Animal Science

YQCA

YQCA Main Site - Youth Quality Care of Animals

Complete your 2026 YQCA Certification during Winter Break!

Certification is required yearly for all 4-H youth participating in Beef, Dairy Cattle, Goat, Poultry, Rabbit, Sheep, and Swine. (Horse, Cat, Dog, and Household Pet exhibitors are not required to complete YQCA Training.)

Age divisions for YQCA certification are based on 4-H member age as of January 1, 2026.

Exhibitors are required to complete training by June 15. Those who do not complete the training will NOT be eligible to exhibit livestock at the Dixon County Fair or the Nebraska State Fair. No exceptions.

Provide certificate copies (print or digital) to the Extension Office

Animal Resources

General Livestock
State Livestock Program
Premise ID Requirements
Beef
  • Breeding Validation Worksheet
  • 4-H Bucket Calf Project Guide
  • Nebraska EID Tagging Guide
  • Cattle Hair Sample Collection Instructions
  • Breeding Beef Tattoo Video - UNL Beef
  • 4H357 4-H Guide for Evaluating Livestock Showmanship Contests: Beef, Sheep, Swine
Horse
Sheep - Goat - Swine
  • Sheep/Goat Hair Sample Collection Instructions
  • Swine Hair Sample Collection Instructions
  • Scrapie Information for Sheep & Goats - In 2001 the USDA initiated a program to eradicate scrapie from the nation's sheep flocks and goat herds. The NE State Fair requires that all sheep and goats be identified with a scrapie tag and these are the guidelines that Dixon County follows.
  • To request these official sheep and goat tags, a flock or premises ID or both, call 1-866-USDA-Tag (866-873-2824).
  • 1-866-USDA-TAG has a new telephone tree (implemented in February 2021) that will gather information from the caller to direct them to the correct VS or State office to answer their questions about sheep and goat identification. When prompted, callers will either key in or say the numbers on their telephone keypad corresponding to the two-letter postal abbreviation of the State or territory where the flock or herd about which they are calling is located.
Poultry - Rabbit
Companion Animal

Animal Affidavit Forms

Deadline is June 15, with exception to Horse ID's.  

PDF Printing Instructions

pdf files require the free Adobe Reader. If you have trouble viewing the files, you may need to update to the current version.

Animal Resources

Content