Performance & Carcass Contest

A Performance & Carcass Contest was held in conjunction with the 2016 Western Maryland Pasture-Based Meat Goat Performance Test. Consigners who consigned bucks to the test were eligible to enter a goat in the contest. Fifteen goats were entered from ten states. All of the bucks were Kiko. There were 14 bucks and 1 wether.

Grand Champion Goat

After a 13-day adjustment period, the goats were fed for 87 days. They consumed a hay and grain diet. Hay was fed ad libitum. Grain was limit fed, about 1 pound per head per day. The goats were not fed for maximum gain. They were kept in a 16 ft. x 16 ft pen, with limited grazing. Shelter was provided via a 3-sided shed. Environmental enrichment was provided.

Eleven of the original goats were harvested to collect carcass data. The carcasses were deboned into portions of lean, fat, and bone.  Lean gain per day was the statistic used to rank the goats. It was determined by multiplying yield (lbs. lean ÷ live weight) by ADG (lbs. gain per day).

The Grand Champion goat was a Kiko buck entered by Angie Loos from Illinois. It easily won the competition, excelling in every performance and carcass category. The Reserve Champion was entered by Richard Gamby from Ohio. William Winingear & Brittany White from Missouri had the 3rd place goat. The 4th and 5th place goats were entered by John Smith (Virginia) and Patricia Larr (Indiana), respectively. The wether was the fattest goat in the competition. It did not place in the top 5.

Read full article about contest