Livestock need care

By SCOTT NILES Courier staff writer

July 17, 2008 11:19 am

— OTTUMWA — Ask any 4-H’er and they’ll tell you the organization provides lessons in responsibility, especially when it comes for caring for livestock.
During Wapello County 4-H Expo livestock weigh-in on Wednesday, 4-H member Erica Swanson, 13, Ottumwa, said taking care of an animals means long hours and a lot of work.
“You have to get up pretty early most of the time to feed and water them,” she said. “It’s hard work, but I like it.”
She said her animals are just like pets and they must be cared for.
“You have to make sure they always have what they need,” Swanson said.
4-H and FFA member Cory Campbell, 14, Batavia, echoed Swanson and agreed that taking care of their expo livestock is similar to a pet ... but add about 1,200 pounds.
“A really big pet,” she said.
Campbell said she’s learned a lot about livestock from her uncles.
“They grew up on farms, too, and were in 4-H and FFA,” she said.
For Ottumwan Justin Cobler, 11, 4-H is a family tradition.
“My dad and uncles were in 4-H,” he said.
Cobler is responsible for three steers that he will show at this year’s expo.
“I have to feed them around 450 pounds of food per day,” he said. “My dad and my uncle help me and tell me what I need to do.”
Campbell said what you feed an animal depends on where they come from.
“You usually want to stick with what they were raised on,” she said. “You can switch their food, but it’s usually more difficult.”
“It takes a lot of feed and a lot of money for the feed to get good livestock,” said 4-H member Melissa Carman, 17, Eddyville.
Carman said she feeds her cattle a variety of sweet feed, all stock and hay.
She said she does not live on a farm, but after she joined 4-H, she wanted to do more than just family and consumer science projects and took an interest in showing livestock.
Carman said a lot of feeding and a lot of grazing in the pastures is the best thing for cattle to gain weight, she believes.
“We try and keep them out in the pastures as long as we can and keep a constant rotation going,” she said. “Grass is the best thing for them to gain weight.”
Wapello County Iowa State University Extension Youth Coordinator Mekca Smith was there during the livestock weigh-in.
She said there were more than 90 cattle registered for showing in different classes.
“The judging will come later,” she said.
The expo continues through Sunday at the Bridge View Center.
Scott Niles can be reached at (641) 683-5360 or via e-mail at sjniles@mchsi.com.

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