1. WESTERN MARYLAND
PASTURE-BASED MEAT GOAT
PERFORMANCE TEST
SUSAN SCHOENIAN
Sheep &Goat Specialist
Western Maryland Research & Education Center
www.sheepandgoat.com – sschoen@umd.edu
2. Which buck is better?
Which buck’s offspring will be more likely to survive to weaning?
Which buck’s offspring will grow faster?
Which buck’s offspring will be more resistant to worms?
Which buck’s daughters will produce more lbs. of live kids?
3. Selection criteria for bucks (and
rams)
VISUAL APPRAISAL
Live evaluation
Body conformation
Live handling
Measurements
Shows
“Expert” opinion
PERFORMANCE RECORDS
1.
2.
3.
On-farm performance
testing
Central performance
testing
Across-flock performance
testing (EPDs)
4. Central performance testing
“A central performance test is
where animals from different
herds are brought to one
central location where
performance is recorded. The
rationale is that measured
differences are more likely due
to genetic differences, which
will be passed onto
offspring, rather than
environmental differences
which will not. The goal of a
central performance test is to
identify genetic differences
among animals.”
Dr. Dan Waldron
Texas A&M University
2008 Top-performing buck
(Kiko)
John Smith, Virginia
5. Small ruminant performance
tests
RAMS
BUCKS
Kerr Center (OK)
North Dakota
Penn State
Texas A&M
Virginia Tech
Illinois (?)
West Virginia University
Angelo State (TX)
Fort Valley (GA)
Kerr Center (OK)
Langston University
Nebraska (?)
Penn State
Texas A&M
University of Maryland
Western Illinois
6. Limitations to central performance
testing
GENETICS
Limited to traits that can
be measured in the
young male.
What is the
repeatability (accuracy)
of the data?
ENVIRONMENT
Different production
environments.
Nutrition may be a
limiting factor.
7. Western Maryland Pasture-based
Meat Goat Performance Test
Established
in 2006 to
evaluate the
performance
of weanling
male goats
on a
pasture-only
diet with
natural
exposure to
internal
parasites.
GRAZING FROM EARLY JUNE THROUGH LATE
SEPTEMBER
9. Eligibility
Male goats of any breed or breed cross, born between
December 15 (previous year) and March 20 (test year) and
weighing 35 to 70 lbs. at the start of the test. Up to 5 goats per
consigner (any state).
21. Treatment and isolation pens
Goats are penned for multi-day treatments and observation.
Goats with abscesses or pink eye are isolated for testing and
treatment, respectively.
22. Carcass evaluation
Since 2009, 19 bucks have been harvested and deboned to collect carcass
data
and characterize the carcasses of pasture-reared goats.
23. New for 2011
Ten goats (half-sibs) are being pen-fed for carcass evaluation.
The carcasses of pasture-raised vs. grain (and hay)-fed bucks will be
compared.
24. Number of goats tested
Year
of test
Start
test
Finish
test
2006
31
31
2007
47
47
2008
57
57
2009
60
60
2010
72
68
2011
81
80(?)
Five year consigners (L-R)
Don Smith, Virginia; and Jeanne Dietz-Band,
Maryland
25. Growth performance
Live weight, lbs.
Year
ADG
85
2006
0.190
80
2007
0.253
2008
0.134
2009
0.206
70
2010
0.121
65
2011
0.103
60
75
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
55
2011
50
45
40
d (-14)
d-0
June
d-14
d-28
d-42
d-56
d-70
d-84
d-96
September
26. Fecal egg counts
(eggs per gram of feces)
Determined by Delaware State University using the modified McMaster
procedure.
Fecal egg
counts are a
measure of
parasite
resistance
(infection).
Resistant
animals
shed fewer
eggs onto
the pasture.
Average fecal egg count (all goats)
4,500
2007
4,000
2008
3,500
2009
2010
3,000
2,500
2,000
1,500
1,000
500
0
d (-14)
June
d-0
d-14
d-28
d-42
d-56
d-70
d-84
d-96
September
29. Fecal coproculture (larvae ID)
Other worm species in fecal samples: Trichostrongylus*, Oesophagostomum, Nematodiris, Eimeria, and
Moniezia
The worm
burden has
been almost
all barber
pole
worm, espec
ially as the
summer
progresses.
Percent Haemonchus contortus
100
95
90
85
2008
80
2009
d-70
d-84
2010
75
70
65
60
d-0
d-14
June
d-28
d-42
d-56
d-98
d-112
September
30. Test specifics
Nomination period
April 1- May 15
Testing fee
$20 nomination fee
$85 total cost
Delivery dates
First weekend (Fri-Sat) in June
Sale, field day, and skillathon
September 24 or October 1
Top bucks eligible for sale
Sell does via private treaty
Carcass evaluation
2008 Top-consignment
Kendall & Dana Barnes, Kentucky
http://mdgoattest.blogspot.
32. Thank you for your attention.
Questions?
http://mdgoattest.blogspot.c
om
SMALL RUMINANT
PROGRAM
SUSAN SCHOENIAN
www.sheepandgoat.com
sschoen@umd.edu