www.uidaho.edu/extension/4h
4-H Animal Science Lesson Plan
Nutrition
Level 1
Average Daily Gain (ADG)
Cindy A. Kinder, Extension Educator
Goal (learning objective)
Note: Conduct the Frame Size & Market Ready Weights lesson
rst
Youth will:
Learn about feeding to market ready weights
Learn to monitor feed rations during feeding
periods
Learn what “market ready” means
Learn how to monitor if their animal is on track
to be market ready
Supplies
Members will need to bring the following items:
Animal initial weight information and timely
weight information (every 30, 15, or 7 days de-
pending on species) during the feeding period
Beginning Planning & Record Worksheet (from
the Frame Size and Market Ready Weights activ-
ity)
Side photo of their market animal at the begin-
ning of their project
Copies of Market Animal Growth Charts (dis-
tribute the appropriate growth chart to what
each member is raising)
a. Handout 1 - “Market Beef Growth Chart”
b. Handout 2 - “Market Goat Growth Chart”
c. Handout 3 - “Market Lamb Growth Chart”
d. Handout 4 - “Market Swine Growth Chart”
Handout 5 “Market Projects Photo Page”
(enough copies for group)
Pencils, pens (enough for group)
Rulers and calculators (enough for groups to
share )
Pre-lesson preparation
Average Daily Gain (ADG) can be dened as the
average amount of weight a market animal will
gain each day during the feeding period.
ADG can be calculated by taking the amout of
weight an animal has gained since the last weight
and dividing the weight by the number of days
since that last weight.
Conduct the Frame Size and Market Ready
Weights Activity rst to determine animals target
market weight.
Have members bring a side-view photo of each
project animal, prefereably from the beinning of
the project. Side view images will help members
see the change in their animal over time.
Make copies of the Handouts 1-5.
Review the activity and refer to the resources
section to familiarize yourself with the activity and
information covered.
Lesson directions and outline
Begin by asking members what they think “Aver-
age Daily Gain: is (if they youth struggle, dene
each word separately. Share the denition from the
pre-lesson preparation section before moving on).
Discuss what information is needed to calculate ADB
(see pre-lesson preparation).
Share the following winformation with the youth:
Plotting change in weight over time will help you
determine if your market animal is on track to be what
is called “market ready” at fair time. It is important to
set project goals and identify a target nal weight.
Page 2 Average Daily Gain (ADG)
Published October, 2016 © 2016 by the University of Idaho
Weight gained should be monitored and docu-
mented (on the growth chart) from the beginning of
the project to fair time. Regular weighing intervals
are typically every 10, 15, or 30 days depending on the
species.
Monitoring weight gain can help you determine if
feed rations need to be adjusted so that animals make
it to fair, market ready.
Industry average for average daily gain (adg) for
each species is as follows: Beef 2.5 lbs/day, Swine 1.7
lbs/day, Sheep .5 lbs/day and Meat Goat .3lbs/day.
Conducting the activity (DO)
1. Follow the directions on the growth chart to de-
termine a predicted growth rate using the initial
weight and estimated nal weight of each animal.
2. Have youth calculate what his/her animal’s re-
quired average daily gain needs to be to reach the
estimated nal weight.
3. Encourage members to determine which feeds
help animals grow faster; which results in slower
growth rates?
4. Have members attach his/her animal’s beginning
side-view picture to Handout 5; have them share
how his/her animal’s condition has changed since
the beginning picture was taken.
5. As part of an ongoing activity, have members
weigh project animals every 10, 15 or 30 days (de-
pending on species), record those weights on the
Market Growth Chart and plot the “actual” growth
of each animal.
6. Help members determine if animals are above or
below the predicted growth rate and what changes
(if any) are needed in their feeding program.
7. Work with members to nish the growth chart
and take an ending photo of their animal.
What did we learn? (REFLECT)
Ask: What is ADG and how is it calculated?
Ask: What are some factors that inuence how fast
an individual animal will grow?
Ask: What can a livestock producer do to speed up
or slow down an animal’s growth rate?
Ask: What is your species minimum industry
standard for ADG
For the on-going activity
Ask: Is your predicted ADG fromt he Market
Growth Chart achievable?
Ask: Why might your animal’s actual growth be
above or below the predicted ADG?
Ask: How should you adjust your feeding if they
are below your predicted ADG?
Ask: How did your animal change over the feeding
period? Are there any changes you would make
next year?
Why is that important? (APPLY)
Ask: What could happen if you try to change your
animal’s ration too quickly?
Ask: Besides raising livestock, where else might
you need to track change and make gradual chang-
es over time?
Monitoring and adjusting the feed program, based on
actual growth, is important to insure that a member’s
project animal is in market ready condition come fair
time.
Page 3 Average Daily Gain (ADG)
Resources
Kinder, C.A. & Williams, S. (2013). Livestock Sci-
ence Experiment. Average Daily Gain (ADG) Mar-
ket Weight, Feed Conversion. University of Idaho
Extension. Retrieved from https://www.uidaho.
edu/~/media/UIdaho-Responsive/Files/Exten-
sion/county/Gooding/4-H/animal-science/Experi-
ment-Topics-for-club-work.ashx
Ohio State University Extension. (2011).Nutrition
and Feeding. Beef resource handbook (pages 7-19
through 7-30).
Ohio State University Extension. (2008). Nutrition.
Goat resource handbook (pages 55-66).
Ohio State University Extension. (2011). Nutrition.
Sheep resource handbook for market and breeding
projects (page 51-56).
Ohio State University Extension. (2000). Nutrition.
Swine resource handbook for market and breeding
projects (pages 8-11 through 8-13).
NUTRITION: AVERAGE DAILY GAIN – HANDOUT 1
Market Beef Growth Chart
To achieve success with your 4-H Market Beef project, it is important you know the estimated final weight of your animal
and your progress toward that goal throughout the feeding period. The chart below enables you to plot the predicted
growth curve (immediately after the initial weigh-in) and then plot the actual weight of your animal at various times during
the feeding period to determine if you are “on target.”
Initial +15 +30 +45 +60 +75 +90 +105 +120 +135 +150
Days since initial weigh-in
Initial weight: Estimated final weight:
1. Mark the initial weight at the appropriate location on the left-hand side of the table.
2. Mark the estimated final weight at the appropriate location for the number of days in the feeding period.
3. Connect these two points with a straight line. Label this your “predicted” rate of growth.
4. Record your animal’s weight in the table below and the chart above each time it is weighed during the feeding
period. Connect this point with the previous actual weight. Is the actual growth curve above or below your
predicted growth line? Why?
Progressive Project Weight Record
Weigh date
Days since last weigh day XXXXX
Current weight
A.D.G. (since last weigh date) XXXXX
Tracking animal weight can tell you where your animal is compared to your goal. After each weigh day ask yourself; do
you need to feed more grain or hay?
Typical influences in A.D.G. can be feed, water, weather, and illness. Ask yourself is the A.D.G. normal? What caused any
problems?
1400 lbs
1300 lbs
1200 lbs
1100 lbs
1000 lbs
900 lbs
800 lbs
700 lbs
600 lbs
Name/tag no.
NUTRITION: AVERAGE DAILY GAIN – HANDOUT 2
Market Goat Growth Chart
To achieve success with your 4-H Market Goat project, it is important you know the estimated final weight of your animal
and your progress toward that goal throughout the feeding period. The chart below enables you to plot the predicted
growth curve (immediately after the initial weigh-in) and then plot the actual weight of your animal at various times during
the feeding period to determine if you are “on target.”
Initial +10 +20 +30 +40 +50 +60 +70 +80 +90
Days since initial weigh-in
Initial weight: Estimated final weight:
1. Mark the initial weight at the appropriate location on the left-hand side of the table.
2. Mark the estimated final weight at the appropriate location for the number of days in the feeding period.
3. Connect these two points with a straight line. Label this your “predicted” rate of growth.
4. Record your animal’s weight in the table below and the chart above each time it is weighed during the feeding
period. Connect this point with the previous actual weight. Is the actual growth curve above or below your
predicted growth line? Why?
Progressive Project Weight Record
Weigh date
Days since last weigh date
XXXXX
Current weight
A.D.G. (since last weigh date)
XXXXX
Tracking animal weight can tell you where your animal is compared to your goal. After each weigh day ask yourself; do
you need to feed more grain or hay? Typical influences in A.D.G. can be feed, water, weather, and illness. Ask yourself is
the A.D.G. normal? What caused any problems?
105 lbs
100 lbs
95 lbs
90 lbs
85 lbs
80 lbs
75 lbs
70 lbs
65 lbs
60 lbs
55 lbs
50 lbs
Name/tag no.
NUTRITION: AVERAGE DAILY GAIN – HANDOUT 3
Market Lamb Growth Chart
To achieve success with your 4-H Market Lamb project, it is important you know the estimated final weight of your animal
and your progress toward that goal throughout the feeding period. The chart below enables you to plot the predicted
growth curve (immediately after the initial weigh-in) and then plot the actual weight of your animal at various times during
the feeding period to determine if you are “on target.”
Initial +10 +20 +30 +40 +50 +60 +70 +80 +90
Days since initial weigh-in
Initial weight: Estimated final weight:
1. Mark the initial weight at the appropriate location on the left-hand side of the table.
2. Mark the estimated final weight at the appropriate location for the number of days in the feeding period.
3. Connect these two points with a straight line. Label this your “predicted” rate of growth.
4. Record your animal’s weight in the table below and the chart above each time it is weighed during the feeding
period. Connect this point with the previous actual weight. Is the actual growth curve above or below your
predicted growth line? Why?
Progressive Project Weight Record
Weigh date
Days since last weigh date XXXXX
Current weight
A.D.G. (since last weigh date) XXXXX
Tracking animal weight can tell you where your animal is compared to your goal. After each weigh day ask yourself; do
you need to feed more grain or hay? Typical influences in A.D.G. can be feed, water, weather, and illness. Ask yourself is
the A.D.G. normal? What caused any problems?
170 lbs
160 lbs
150 lbs
140 lbs
130 lbs
120 lbs
110 lbs
100 lbs
90 lbs
80 lbs
70 lbs
60 lbs
Name/tag no.
NUTRITION: AVERAGE DAILY GAIN – HANDOUT 4
Market Swine Growth Chart
To achieve success with your 4-H Market Swine project, it is important you know the estimated final weight of your animal
and your progress toward that goal throughout the feeding period. The chart below enables you to plot the predicted
growth curve (immediately after the initial weigh-in) and then plot the actual weight of your animal at various times during
the feeding period to determine if you are “on target.”
Initial +15 +30 +45 +60 +75 +90 +105
Days since initial weigh-in
Initial weight: Estimated final weight:
1. Mark the initial weight at the appropriate location on the left-hand side of the table.
2. Mark the estimated final weight at the appropriate location for the number of days in the feeding period.
3. Connect these two points with a straight line. Label this your “predicted” rate of growth.
4. Record your animal’s weight in the table below and the chart above each time it is weighed during the feeding
period. Connect this point with the previous actual weight. Is the actual growth curve above or below your
predicted growth line? Why?
Progressive Project Weight Record
Weigh date
Days since last weigh date XXXXX
Current weight
A.D.G. (since last weigh date) XXXXX
Tracking animal weight can tell you where your animal is compared to your goal. After each weigh day ask yourself; do
you need to feed more grain or add any supplements?
Typical influences in A.D.G. can be feed, water, weather, and illness. Ask yourself is the A.D.G. normal? What caused any
problems?
330 lbs
300 lbs
270 lbs
240 lbs
210 lbs
180 lbs
150 lbs
120 lbs
90 lbs
60 lbs
50 lbs
Name/tag no.
NUTRITION: AVERAGE DAILY GAIN – HANDOUT 5
Market Projects
Photo Page
Place Beginning Photo Here
Beginning Weigh-in Date_____________ Beginning Weight____________
Ending Weigh-in Date________________ Ending Weight_______________
Average Daily Gain___________________________
Place Ending Photo Here
