Ninety-one (91) bucklings were delivered to the Western Maryland Research & Education Center in Keedysville, MD on June 1-4. Eighty (80) will participate in the 2011 Western Maryland Pasture-Based Meat Goat Performance Test. Eleven (11) will be penned and fed for carcass evaluation.
It is the 6th year of the Maryland test, with the most-ever goats. This year's 91 goats came from twenty-three consigners, representing eleven states. Maryland has the most participation, with 19 goats from 6 consigners.
While Kiko-influenced goats dominate the test, this year's test includes a variety of breeds and breed crosses: Boer, Kiko, Myotonic, Savanna, and Spanish.
While on test, the goats will be evaluated for growth, parasite resistance (fecal egg counts), parasite resilience (FAMACHA© scores) and carcass merit. The top-performing bucks will be sold via silent auction on September 24 at the 2011 Western Maryland Goat Field Day & Sale near Boonsboro.
The goats will consume a pasture-only diet while on test. The penned goats will be fed a diet of hay and grain. They will be harvested, along with 10 goats from the pasture test, in order to compare the carcasses and meat quality from pasture vs. grain-fed goats.
For more information about the test, visit the blog at http://mdgoattest.blogspot.com.
It is the 6th year of the Maryland test, with the most-ever goats. This year's 91 goats came from twenty-three consigners, representing eleven states. Maryland has the most participation, with 19 goats from 6 consigners.
While Kiko-influenced goats dominate the test, this year's test includes a variety of breeds and breed crosses: Boer, Kiko, Myotonic, Savanna, and Spanish.
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| Goats grazing cool season grass pasture. |
While on test, the goats will be evaluated for growth, parasite resistance (fecal egg counts), parasite resilience (FAMACHA© scores) and carcass merit. The top-performing bucks will be sold via silent auction on September 24 at the 2011 Western Maryland Goat Field Day & Sale near Boonsboro.
The goats will consume a pasture-only diet while on test. The penned goats will be fed a diet of hay and grain. They will be harvested, along with 10 goats from the pasture test, in order to compare the carcasses and meat quality from pasture vs. grain-fed goats.
For more information about the test, visit the blog at http://mdgoattest.blogspot.com.
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