Nebraska State FFA Senior Livestock Evaluation
Contest Overview
The senior livestock evaluation contest functions to test students’ abilities to identify, evaluate and discuss relative differences in breeding and market livestock. Students will rank 6 classes of livestock (beef cattle, swine, and sheep), answer 3 sets of questions (1 set/species), and prepare and deliver 2 or 3 sets of oral reasons (1 set/species). In addition, there are 2 keep/cull breeding animal classes (species to be determined).
Contest Schedule
Date: Thursday, March 29, 2012
Report Time: 6:00 to 6:45 AM
- Instructions: 6:45 AM
- Estimated Contest Start Time: 7:15 AM
Report Location: Room B101, Animal Science Complex
Contest Location: R.B. Warren Arena, Animal Science Complex
Contest Length: Approximately 5.5 hours; should be completed by 12:30 PM
Eligibility
This is a district qualifying competition. Your team must have qualified within the top half of your district to compete.
Required Supplies for Students
- #2 Pencils. Scantrons that are filled out with pen cannot be read by the machine. They will NOT be “rebubbled”, and those values will be scored as zeros!
- Clipboard. These are a necessity for maintaining and completing the scantrons used to score the contest. Folded and/or mutilated scantrons will NOT feed through the machine, and thus may not be scored properly. Please take extreme care not to damage the scantrons.
- CLEAN notebooks or paper for taking notes to aid in your study and preparation for questions and reasons. Pre-written notes and supplementary materials (terms, formulas, etc.) are NOT allowed and may result in disqualification from the contest.
- Calculator (optional). Students may use a SIMPLE calculator to assist with evaluation.
Recent Changes to the Contest
All 4 team members' scores will be counted. There will be 2 or 3 sets of oral reasons. There will be 2 keep/cull classes. Market Beef evaluation has been eliminated. There will be a livestock multiple choice exam.
State Rules and Format
- A senior division team will consist of 4 team members. The three high team members’ scores will count. The low score of the 4th team member will not be counted. However, he/she is still eligible for individual awards. If only 3 team members are available to judge, then the total of these three members’ scores will make up the team score, and no scores will be dropped.
- A senior division team may have judged in the senior division of a previous state contest and is eligible to compete a second year as long as they were not a member of the state winning senior division team and/or competed in the national livestock evaluation CDE. This means all members on the team, including the alternate (low score), on a 4-member team.
- This is a district qualifying event. Teams that place within the Top 50% of their district for each division (Junior/Senior) may compete in the state competition. Each team is made up of 4 individuals. Additionally, two alternates may be pre-registered for the contest. Thus, no more than six potential contestants may be pre-registered for the contest. Teams may substitute PRE-REGISTERED alternates for PRE-REGISTERED team members the morning of the contest. NO OTHER SUBSTITUTIONS WILL BE ALLOWED! Unless substituted for a pre-registered team members, alternates will NOT judge.
The 2012 Senior Livestock Evaluation Contest will consist of the following:
- 6 classes (2 beef cattle, 2 swine, 2 sheep) 300 pts 300 pts
Basic Judging Assumptions
All animals are considered eligible for breed registry; it is NOT a placing criteria
Underlines and vulvas are considered sound on breeding swine; it is NOT a placing criteria
Mouths on all sheep are considered sound; it is NOT a placing criteria.
However, any differences observed for the above items MAY be addressed in reasons or questions.
- 2 or 3 sets of oral reaons (1 set from a beef cattle, swine, and sheep class) 50 pts per set
Oral Reasons Scoring Guidelines
40-50 pts: 80-100% accurate; properly prioritized; detailed, excellent presentation.
30-40 pts: 60-80% accurate; prioritized OK; moderate detail; good presentation
20-29 pts: < 60% accurate; prioritization unclear; marginal detail; marginal presentation
< 20 pts: Minimal effort; did not appear to care to be involved in the competition.
- 3 sets of questions (1 set from a beef cattle, swine, and sheep class) 75 pts
5 questions will be asked for each of the three classes.
- 2 keep/cull class – breeding animals (any species) 100 pts
For each animal, contestants should identify KEEP or CULL on the scantron.
Contestants should KEEP the 4 most desirable animals.
Contestants should CULL the 4 least desirable animals.
- Multiple Choice Exam 50 pts
25 multiple choice questions about the livestock industry
Total Points in the Contest (per individual) 625 pts or 675 pts
Tiebreaker
- 1st tie-breaker = oral reasons score.
- 2nd tie-breaker = questions score.
National Rules and Format
Contest Superintendent:
Bryan Reiling
(402) 472-8960
breiling2@unl.edu
Matt Ellicott
(402) 472-8834
mellicott2@unl.edu
updated 3/22/11
