. The program is designed to teach youth to produce leaner, heavier muscled lambs for the sheep industry. The Lamb Classic combines growth, visual appraisal and carcass merit to determine the overall most desirable lamb.
Lambs are fed at Hawkeye Community College in Waterloo, which allows for a fair comparison between individual lambs and others in the state. 4-H'ers will deliver lambs to Waterloo on June 7. The lambs will be given one week to acclimate to the environment and feed before being weighed on test and worked up on a high-energy finishing diet. They will be delivered to the Iowa State Fair, where they will be exhibited Aug. 10. Animals will be ranked on live placing and then harvested and carcass data collected. The overall placing will be determined by rate of gain, carcass merit and live placing.
"4-H'ers will learn how to improve their decision making in selecting lean lambs, how their lambs grow compared to other lambs, how genetics affect the growth of lamb carcasses, which carcass traits are important, and the importance of lean to the livestock industry and consumers," Denise Schwab, extension 4-H specialist, said.
Entries should be submitted to Lamb Classic Entry, State 4-H Office, 33 Curtiss Hall, Ames, Iowa 50011 along with a registration fee of $15 per animal. Although entries should be submitted by June 1, they will be accepted up to the June 7 delivery date. For more information or to register, contact Schwab at (515) 294-3187.
-30-
ml: isufarm
Extension programs are available to all without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, or disability.