Moonshine® Cherry
98% soy oil liquid top-dress for bloom, coat condition, and added energy — every 20 lbs added per ton of complete feed increases fat content by 1%; cherry-flavored for palatability; for all show animals
Always read and follow product labels for feeding and sheep safety.
Overview
Moonshine Cherry is Kalmbach’s liquid fat supplement — a 98% soy oil top-dress with cherry flavor that drives palatability while adding concentrated fat calories for bloom and coat condition. At 98% fat (nearly pure oil), it’s the highest-fat product in the database. The cherry flavor helps finicky animals accept oil top-dressing better than unflavored oils. Applied as a top-dress on feed or used to increase the fat content of a complete ration: every 20 lbs per ton raises fat 1%. Also available as Moonshine Caramel (identical formula, different flavor).
Manufacturer Specifications
Guaranteed Analysis
| Nutrient | Level |
|---|---|
| Crude Fat (min) | 98% |
| Total Fatty Acids (min) | 96.9% |
| Moisture (max) | 0.10% |
| Copper | Not confirmed |
Key Ingredients / Active Components
- Soy oil — primary 98% fat source; omega-6 fatty acids
- Cherry artificial flavor — palatability
- TBHQ (Tertiary Butyl Hydroquinone) — antioxidant preservative
Official Feeding Rate
- Rate: 20 lbs per ton of complete feed increases fat content by 1%; individual top-dress rate for sheep not specified
- Introduction: Any phase when fat and bloom are needed
- Species notes: All classes of show animals
Show Circuit Use
Sources: kalmbachfeeds.com, superiorag.com
How Experienced Feeders Actually Use It
Moonshine Cherry is drizzled on top of feed as a palatability enhancer and fat supplement. The cherry flavor makes it especially useful for finicky animals or animals adjusting to a new show-venue water and feed. Feeders use it to increase the energy density of the base ration without switching feeds. The per-ton mixing rate gives a precise way to dial up fat content; for individual animals, feeders typically top-dress 1–2 oz per feeding by estimate.
Real-World Feeding Rate
- Typical rate: 1–2 oz per head per day top-dressed on feed (estimated from per-ton guidance)
- Introduction timeline: Any phase; primarily used in weeks 8–6 through show week
Common Deviations from Label
Label provides a per-ton mixing rate rather than a per-animal rate — individual top-dressing is done by feeder judgment, not a specific label rate.
Breed-Specific Notes
No breed-specific notes found.
Phase Protocols
Weeks 8–6 | Condition Building Phase
Introduce for condition and bloom when base feed fat is insufficient.
Weeks 5–3 through Weeks 2–1
Continue for bloom maintenance and palatability.
Show Week (Days 5–1)
Use to drive intake on animals that go off feed at the show venue.
Stacking Protocols
Conceptually conflicts with Afterburner (fat-trimmer) — do not run both at full rates simultaneously. Pairs well with Hard Drive (muscle) + Moonshine Cherry (cover) as the standard Kalmbach bloom stack.
Cross-Brand Notes
Comparable pure-oil fat supplements:
- Sunglo Liquafat — 99% fat liquid; blend of flax, soybean, coconut oils (more complex fatty acid profile)
- Commodity soybean oil — functionally identical to Moonshine Cherry without the flavor or preservative; much cheaper
Budget Alternatives
- Commodity soybean oil — same fat source at a fraction of the cost; no cherry flavor or TBHQ packaging
- Umbarger Loaded — bypass fat product (ethoxyquine-preserved; different mechanism)
Community Tips
Reserved for verified community submissions — do not populate during initial documentation.
Pairs Well With
Avoid Combining With
Direct Substitutes
Products that do the same job at the same point in the program — compare alternatives across brands in the directory.
| Product | Brand | Form | Budget | Feeding Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| High Octane Golden Ticket | Purina Animal Nutrition | Extruded Nugget | Premium | 4 oz/day – 48 oz/day |