2016 EBR 4-H Livestock Show
For generations, the East Baton Rouge Parish 4-H Livestock Show has been an annual tradition that has helped countless youth based on their involvement in the program. After months of preperation and hardwork, youth have the opportunity to showcase their animal projects, ranging from large projects like cattle and goats to smaller animals such as chickens or rabbits. This year, our Parish Livestock Show will be held on January 22nd and 23rd, 2016 at Parker Coliseum located on LSU’s main campus in Baton Rouge, LA.
Months and months of preparation come together as participating youth compete for top awards and championship honors. Animals are evaluated based on phenotype, where the judge looks for traits like muscle, structural correctness, frame size, style and balance. These certain traits will vary with certain species as well as if the animal is shown for market or for breeding. For example, when looking at market animals, muscling is an important trait. While in poultry, feathers are important, and traits such as broken or cut feathers are a disqualification. And when looking at breeding animals, growth and performance and body capacity are critical. Structural correctness is a common term you may hear at a livestock show that refers to how well the animal's skeleton is put together, more specifically their bone structure and how they move. It is not an easy job to be a livestock judge, but we are lucky to have one of the best to evaluate our animals this year.
Our judge this year is a 4-H alum and Louisiana native, Dr. Brandi B. Karish. Dr. Karish comes to us with years of livestock experience, having been a livestock exhibitor during her 4-H years and continuing her expertise as a member of the LSU Livestock Judging Team. Following her undergrad work at LSU, Dr. Karish continued at Texas A&M where she received her MS and PhD in Beef Cattle Nutrition. She currently serves as the Beef Cattle Extension Specialist and Assistant Professor for the Mississppi State Cooperative Extension Service. Personally, Dr. Karish enjoys raising cattle with her husband, Matt, and 1 year old son, Mason. MBK Cattle is a top-knotch operation that produces quality genetics in the Simmental and Percentage Simmental breed. We are glad to welcome Dr. Karish "back home" to Baton Rouge and look forward to her being able to work with our youth.
We are excited about this year's show and invite any and all to come and experience it for yourself. For more information or a complete list of rules and awards, click here.
