If a good market lamb has only a very small amount of fat, what is the purpose of the rate of gain requirement in the rules?
It is part of the Stark County educational program that an exhibitor “raises” his own market lamb. The rate of gain requirement helps to insure that an exhibitor buys a lamb young enough to grow all summer, rather than purchasing an older lamb and maintaining its size all summer. The rate of gain rule also helps to ensure our exhibitors are doing their chores and properly feeding their lambs. A lamb that does not gain weight is not eating properly. It is not our goal to produce overly fat market lambs!
