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Sheep + Goat Essentials: How To Prepare for 4-H Sheep and Goat Showing
Showing sheep and goats is a popular choice for both 4-H and FFA participants. Both species are small, meaningful livestock that tend to be easier to work with but still require lots of maintenance and care. These qualities make sheep or goat showing an excellent choice for an animal project. This guide will go over the basics of preparing your sheep or goat for your next 4-H project and provide a list of must-have lamb and goat show supplies to help get your animal show-ready!
Showing Sheep VS Showing Goats
Choosing between showing sheep or goats often depends on personal preference, goals, and the individual's interests in various aspects of animal husbandry. These primary objectives of animal husbandry include enhancing animal productivity, improving animal health and welfare, and maximizing economic returns from animal-related products like meat, milk, wool, eggs, and other by-products. For now though here are some considerations when deciding between showing sheep or goats:
SHEEP
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Wool Production: Sheep are known for their wool, and showing sheep can focus on specific breeds prized for their wool quality. Participants can learn about shearing, spinning, and working with wool products. The Merino takes first place in the wool category as it serves as the main ancestor for all fine wool breeds.
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Meat Production: Certain sheep breeds are raised primarily for meat. Showing these breeds can provide insights into meat production, carcass evaluation, and understanding the market demands for lamb meat. One of the most popular meat producers and 4-H projects are Sufflock.
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Breeds and Variety: There's a wide variety of sheep breeds, each with unique characteristics, such as size, coat type, and purpose. One of the oldest sheep breeds in America is the Florida Cracker Sheep, they tend to have a greater resistance to internal parasite compared to wool sheep.
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Conformation Shows: Sheep conformation shows focus on evaluating the physical structure, conformation, and breed standards of the animal. Participants learn to assess and present sheep based on specific criteria.
GOAT
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Dairy Production: Some goat breeds are renowned for their milk production. Showing dairy goats involves evaluating milk quality, udder conformation, and overall dairy traits. The Saanen can produce up to 2-3 gallons of milk a day, also low on butterfat content, and is mild tempered.
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Meat Production: Certain goat breeds, like the Boer goat, are primarily raised for meat. Showing these goats can offer insights into meat production and market demands. Boers are very hardy and have fleshy briskets and rounded ribs and recognized as the best quality of goat meat.
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Versatility: Goats come in various breeds, and like sheep each have distinct attributes, and provide milk production, meat and other animal by-products.
Sheep & Goat Showing Basics
Goats and sheep are born in the spring, so make sure that you have a plan for their home ahead of time. They will need a pen, dust-free bedding and a fenced area that will secure them and keep predators out while outdoors. You also need a rodent-proof container to store their feed.
Next, you'll need to review the rules for the 4-H goat show or sheep program you would like to participate in. It's important to research this before getting started so you are aware of rules, regulations and the timing of shows. We suggest working with a reputable breeder and they can help point you in the right direction and provide advice as needed.
A healthy animal is the most important part of showing sheep and goats, so working with a reputable veterinarian is essential. They will help ensure that your animal is thriving. Nutritious feed, a clean stall and regular exercise ensure that your animal is in top shape and ready for the show ring.
Nutrition and Feeding for 4-H Sheep & Goats
A high-quality sheep and goat feed is essential for raising ruminant animals. This can be supplemented with hay, silage and grains. Before the show, many participants adjust the feed to achieve the ideal weight and maximize performance. Here are some of NRS's top sheep and goat feeds that we carry both online and in-store:
'Honor® Show Showlamb Grower DX feed is a completely balanced, high energy feed for growing show lambs and breeding sheep.' (Purina Mills)
'Advancer PLUS has Rite Factor technology in the bag, plus added barley for the smoother look and fresher handle desired in today’s competitive show arena. Utilizing specific levels of protein and energy sources, this feed has the unique ability to “Advance” maturity and muscle development and maximize genetic potential in show goats.' (Show.Rite)
Supreme Nibblets is a "16% protein high quality feed formulated with dehydrated alfalfa, corn meal, soybean meal, cottonseed meal, rice bran and cottonseed hull fiber. Medicated with Deccox the safest medication to prevent coccidiosis. Ammonium Chloride is included at the maximum allowable level to help prevent urinary calculi problems. Fortified with prebiotics and probiotics to maximize digestive efficiency and help maintain a healthy digestive tract by helping fight off pathogens naturally." (NRS)
"MoorMan’s ShowTec 15.5 Lamb DC is a nutritionally balanced texturized ration for finishing Show Lambs being fitted for show. When fed with ShowTec #1 Mineral Supplement, this texturized ration will assure peak growth performance of young Show Lambs." (NRS)
TOP SHEEP & GOAT SUPPLEMENTS for SHOW
Practice Showing
When it's time for the 4-H goat show, your animal must not only look perfect, but they need to act appropriately for the judges. That's why training is such a vital part of preparing your sheep and goats for show.
Training should begin as soon as the kid or lamb is selected and brought home. The practice establishes a trusting relationship with their showman and teaches them what to expect when it's time for showing day. Be gentle and kind with your animal at all times. You'll want to be patient as they learn their role in your showing program. Daily grooming, such as combing and brushing leg hair, helps bond with your lamb or kid. Talk to them while grooming so your voice is a familiar and comforting to them.
Use a training halter to lead your animals around their pen and yard, so they know how to follow your guides and leads. On show day, a show halter can be used for a more attractive appearance.
Get the animal accustomed to having their legs and feet set and train your goat or sheep to stand with all four legs properly spaced. You'll also need to teach your them how to brace as it is the essential posture the animal needs during judging. Bracing is a body position where the animal's head reaches upward while they press their chest against your thigh, making sure all of their legs are set square.
Sheep & Goat Grooming
Once you know your animal is healthy and has lots of experience with training, it's time to groom them to perfection. If you want to do well, your animal must look its absolute best when entering the show ring. The correct show supplies will ensure the best possible appearance. Grooming allows the judges to evaluate the animal and dramatically affects your score, so your goat or sheep should be clean and clipped according to breed standards prior to competition.
There are many different types of show equipment and supplies specifically geared toward showing goats or sheep, but these basics apply to both species.
Shampoo
Before the show, you'll want to make sure that your animal is freshly washed. Choose a specially formulated livestock shampoo for great results without irritation and dryness. Whitening shampoo brightens white coats and removes stains. Clean fleece is easier to shear, and it also extends the life of combs and cutters on your shears.
Conditioning Spray
When you're showing sheep and goats, a fresh coat is critical. Sheep and goat conditioning spray moisturizes the animals' hair and hide. You can use it when prepping for the show, but it is also an excellent choice for daily use.
Clippers
A pair of variable speed clippers are essential, especially for sheep. In addition to giving them a haircut, they sculpt and shape the animal's fur or wool with precision. Fitting sheep is an essential part of showing sheep.
Blade Lubricant
Clipper blades work more smoothly and last longer if they are properly lubricated. Blade lubricant designed especially for your clippers provides the best results, but a general lubricant such as WD-40 can be used in a pinch.
Fans
Fans are used to keep the animals, especially lambs, cool. The air movement helps them maintain the appropriate temperature.
Extension Cord
An extension cord doesn't seem like an obvious addition to your goat show supply show box until you are assigned a stall far away from the outlets and can't plug in your tools or fan. Add a cell phone charger or auxiliary battery to your bag too.
Show Box
Keeping your show sheep supplies organized and readily accessible will help the preparation for the event go much smoother. Look for sturdy construction, adequate compartment and ease of portability. Hanging brackets reduce the amount of pen space that the box takes up.
Sheep Show Supplies for Fitting
Grooming and preparing 4H sheep for show is called fitting. Preparing goats for show is very similar to readying show sheep, so the supplies needed are almost identical. But while both 4-H sheep and goats need to look their best for the showing, the wool is more involved and requires specialized attention. A grooming kit for sheep is an easy way to obtain most of the show lamb supplies you need in one handy package.
- Lifting leg wool is a breeze with a self-cleaning slicker brush. It removes tangles and adds dimension to 4-H sheep wool before the show.
- A trimming stand is a key piece of equipment to include in your arsenal of show lamb supplies because it keeps the animal in place and makes shearing easier.
- Show day prep requires great attention to the sheep's coat. A fluffer brush is used to increase volume and create an even fluff.
- A lamb tube or sheep blanket are coverings that keep the skin protected and tight and help restore skin oils after shearing.
- A sheep card is a special brush with metal bristles that is used to straighten the wool so it can be trimmed evenly.
The Benefits of Showing
Raising animals is a rewarding experience, and preparing for showing goats and sheep is an excellent way for young people to learn about caring for animals. But there are many other positive benefits. 4-H sheep and goat showing teaches:
- Responsibility
- Respect for animals
- Self-confidence
- Organization
- Patience
- Resilience
- Independence
- Goal-setting
- Sportsmanship
Through preparing sheep and goats for show, children develop these qualities through experiences rather than instruction and make memories to last a lifetime.
