One hundred and six (106) goats were nominated to the 2013 Western Maryland Pasture-Based Meat Goat Performance Test. The nomination period closed today.
The nominations of mostly Kiko or Kiko-influenced bucks came from twenty-six breeders from twelve states. Illinois and Kentucky are the most represented in the test with four consigners and 18 bucks. Maryland and Virginia have three consigners and 12 bucks each.There are eleven new consigners to the test. Six consigners are returning to the test after a 1 to 2 year absence.
While on test, the bucks will be managed as a single group on pasture. They will rotationally grazed among six paddocks. The total pasture area is 12.5 acres. It is planted in a combination of cool and warm season grasses. The goats will not receive any supplemental feed (except free choice minerals), unless the forage resource is depleted due to prolonged drought.
The bucks will be handled every two weeks to determine body weights, FAMACHA© eye anemia scores, body condition scores, coat condition scores, dag scores, and fecal consistency scores. Individual fecal samples will be collected bi-weekly to determine fecal egg counts (epg). Pooled fecal samples will be collected every four weeks for fecal coproculture (larvae ID). Towards the end of the test, the goats will be ultrasonically scanned to determine rib eye area and back fat thickness. They will be evaluated for reproductive soundness (teats and testicles) and structural correctness (feet, legs, hooves, and jaws)
Bucks meeting Gold, Silver, or Bronze standards of performance for growth, parasite resistance, and parasite resilience and minimum standards for reproductive soundness and structural correctness will eligible to sell at the 1st Annual Mid-Atlantic Small Ruminant Extravaganza, to be held Saturday, September 21, 2013, at the Olde Dominion Agricultural Complex in Chatham, Virginia.
To follow the progress of this year's test, visit the blog at mdgoattest.blogspot.com. Subscribe to the meat goat blog listserv to receive blog entries via e-mail. To subscribe, send an e-mail to listserv@listserv.umd.edu and in the body of the message, write "subscribe meatgoatatest".
The nominations of mostly Kiko or Kiko-influenced bucks came from twenty-six breeders from twelve states. Illinois and Kentucky are the most represented in the test with four consigners and 18 bucks. Maryland and Virginia have three consigners and 12 bucks each.There are eleven new consigners to the test. Six consigners are returning to the test after a 1 to 2 year absence.
While on test, the bucks will be managed as a single group on pasture. They will rotationally grazed among six paddocks. The total pasture area is 12.5 acres. It is planted in a combination of cool and warm season grasses. The goats will not receive any supplemental feed (except free choice minerals), unless the forage resource is depleted due to prolonged drought.
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| Bucks grazing dwarf pearl millet in last year' test |
The bucks will be handled every two weeks to determine body weights, FAMACHA© eye anemia scores, body condition scores, coat condition scores, dag scores, and fecal consistency scores. Individual fecal samples will be collected bi-weekly to determine fecal egg counts (epg). Pooled fecal samples will be collected every four weeks for fecal coproculture (larvae ID). Towards the end of the test, the goats will be ultrasonically scanned to determine rib eye area and back fat thickness. They will be evaluated for reproductive soundness (teats and testicles) and structural correctness (feet, legs, hooves, and jaws)
Bucks meeting Gold, Silver, or Bronze standards of performance for growth, parasite resistance, and parasite resilience and minimum standards for reproductive soundness and structural correctness will eligible to sell at the 1st Annual Mid-Atlantic Small Ruminant Extravaganza, to be held Saturday, September 21, 2013, at the Olde Dominion Agricultural Complex in Chatham, Virginia.
To follow the progress of this year's test, visit the blog at mdgoattest.blogspot.com. Subscribe to the meat goat blog listserv to receive blog entries via e-mail. To subscribe, send an e-mail to listserv@listserv.umd.edu and in the body of the message, write "subscribe meatgoatatest".
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