Market Animals:

These are animals that are raised strictly to sell at county fair auctions. The animals have to meet certain age, vaccination, and weight requirements and are shown in market (live carcass) class and showmanship class (this part allows the 4-Her to demonstrate their skill and knowledge on their market animal).

Market Steers- Bulls that have been castrated. These animals are raised for 8-16 months depending on when you get your steer and when your fair is. Common breeds at Oregon County Fairs are: Angus, Charolais, Hereford, Limousin, Red Angus, Shorthorn, and Simmental. Of course there are many other breeds--over 200 worldwide--but these are the most common for show cattle.

Market Swine- These can either be male or female pigs. They are raised for 4-8 months long. Common breeds are: Berkshire, Chester White, Duroc, Hampshire, Hereford, Landrace, Meishan, Pietrain, Poland China, Spotted Swine, Tamworth, and Yorkshire.

*There are other breeds, but these are very common.

Market Lamb- These are either male or female. They are raised for 4-7 months long. These are common market lamb breeds: Cheviot, Dorset (polled and horned), Hampshire, Montadale, North County Cheviot, Oxford, Shropshire, Southdown, Suffolk, Texel, and Tunis.

*There are many other breeds used for other purposes, such as, wool, but these are common breeds for market lambs.

*Many fairs also have market chickens, turkeys, rabbits, and many other animals, but these are the market animals sold in the auction at the Josephine County Fair in Grants Pass, Oregon.

Breeding Stock:

Many fairs also give 4-her's the option to raise breeding stock, which includes: swine, sheep, goats, beef, and other animals. This gives the youth an bigger responsibility and learning experience. They will learn how to help an animal give birth, raise the animals from birth, and learn more about the life cycle of an animal.

Sow: a mother pig. (Guilt-a female pig that hasn't had babies yet.)

Cow- a mother or a synonym for cattle (Heifer-a female that hasn't had babies.)

Ewe- a mother sheep