Virginia Tech

Academic Quadrathlon

 

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All phases involve team effort and teams consist of four members.  Subject matter may include:

  • Nutrition
  • Behavior
  • Genetics and Animal Breeding
  • Products and Product Utilization
  • Health
  • Physiology (General, Growth and Reproductive)
  • Statistics
  • Feed and/or equipment ID
  • General Management of Cattle (Beef and Dairy), Poultry, Horses, Swine, Sheep and Goats, Companion and Laboratory Animals.

 

The Written Exam consists of short answer, problem solving and discussion questions and must be completed within one hour.  Team members work together, typically splitting up the questions and reviewing one another’s answers.  Calculators are allowed but it is closed book.

 

Examples of Written Exam Questions:

  • A mare comes into heat beginning on April 1st.  Assuming she catches on this heat cycle, what day do you predict the foal will be born?  List assumptions for full credit.

 

  • A dairy cow was artificially inseminated and 21 days later the progesterone concentration in the milk was found to be low.  What does this indicate?

 

  • Why can’t a chicken survive with urea as the only dietary source of protein?

 

 

 

A team (comprised of Ben Roudabush, Dixie Boyd, Joe Epperly, and Chris Smith) at the 2006 local competition completes the written exam.

 

 

 

 

The Oral Presentation begins with the team selecting a topic from a list of several choices, typically current issues in the Animal Industries.  They are given one hour to prepare their presentation and may use any printed resources they wish to bring.  Overheads and markers are provided for creating visuals if desired.  Presentations should be 10 - 12 minutes in length, allowing an additional 3 minutes for questions from the judges.

 

Examples of Oral Presentation Questions:

  • What will the proposed National Animal Identification System mean to livestock producers?

 

  •  How can the average American consumer be confident that his or her animal-derived food is safe; free from microbial contamination and protected from chemical adulteration from potential bioterrorism?

 

Prepare a 10-12 minute presentation, using the format of your choice (skit, lecture, persuasive argument, etc.). Use whatever visual materials you think will help. All members of the group must participate.

 

A team (comprised of Lindsey Williamson, Johnny Burner, Jacob Gilley, ?? and ??) makes their oral presentation at the 2006 local competition.

 

During the Quiz Bowl, two teams at a time go head-to-head with members activating electronic buzzers when they know the answer to questions read by a moderator.  Each round consists of 36 questions (30 toss up and 6 bonus).  Each toss up question is answered by the individual buzzing in first.  On bonus questions team members may confer, but only the team captain can answer.    Double elimination insures each team at least two matches.

 

Examples of Quiz Bowl Questions:

  • Supplementation of what mineral helps best prevent grass tetany?

            A. Magnesium

 

  • What is the longest muscle in beef?

            A. Longissimus dorsi

 

  • Of cattle, sheep and pigs, which has the highest dressing percentage?

            A. Pigs

 

  • When we say a cow has a “DA”, what part of her body is involved?
                A. Stomach (abomasum)

 

TOSS-UP FOR A BONUS. Why is it not recommended to feed raw soybeans to growing pigs?

            A. Raw soybeans contain a TRYPSIN INHIBITOR which reduces growth rate

 

BONUS: How many eggs will a hybrid leghorn hen lay in a 14 month production cycle?

            A: 280-310

 

NOTE:  In the Quiz Bowl, each individual on both teams has equal opportunity to buzz in with an answer to the regular questions.  For the BONUS, the team of the student who correctly answers the TOSS UP question can confer on the answer.

 

Two teams face off during the Quiz Bowl at the 2006 local competition.

 

The Laboratory Practical includes exercises that would typically be found in laboratory sections of APSC and DASC classes.  Groups rotate between stops in both classrooms and animal units every 15 minutes.

 

Examples of Lab Practical Questions:

 

  • Demonstrate the proper technique for throwing sheep.

 

  • What is this market steer worth on the provided carcass merit system?

 

  • Identify the labeled structures on the tracts.

 

  • What kind of lagoon is in use at the Swine Center (anaerobic or aerobic)?

 

 

 

 

 Emily Olson and Jessica McLain discuss the repro station questions during the lab practical.