06/12/2024
‼️Hot Topic Tip‼️
It's that time of year when most lambs and goats are ready for an exercise program. Everyone asks what should we be doing. Exercise is not a one size fits all program. Everyone's situation is different. You can track, treadmill, use a walker or good old fashioned boots to ground method. What ever your situation is, there are a few things to keep in mind. I kind of think about exercising your project in relation to what would you do as an athlete in training.
🔴Sprinters are heaver muscled athletes than long distance runners. So train your project with fast bursts instead of long runs to build bulk.
🔴Walking burns calories and fat. If your animal still needs some cover, don't walk it a mile. It's counter productive.
🔴Butt shape, hip and top shape... Here's where reverse treadmilling is king. Whether it's a true livestock treadmill or a modified human treadmill, they can help you greatly.
🔴Warm up and cool down period is important! Don't just run them all they will go and put them up. Start and end with a slow paced walk. This will help avoid injuries.
🔴No animal is the same. One lamb might be extremely tough and coordinated. They may be able to go full speed for 10 to 20 minutes on a treadmill. The next one might be whipped after 4 minutes. That doesn't matter. Train each one to their individual abilities. You will still see positive results.
🔴The biggest mistake that I see people make is not allowing a rest period. No athlete trains the same muscle group day after day without rest. Building muscle consists of breaking down muscle fiber and allowing time to repair and heal. We exercise every other day with at least one day of rest before going to a show.
🔴Once you enter the exercise phase of your project, keep in mind that your calorie requirement has dramatically changed. You're still expecting growth and burning calories for exercise. So feed feed accordingly.
🔴You don't always have to have all of the fancy tools to get the job done. As you walk your animal away from your barn, they will want to go back to their pen. After a few trips, let them loose so that they can sprint back. Each time getting a little farther away. This can be a very effective form of exercise.
The point is, anyone can develop an exercise program. Stick to it, watch your fat cover and give them time to repair and heal between hard sessions.
I hope this helps. Good luck with your show season!!!
