1987 - Volume #11, Issue #5, Page #7

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Feeder exerciser gets show animals in blue ribbon shape

Feeder exerciser gets show animals in blue ribbon shape LIVESTOCK Feeding Equipment 11-5-7 Exercising and getting in shape is all the rage nowadays, but physical fitness for livestock? Sounds crazy, but not to Roger Harris, Northwood, Iowa. The feeder/exerciser he designed for his 4-H sheep has helped bring in the grand championship blue ribbons. "Climbing the platform to get their feed helps lambs develop the muscles in their rear legs and stretch out their loinsùfeatures that judges look for when judging lambs," says Harris, age 15, who built the combination feeder/exerciser in his eighth grade shop class. His idea proved itself at last year's local county fair where he had the grand champion market lamb, plus the first place lambs in the ægroup of five' class. The feeder/exerciser consists of an 8-ft. square platform made out of two 4 by 8-ft. sheets of plywood. It's mounted at a 50? angle on a wooden frame built out of 2 by 4's. Steps across the platform, spaced 1-ft. apart and made out of 1 by 1's, keep lambs from sliding down the feeder. Harris made the platform angle adjustable but notes that he found that the one setting worked fine. A feedbox, with room for eight, sits at the top of the ramp. Harris made its height adjustable so he can raise it higher as the lambs get bigger. He notes that he has about $125 invested in his project. Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Roger Harris, Northwood, Iowa 50459 (ph 515 324-2420).