Livestock EvaluationFFA prep guide for 2026-27

About this event

Students place up to 12 classes of four animals, breeding or market beef cattle, swine, sheep and meat goats, at 50 points per class (up to 600). At least one class includes production or performance data. Four classes are named for oral reasons, one of them a production data class, and each set of reasons is worth 50 points (200). Between rounds, the team answers 10 questions on a live animal class built around a scenario and performance data (50 points). No times are printed for any part, and there is no written exam. Teams have four members and all four scores count: up to 800 points per student and 3,250 per team. Open to grades 7-12 under the general rules. FFA Official Dress is highly recommended. Bring two No. 2 pencils. FFA supplies paper, clipboards and a steno notebook, so do not bring your own paper. Any electronic device in the event area can mean disqualification, and using notes while giving reasons is strongly discouraged. State winners advance to the national event held with the 100th National FFA Convention and Expo, Oct 27 to 30, 2027, in Indianapolis.

1. 1

   Read the handbook

   The official handbook has the rules and how the event runs on the day.

   Official handbook (opens in a new tab)
2. 2

   Practice every part

   Everything is done at the event, so practice each part below until it is second nature, then run the whole thing start to finish, timed.

   See what it covers

• Beef cattle evaluation
• Swine evaluation
• Sheep evaluation
• Meat goat evaluation
• Breeding and market classes
• Production and performance data
• Oral reasons
• Team scenario questions

Official reference sources

Listed in the official FFA handbook.

• Modern Livestock and Poultry Production, most current edition, by Frank Flanders and James R. Gillispie, Cengage Learning, 2015 (paid book)
• Principles of Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources, most current edition, by John S. Rayfield, Kasee L. Smith, Travis Park and D. Barry Croom, Goodheart-Willcox Publisher, 2023 (paid book)

Curated by ChapterPrep. Free unless noted. External links open in a new tab.

Related Animal Systems events