How to Tackle Picky Eating Show Animals

Is your animal acting like a toddler refusing to eat their broccoli?

If you have ever poured a new supplement into your show animal’s feeder only to watch them sort around it, you are not alone. Picky eaters are one of the most common frustrations for show families, and it can feel like all that money you spent on nutrition is going straight to the bottom of the bucket.

Here is the good news: animals sort feed for the same reasons we push food around our plates. Something feels different, smells different, or just was not there yesterday. Show animals are creatures of habit, and anything that changes the look or feel of their ration can throw them off. The key is making everything in the feeder feel like one consistent meal.

At the end of the day, you are the one making the nutrition decisions for your project, not the animal. Do not let a picky eater dictate what supplements you can and cannot use.

One of the simplest tricks we recommend is adding a small amount of water to your feed. About a quarter to a half cup per pound of ration is the sweet spot. This makes the feed slightly damp and sticky, which helps everything bind together so your animal cannot pick and choose what they eat.

There is a method to it, though. If you are mixing in a meal, add your water first and stir the feed until it is evenly damp. Then sprinkle in the supplement and mix again. This keeps the meal from clumping and ensures it coats every bite. If you are working with a pelleted product, toss the pellets in first, then add water and mix. This softens the pellets just enough so they blend with the rest of the ration instead of standing out.

Another tip is to start with a smaller amount of any new supplement and gradually work up to the full serving over several days. This gives your animal time to adjust to any change in taste or texture without going off feed.

If water is not your thing, you have other options. A small amount of molasses, corn oil, or a rice bran oil like TrueGamma can also do the trick. These not only help bind supplements to your ration but can add palatability that makes your animal more eager to clean up the feeder.

It takes about 30 extra seconds at feeding time and can make a real difference in getting the full benefit of your nutrition program. Give it a try at your next feeding and see how your project responds.