2020 Animal Science Project ID Information – May 15 Deadline

TO: Minnesota 4-H Animal Science Project Members – Enrolled in: Beef, Horse, Sheep, Swine, Dairy, Dairy Goat, Market Goat, Rabbit, Lama, Poultry

FROM: Michele VanDyke, Extension Educator, Lincoln County 4-HJill Daniels, Administrative Secretary

RE: IMPORTANT - Animal Identification Process

Thank you for enrolling in a 4-H animal science project. We hope you find this project both challenging and rewarding. This letter outlines the online animal identification process.

Minnesota 4-H uses its online enrollment system, 4HOnline, to record all animal identifications and ownership data. Online animal identification reduces inaccuracies and inefficiencies that were a part of our past paper system. More information and a 4HOnline user guide can be found on the Animal ID web page (www.4-H.umn.edu/animal-ID).

**COVID-19 requires that we adjust many of our typical processes and policies related to 4-H Animal Science programming. Please review the following information carefully. Extended deadline:

Our animal identification system will remain in place. The deadline is extended to June 1, 2020.

The process that will be followed in 2020 is as follows:

1) 4-H Family picks up MN 4-H ear tags and tag applicator from the County Extension Office. Our office is currently closed to the public, but we are still able to provide 4-H tags to families. If you need tags, please fill out the 4-H Family Tag Request Form [https://forms.gle/CRirG3otRxhtLrVC7] and we will fill your order. Tags will be dispensed in the following way:Drop box - we will have a drop box located at the Lincoln County Courthouse. Families must pick up their tags on the assigned day and time. Please call Jill at 507-694-1470 to arrange pickup. She will set tags outside the front door of the courthouse for you to pick up. She'll include an invoice for your tags and you can mail your payment to our office.

Families must place tags in animal ears and record identification data in 4HOnline by June 1. Any unused tags must be returned to our office by June 15.

1. 4-H Family completes the ID worksheet (enclosed for the species your family is currently enrolled in). NOTE:

Additional ID worksheets are available on the Animal ID web page (www.4-H.umn.edu/animal-ID).2. 4-H Family self-enters information and prints entry report for personal record. If an animal is leased (Breeding

Animals ONLY!), the lease information form must be scanned and uploaded in 4HOnline (bring hard copy to County Extension Office by June 1 if unable to scan. The lease information form is available on the Leasing 4-H Animal page (z.umn.edu/LeaseAnimal) NOTE: This does not apply to Dairy; see below for specific Dairy lease instructions

3. Existing project animals that are being carried over from last year to this project year must be re-activated by June 1. Eligible animals are Dairy, Dairy Goat, Lama, Rabbit, Dog, Horse, Beef Spring and Fall calves, and Cow/calf.

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Instructions can be found in the document Detailed Guide - Animal ID Data Entry by Families, page 5, on the Animal ID web page (z.umn.edu/mn4hanimalID).

4. NOTE: New lease information forms should be completed each year for all species except dairy. Once a dairy animal is identified and a lease information form has been submitted, the lease information form will become a permanent document, attached to the online identification record for that animal and will not need to be renewed each year. Details to update existing dairy leases information is found further in this letter.

+ special rules regarding first freshening apply – see dairy informational sheet++ calf data needs to be updated

NOTE: Animals need to be identified June 1. Hard copy submissions to the county Extension office must be received by the close of business, 4:30 PM, on June 1, or if mailed, be postmarked NO LATER than June 1, 2020. If you are self-entering, data entry into 4HOnline must be completed by 11:59 pm, June 1, 2020; you will not be able to complete identification after that point.

If your family cannot self-enter the ID information: 4-H Family brings in or mails completed ID worksheet and other required items, including signature(s), to the County Extension office, on or before the close of business on June 1. This ID worksheet will be kept on file in the Extension office. Within one week, Jill will enter info online into your family’s 4HOnline account. After that, your family may view the information in 4HOnline to check for accuracy. The user guide, Reviewing and Printing Animal ID Data, is available on the Animal ID web page (www.4-H.umn.edu/animal-ID) to walk you through the process. The County Extension Office must be notified of any discrepancies by June 8.

NOTE: Hard copy submissions to the county Extension office must be received by the 4:30 PM on June 1, or if mailed, be postmarked NO LATER than June 1.

Online ID’ing (4HOnline) user assistance and support

● A user guide is available on the Animal ID web page (www.4-H.umn.edu/animal-ID).

● For assistance with the online ID process, contact your county extension staff at mvandyke@umn.edu, jrdaniel@umn.edu or 507-694-1470.

● In addition, an ID helpline will be available as the deadline nears. You will receive a postcard with this

information when you pick up your ear tagsAdditional pieces of project information are included in this mailing for your information:

● 2020 Animal Science Identification Requirements for Minnesota 4-H details specific dates and requirements unique to each animal science project area.

● 2020 Information Sheets for the species your family is currently enrolled in, which have been compiled by 4-H State Committees and includes processes, procedures and information unique to the specific projects at the Minnesota State Fair.

On rare occasions, 4-H animals will lose the official Minnesota 4-H ear tag or other identifying tags. If this occurs, you will need to contact Jill immediately at 507-694-1470 so that the tag can be verified and replaced. Do not wait until county fair if this occurs.

SPECIES SPECIFIC INFORMATION….Beef, Sheep, Swine & Meat Goats:1. 4-H Family picks up MN 4-H ear tags and tag applicator from the County Extension Office. 2. 4-H Family puts tag in animal’s ear by June 1 and completes the information worksheet (enclosed).

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3. Family returns ALL unused and/or damaged ear tags to their extension office.*Animals showing as Registered Breeding Beef & Registered Breeding Sheep do not need a MN 4-H ear tag

Dairy: 1. 4-H Family completes the ID worksheet (enclosed) for all NEW project animals. All dairy animals must be

identified with an official form of identification: Official Breed Assn. Ear Tag, Official Breed Assn. tattoo, State 4-H ear tag (available from Extension Office), USDA tag, Copy of the Breed Assn. ID paper and/or photo (if exhibits distinct markings). Registered animals with pending breed association registration information by June 1 must update this information as soon as registration numbers are received. If you enter as “pending”, you will need to provide updated information to your local Extension Office to update prior to County Fair. If an animal is leased, the lease information form must also be scanned and uploaded in 4HOnline (bring hard copy to County Extension Office by June 1 if unable to scan). The lease information form is available on the Animal ID web page (z.umn.edu/mn4hanimalID). If using a photo as an official form of identification (because the animal has distinct markings), you will upload the photo in 4HOnline no later than June 1.

2. EXISTING project animals that are being carried over from last year to this project year must be re-activated by June 1. Families expecting an existing animal to be eligible in future years must reactivate the animal yearly even if not planning to utilize as a project animal in the current year.

3. Instructions can be found in the document Detailed Guide - Animal ID Data Entry by Families, page 5, on the Animal ID web page (www.4-H.umn.edu/animal-ID).

4. All leased and newly ID'd dairy animals must upload a completed lease information form that matches the animal's name, breed, birthdate, official ID and registration form. If a new lease information form for a previously ID'd animal needs to be updated to reflect changes in the animal's owner, etc., families must submit the new lease information sheet to Extension staff (families are not able to upload lease information sheets to previously ID'd dairy animals). The lease information form only has to be submitted the first year. It becomes a permanent document in this animals’ identification record and does not need to be renewed each year the dairy animal is carried as a 4-H project. All that is required in subsequent years is to reactivate the dairy animal by June 1.

NOTE: Existing dairy animal ID’s can be viewed but not edited because of the “first freshening” rule. If changes are needed to a dairy animal (including changes to the associated exhibitor/member) contact your local Extension Office.

Dairy Goat: 4-H Family completes the ID worksheet (enclosed) for all NEW project animals. Registered animals with pending breed association registration information by June 1 must update this information as soon as it is received. If you enter “pending” you will need to provide updated information to your local Extension Office to get it updated prior to the County Fair.

Lama: One lama can be ID'd by multiple members. In those cases, the same animal should be entered under EACH member ID'ing that animal.

Horse: One horse can be ID'd by multiple members. In those cases, the same animal should be entered under EACH member ID'ing that animal.

Poultry: Pigeons and Doves – all pigeons and doves need to be officially ID’d through the 4HOnline system using a permanent leg band by June 1. The 4-H family is responsible for obtaining permanent bands and banding the birds. Again, this is only for pigeons and doves.

● For all other poultry (chickens, ducks, turkeys, geese, guineas,) there is no identification worksheet or information

that needs to be submitted.

● Leased poultry projects - a “Minnesota 4-H Animal Science Lease Information Form” must be turned in to your

County Extension Office by June 1. The form is available online (z.umn.edu/LeaseAnimal) or at the county office.

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● Be sure to read the Poultry Information Sheet. It contains info on hatch dates and health requirements.

Rabbit: If a Doe is properly ID'd by June 1 the market rabbits born to that Doe will be considered ID'ed if they are tattooed at county fair check-in time.

Livestock Quality Assurance Training Options: Minnesota 4-H supports livestock quality assurance and animal science ethics. All youth participating as a state fair 4-H livestock exhibitor in beef, dairy, sheep, swine, poultry, rabbits, meat goat, dairy goat, and lama must complete livestock quality assurance training.

A. Certification is required for state fair grade/age-eligible youth. Must be completed before their home county fair

qualifying show.

B. The training accommodates multi-levels of learning for all ages. The level of training required is determined by the

grade/age of the youth at the time the training takes place.

C. Counties that have a swine marketing agreement with a packer that requires livestock quality assurance certification

may require swine members (grade 3-13) to certify.

D. Minnesota 4-H youth must participate in one of the training options to be eligible for Minnesota 4-H state fair shows.

Minnesota 4-H recognizes two training options:

1. A face-to-face 3-hour livestock quality assurance and ethics training from Minnesota 4-H. These will be offered in multiple locations statewide. This certification is valid for three fair seasons. Cost is set by county/regional host.

2. An online 1-hour youth quality care of animals training offered via distance learning. This certification is valid for one fair season. Cost: $12; pay at registration with a credit card. (This is a national program and registration fee pays for the national training system.)

Trainings promote responsible care of animals, making informed decisions in animal care and providing safe consumer food products. Youth will receive a certificate of completion. Additional information concerning any Livestock Quality Assurance training in our area will be listed in the upcoming 4-H newsletters.

Cloverbud Animal Science Specifics● Cloverbud may show their own animal or another 4-H’ers identified animal.● The Minnesota Board of Animal Health requires all animals at exhibitions to have an official ID (tag or tattoo) this

includes Cloverbuds. Cloverbud ID information does not need to be included in 4HOnline. ● Cloverbud entries may be included in county fair pre-registration for stalling/penning purposes.

If you have any questions about online animal identification or anything else in this letter, please contact Michele VanDyke at 507-694-1470, mvandyke@umn.edu

Important - All ownership and registration papers WILL BE checked at the 2020 County Fair.

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