Show livestock learning hub
15 free guides mapped to the ShowPen topical graph — growth math, feed costs, record books, and species-specific windows. Each article links to calculators and related nodes.
Growth Fundamentals
What Is Average Daily Gain (ADG) for Show Livestock?
Learn how average daily gain works for market hogs, cattle, sheep, and goats — and how to use ADG to hit fair target weight.
How to Project Fair Weight from Today’s Scale Reading
Project your animal’s show-day weight using current weight, ADG, and days until weigh-in — the core workflow ShowPen automates.
Weight Log Best Practices for Show Animals
How often to weigh, how to reduce scale error, and how to keep ADG honest.
On Track vs Behind: Reading Your Growth Curve Before Fair
Interpret projected weight vs target and what management changes make sense.
How to Estimate Livestock Weight with a Tape Measure
Heart girth and body length formula for estimating live weight when a scale is not available.
Market Hogs
Show Pig Target Weight Guide: Hit the Class Without Overfeeding
How to choose a purchase weight, set a target fair weight, and manage market hog growth so you arrive in class — not over-finished.
How to Select Feeder Pig Weight for Your Fair Date
A practical selection-weight checklist for market hogs so genetics and calendar work together.
Feed & Cost
Record Books & Money
How to Calculate Breakeven on a 4-H or FFA Livestock Project
Purchase price + feed + other costs, divided by sale weight — know the price you need in the ring.
4-H Livestock Record Book Checklist (What Judges Actually Look For)
A practical checklist for market animal record books: goals, inventory, weights, expenses, photos, and reflections.
Why Digital Livestock Record Books Beat End-of-Season Spreadsheets
The case for logging weights and expenses in-season instead of reconstructing a PDF the week of fair.