BUCK DEVELOPMENT AT THEWESTERN MARYLAND PASTURE-BASED MEAT GOAT PERFORMANCE TEST

SUSAN SCHOENIANSheep &Goat SpecialistWestern Maryland Research & Education Centerwww.sheepandgoat.com – sschoen@umd.edu

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?

Which buck is better?

Selection criteria for bucks (and rams)

Live evaluation Body conformation Live handling Measurements

Shows “Expert” opinion

1. On-farm performance testing2. Central performance testing3. Across-flock performance

testing (EPDs)

VISUAL APPRAISAL PERFORMANCE RECORDS

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

Small ruminant performance tests

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

RAMS BUCKS

Limitations to central performance testing

Limited to traits that can be measured in the young male.

What is the repeatability (accuracy) of the data?

Different production environments.

Nutrition may be a limiting factor.

GENETICS ENVIRONMENT

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

Maryland buck testMost important goal is to identify bucks that are more resistant to internal parasites.

RESISTANCEFecal egg counts (FECs)

RESILIENCEPacked cell volume (FAMACHA©, Five Point Check©)

H2 = 20 TO 50 PERCENT

H2 = 10 TO 20 PERCENT

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).

Eligibility

12.5-acre pasture systemSix paddocks for rotational grazing

Cool season grasses

ORCHARDGRASS MAXQ™ TALL FESCUE

Warm season grass DWARF PEARL MILLET (ANNUAL)

ChicoryHerb with “anthelmintic-like” properties

Weeds

Plant Protein

TDN RFV

Mixed weeds

14.1% 65.8%

111

Chicory 14.3% 75.3%

184

Lambsquarter

23.2% 89.6%

298

Relative feed value of good alfalfa hay is 170 or higher.

SilvopastureWALNUT TREES + MIXED HARDWOODS

Extremes in forage conditionsCONSIDERABLE SEASONAL AND ANNUAL VARIATION IN FORAGE QUALITY AND QUANTITY

June-September 2006-2010Keedysville, Maryland

Monthly and annual rainfall (in)

2006 2007 2008 2009 20100.00

2.00

4.00

6.00

8.00

10.00

12.00

14.00

16.00

June July AugustSeptember Total

In the event of severe drought conditions

NUTRITIONAL TUBS GRASS HAY

Upon arrival to test site

Body weights Body condition score (1-5) Coat condition score (1-3) Dag score (0-5) FAMACHA© score (1-5) Individual fecal egg count Pooled fecal egg count Larvae ID

Stand in footbath Ear tag Deworm with

anthelmintics from two different chemical classes. (usually moxidectin + levamisole)

5-day treatment for coccidia in water.

Data collected Treatments administered

Every 14 daysLow-stress livestock handing – handling by horns

Weigh FAMACHA© score Body condition score Coat condition score Dag score Health check:

Treat as necessary Collect individual

fecal sample Collect pooled

fecal sample

Five P

oin

t C

heck

©

Goats are penned for multi-day treatments and observation.

Goats with abscesses or pink eye are isolated for testing and treatment, respectively.

Treatment and isolation pens

Since 2009, 19 bucks have been harvested and deboned to collect carcass data and characterize the carcasses of pasture-reared goats.

Carcass evaluation

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.

New for 2011

Number of goats tested

Yearof

test

Start test

Finish

test2006 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

Growth performance

June September

Year ADG

2006 0.190

2007 0.253

2008 0.134

2009 0.206

2010 0.121

2011 0.103

d (-14)

d-0 d-14 d-28 d-42 d-56 d-70 d-84 d-9640

45

50

55

60

65

70

75

80

85

Live weight, lbs.

200620072008200920102011

Fecal egg counts (eggs per gram of feces)

Fecal egg counts are a measure of parasite resistance (infection). Resistant animals shed fewer eggs onto the pasture.

Determined by Delaware State University using the modified McMaster procedure.

June September

d (-14) d-0 d-14 d-28 d-42 d-56 d-70 d-84 d-960

500

1,000

1,500

2,000

2,500

3,000

3,500

4,000

4,500Average fecal egg count (all goats)

2007

2008

2009

2010

FAMACHA© eye anemia scores

FAMACHA© scores are an estimate of packed cell volume (PCV) and are an indication of parasite “resilience” and the need for deworming.

June September

d (-14) d-0 d-14 d-28 d-42 d-56 d-70 d-84 d-961.4

1.6

1.8

2.0

2.2

2.4

2.6

2.8

3.0

3.2Average bi-weekly FAMACHA© score

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

Anthelmintic treatments

FAMACHA©scoring

1 – no Tx2 – no Tx3 – ?4 – Tx5 – Tx

June September

d-0 d-14 d-28 d-42 d-56 d-70 d-84 d-960%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

Percent goats requiring anthelmintic treatment

20062007200820092010

Fecal coproculture (larvae ID)

The worm burden has been almost all barber pole worm, especially as the summer progresses.

d-0 d-14 d-28 d-42 d-56 d-70 d-84 d-98 d-11260

65

70

75

80

85

90

95

100

Percent Haemonchus contortus

2008 2009 2010

Other worm species in fecal samples: Trichostrongylus*, Oesophagostomum, Nematodiris, Eimeria, and Moniezia

September

June

Test specifics

Nomination periodApril 1- May 15

Testing fee$20 nomination fee$85 total cost

Delivery datesFirst weekend (Fri-Sat) in June

Sale, field day, and skillathonSeptember 24 or October 1

Top bucks eligible for sale Sell does via private treaty Carcass evaluation http://

mdgoattest.blogspot.com

2008 Top-consignmentKendall & Dana Barnes,

Kentucky

Gold, Silver, and Bronze standards

SMALL RUMINANT PROGRAM

SUSAN SCHOENIANwww.sheepandgoat.co

msschoen@umd.edu

http://mdgoattest.blogspot.com

Thank you for your attention. Questions?