Definition: Average Daily Gain (ADG) is the amount of weight your animal gains per day over a measured period. It is the single most useful growth metric for show livestock projects because it connects today’s scale reading to fair day.
Formula: ADG = (current weight − start weight) ÷ days between weigh-ins.
Worked example: a market hog starts at 80 lb on May 1 and weighs 150 lb on June 6 (36 days). ADG = (150 − 80) ÷ 36 = 1.94 lb/day.
Why ADG matters for the show ring
- Fair weight classes and sale eligibility depend on hitting a weight window.
- Feed decisions (full feed vs. limit feeding) should be driven by projected weight, not guesswork.
- Record books often ask for gain and performance metrics — ADG is the clean answer.
Typical ranges (rules of thumb, not guarantees): market hogs ~1.5–2.2 lb/day; steers ~2.0–3.0; lambs ~0.4–0.7; goats ~0.3–0.6. Genetics, weather, and ration quality shift these numbers.
Use the free ADG calculator and the fair weight projector after every weigh-in. Related: show pig target weight, project fair weight, feed conversion.
Next step: Save the animal in ShowPen so history compounds into a fair-ready record book.