Show Lamb Supplements

Everytime I go on a show lamb forum group, I see various posts about supplements (selling and questions). The first thing that I would say to people looking into supplements is to take posts from dealers with a grain of salt. I can’t count the number of miracle supplements I have seen advertised and the number of people lining up to purchase because of what it claims to do. The fact of the matter is that supplements rarely do all they are advertised to do and the before and afters are a combination of more than just supplements. 

I’m not saying that supplements don’t work, I’m just pointing out that supplements won’t fix all of an issue. If you have a lamb that lacks a firm loin, supplements can help to build somewhat but you will usually be held by genetics at some point. Side Note. Every single animal , including the grand champion, has something you would change. Don’t be discouraged by criticism because every animal is getting a critique of something to work on.

Now that I’ve said that, I do want to point out that a lot of people make a mistake by not supplementing at the right time. One of the most common supplements I see people using is a muscle supplement. These are often supplements that are high in protein, because protein is what helps build muscle. However, if you supplement protein too early, you run the risk of not being the correct body condition. Being the correct condition is key to building muscle, because fat is what eventually turns into muscle (both with supplements and exercise). It’s contradictive in many people’s minds because fat and muscle are opposites, but if you are trying to put muscle on a skinny lamb you are throwing a lot of money at it for nothing. Before you ever think of adding a muscle supplement, make sure it is the correct condition, if not a tick over conditioned, or else you will be disappointed with the results.

Another common supplement that people use is a fat supplement. These are good ways to add condition to an animal that has a hard time gaining. However, I would definitely try to up feed before adding a fat supplement. We’ve gotten tons of texts about why a lamb isn’t gaining and fat supplement questions, but most of these end up being an underfeeding issue. If you are on a tighter timeline, fat supplements can add fat quicker but most lambs have the capability to get fat without needing it.

Other common supplements that can be used are joint supplements or gut health supplements. These are not used as frequently and are more on an if necessary basis, but you will have some lambs that need the extra help.

Another component of feeding supplements is to make sure that you aren’t feeding supplements that contradict each other. Every supplement has a nutrition tag that will tell you a general purpose, along with the nutrient breakdowns. In addition, most supplement producers will break down the intended purpose on their website and show you some of the alternatives. The key to choosing a good supplement is understanding the labels and doing your research. If you are having trouble making a decision, ask a more experienced showman, your extension agent/ ag teacher or your breeder.