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Edition 2026Active Merit Badge
Animal Science
Official Requirements & Fillable Workbook · 2026 Edition
Animal Science covers breeds, diseases, digestion, and management across seven kinds of livestock — then asks you to go deep on one. Requirement 6 has six options (beef, dairy, horse, sheep or goat, hog, avian) and you complete only ONE. Read all six before you start; several involve a farm visit or raising an animal, so pick the one you can actually arrange.
Key Requirements Covered:
- Livestock Breeds & Anatomy
- Animal Digestion & Nutrition
- Disease Prevention & Health
- Livestock Management & Agriscience
21Printable Pages
7Requirements
2025Reqs Revised
What is on the worksheet: Animal Science Requirements
Every requirement for the Animal Science merit badge, word for word as published, with room to write under each one on the printed worksheet.
1Breeds of Livestock
Name two breeds of livestock in each of the following classifications: horses, dairy cattle, beef cattle, sheep, hogs, poultry, and goats. Tell their principal uses and merits. Tell where the breeds originated.
2Diseases
List two diseases that afflict the animals in each of the classifications in requirement 1. Describe the symptoms of each disease and explain how each is contracted and how it could be prevented.
3Digestive Tracts
Draw models of the digestive tracts of ruminants, horses, pigs, and poultry. Explain how the differences in structure and function among these types of digestive tracts affect the nutritional management of these species.
4Managing One Animal
Select one type of animal: beef cow, dairy cow, horse, sheep, goat, or hog, or a poultry flock, and tell how you would properly manage it. Include in your discussion nutritional (feeding) concerns, housing, disease prevention, waste control/removal, breeding programs, and biosecurity as appropriate.
5Breeding and Technology
Do the following:
- a Explain how agricultural producers make desired improvements to their stock through breeding practices and programs.
- b Explain the terms pure breeding and cross breeding.
- c List two modern technologies used in the production of horses, dairy cattle, beef cattle, sheep, hogs, poultry, or goats, and tell what the advantages are of using the technology.
6Choose One Option
Complete ONE of the following options:
- Option A—Beef Cattle. Do ALL of the following:
- Option B—Dairy. Do ALL of the following:
- Option C—Horse. Do ALL of the following:
- Option D—Sheep or Goat. Choose one and do ALL of the following based upon the choice:
- Option E—Hog. Do ALL of the following:
- Option F—Avian. Do ALL of the following:
7Careers in Animal Science
Find out about three career opportunities in animal science. Pick one and find out the education, training, and experience required for this profession. Discuss this with your counselor, and explain why this profession might interest you.
Two dates, two different things
Requirements Revision vs. Worksheet Date
Scouting America last revised the Animal Science requirements in 2025. That is the badge, not this sheet — an older year does not mean the worksheet is out of date.
Verbatim Fidelity & Verification
This worksheet was checked against https://www.scouting.org/merit-badges/animal-science/ in Aug 2026 and reproduces the requirements word for word. Both dates are printed on the sheet, so a copy in a binder can always be placed in time.
Requirement text is © Scouting America, reproduced verbatim. The worksheet layout and design are original to this project.
Spotted a discrepancy on this sheet? Tell us and we will re-check it against the official requirements.
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