Feeding your show lamb the right nutrition is a critical part of getting to the backdrop. A solid show feed program does more than just fuel growth, it shapes muscle, maintains condition and keeps your lamb healthy through the high-stress environment of the show season.
Let’s break down how to analyze your show feed, identify potential nutritional gaps and make the right adjustments to maximize your lamb’s potential, all from the perspective of a ruminant nutritionist and experienced showman who knows what it takes to succeed in the ring.
What Makes a Winning Show Feed?
Show lambs don’t live an ordinary livestock life. At the highest level, these animals have nutritionists, exercise programs and constant care. Every small decision about their feed, exercise and environment plays a role in how they perform in the ring.
When it comes to making it to the grand drive, one of the most common discussions revolves around feeding strategies and choosing the right show feed.
Exhibitors constantly ask me: What protein percentage should I use? Should I go with steam-flaked corn or rolled oats/barley? What additives or medications are included? How much fat and fiber will support gut health? Will this feed help me achieve the right "look" and keep their belly down, or will I need to supplement with additional forage?
Understanding which show feed is best for your animal can be overwhelming, as each option has its strengths and weaknesses.
The key to success is knowing that no single feed is a one-size-fits-all solution. Winning comes down to understanding your lamb’s growth potential, show timeline and desired finish, then fine-tuning their feeding program accordingly.
This means making strategic adjustments whether adding fiber for gut health, increasing fat for condition or balancing protein levels for muscle development. When you take the time to evaluate your feed program and adjust based on your lamb’s individual needs, you’ll set them up for peak performance in the ring
When evaluating show feed, consider these factors:
Protein percentage – Does it match your lamb’s growth stage?
Fat and fiber levels – Are they supporting gut health and keeping condition right?
Medications (Ionophores) – Are they preventing health issues like coccidiosis?
Digestible grains – Does the feed contain steam-flaked corn, rolled oats or barley?
Forage needs – Will you need to supplement with hay to achieve the right gut fill?
The best advice I’ve heard about show feed is to find a brand you can count on. One that stays fresh and is consistent batch to batch through the seasonality of showing to keep your lambs or goats on feed, and figure out how it feeds from a general stand point (more fat, quicker maturing, low fat more skeletal growth, less protein, higher fiber to hold condition, more protein for advanced growth).
You must answer those questions with your base feed and then realize if it’s the right one for you, or if there are other brands out there that are better suited for your needs, region and stage of growth.
How to Feed New Lambs
When you first bring your young show lamb home, its sole needs are protein and energy for growth. At this stage, extra supplementation isn’t always necessary, but a fiber source is essential to develop a healthy rumen.
Providing a high-quality fiber source is essential for supporting healthy rumen development and promoting optimal ruminal villi growth. These villi play a crucial role in nutrient absorption, and the stronger the villi mat, the more efficiently your lamb will utilize nutrients for growth and performance.
Another critical factor at this stage is understanding the ionophore in your show feed and how it helps with coccidiosis control. Lambs are particularly vulnerable to coccidiosis when adjusting to new feed and environments, especially if they experience stress or if their surroundings are not properly sanitized. If ionophore levels in the feed are too low, it may not provide adequate protection against cocci outbreaks.
Before adding supplements to their diet, it's essential to establish a strong nutritional foundation for your lamb or goat. Getting them adapted to a consistent, high-quality base feed will make the entire feeding process smoother and more effective.
One of the biggest challenges during this transition is managing stress and preventing shipping fever. Keeping an eye out for scours in the first few weeks after bringing your project home is essential. Monitor closely for any signs of illness to ensure early intervention and a healthy start.
Using electrolytes, like Ralco Show's Electrolyte can help support hydration, ease the adjustment to a new water source and improve overall recovery after transport. By keeping your animals hydrated and reducing stress, they’ll adapt to their new feed and environment more quickly, lowering the risk of illness and setting them up for success.
When to Start Exercising Your Show Lamb
If your lamb hasn’t fully adjusted to its new feed and environment, starting an exercise program too soon can break down structure and negatively impact growth. Focus first on feeding for proper condition. If your base feed isn’t providing the ideal muscle and fat cover, supplementation may be necessary.
Before jumping into an exercise program, make sure your lamb is:
Consistently eating the right amount of show feed
In proper body condition (not too thin or too fat)
Structurally sound to handle increased activity
Fine-Tuning Nutrition with Supplements
Even with the best show feed, sometimes lambs need additional energy/fat to achieve the ideal look and handle.
For Adding Cover: Chub It Up
If increasing base feed doesn’t provide enough fat cover, adding Chub It Up can help. This top-dress supplement boosts calories for a smooth, well-conditioned look. However, introduce fat supplementation gradually. Too much, too fast can lead to scours and reduced feed intake.
Monitor condition as you use these types of products to make sure that animals don’t get too fleshy too quickly and adjust your exercise and level of supplementation to meet the desired outcome of a smooth but muscular looking animal
For Keeping Lambs & Goats Eating: Full Bloom
At some point, every show lamb or goat will go off feed, and when they do, it can be frustrating to get them eating again. Goats, in particular, are notorious for being picky eaters, often sorting through their feed to eat only the “good stuff.” Factors like heat stress, boredom or feed quality issues can all cause animals to lose interest in their base show feed.
During the summer months, high heat and humidity can also lead to mold growth in feed, further reducing intake and compromising health. When animals go off feed, their immune system weakens, metabolic stress increases and performance declines. All of which can hurt their success in the ring.
Full Bloom is a highly palatable feed additive designed to keep even the pickiest eaters consuming feed consistently, even during periods of stress. It helps stabilize intake while delivering key antioxidants and digestive support to maintain gut health.
By keeping lambs and goats on feed through challenging conditions, Full Bloom reduces the risk of setbacks, supports overall health and keeps animals performing at their best throughout show season.
For Balancing Condition & Muscle Tone: On Point
Managing excess cover on your animals requires a strategic balance between exercise and proper feeding. Simply cutting back on base feed can be risky. It may reduce ionophore levels, making your animal more vulnerable to coccidiosis, and can also lead to unruly or aggressive behavior due to hunger. Keeping your animal satisfied plays a crucial role in maintaining their calm demeanor in the show ring and during workouts.
A smart solution is incorporating additional protein, like what’s found in On Point. This helps increase protein accretion, burn excess fat and keep animals feeling full while maintaining a sharper, more defined look.
With the right balance, you can achieve a calmer, more physically conditioned animal that stays fresh, smooth and carries just the right amount of cover for a winning presence in the ring.
For Hydration & Show Prep: Ticket Punch
One of the most overlooked yet most important nutrients for show animals is water. Providing clean, fresh water daily is the foundation of keeping animals healthy, hydrated and on feed. Proper water intake supports digestion, maintains hydration and enhances touch and hide quality. Key factors in preparing animals for the show ring. Especially in the summer heat or leading up to a show, offering both fresh water and an electrolyte solution can help prevent dehydration and ensure animals stay in peak condition.
Using a product like Ticket Punch in the three days leading up to a show provides a powerful combination of electrolytes, energy and beneficial bacteria. This trifecta helps animals stay hydrated, supports gut health for consistent eating on the road and delivers an extra boost of energy without making them hyper.
Keeping your animal properly hydrated and maintaining a balanced digestive system will set them up for success, keeping them looking and feeling their best when it matters most.
Avoiding Common Pitfalls in Show Feeding
Bottom line, finding the right balance between feed, exercise and supplementation is key. Here are a few common mistakes to avoid:
Cutting too much feed to reduce fat cover – This can lower ionophore levels, increasing the risk of coccidiosis. Instead, adjust protein and energy levels strategically.
Overloading on supplements too soon – Start with a strong base feed and only introduce supplements when needed to fine-tune condition.
Ignoring hydration – Fresh, clean water is the most important nutrient. Keeping electrolytes in their water, especially in hot weather, prevents stress and maintains intake.
Feed Smart, Show Strong
The right nutrition plan evolves as your show lamb matures. Understanding your base feed, tracking your lamb’s growth and condition and adjusting with the right supplements will help you maximize performance in the show ring.
Every lamb is different, and knowing when and what to adjust will set you up for success. Trust a consistent show feed, fine-tune with targeted supplementation and keep your lamb hydrated and fueled for the road to the backdrop!
Until next time,
Heidi Doering-Resch, Nutritionist
Electrolyte - Daily Electrolyte for Show Animals
Electrolyte is a straight-ahead electrolyte to keep projects hydrated in stressful and challenging conditions like stress and farrowing.
On Point - Ultimate Muscle & Freshness
On Point is the key to giving your project a fresher, more youthful look while creating more cover and mass on the top side of the skeleton.
Ticket Punch - Best Show Day Electrolyte Ticket Punch is the purple punch that creates that extra ditch with a fresh look. This is the ticket to that 12 o’clock look when your project hits the ring.
Chub It Up - The Liquid Fat You Have Been Looking For Chub It Up is a high-quality liquid fat that is insanely palatable.
Full Bloom - Maximize Genetical Potential Full Bloom is an easy-to-use ruminant feed additive. This pelleted top dress will help your project reach its full genetic potential from the inside out.