Introduction
Meat goat production represents the most rapidly growing animal industry in the US today, and is becoming a mainstream livestock enterprise. To further the genetic progress through the identification of superior sires in the industry, Langston University and the Oklahoma Meat Goat Association established a meat goat performance test in 1997.
Entry
The fifth annual meat buck performance test started May 5, 2001 at the South Barn complex of Langston University with 50 bucks enrolled from eighteen different breeders.Forty-eight of the bucks were fullblood or crossbred Boer bucks and there were two Kiko bucks.Thirty-one bucks were from Texas, fourteen from Oklahoma and five from Illinois. The test was open to purebred and crossbred bucks born between December 1, 2000 and March 31, 2001.
Bucks were given a thorough physical examination by Dr. Lionel Dawson, dewormed with Valbazen (albendazole), foot bathed with Nolvasan deloused with Atroban De-Lice, given a preemptive injection of Nuflor for upper respiratory infections, and those bucks that needed booster or initial vaccinations for enterotoxemia and caseous lymphandinitis.All bucks were retagged by Extension staff after admission to the performance test. Four weeks after check-in, all bucks were given a booster vaccination for enterotoxemia and caseous lymphandinitis.Bucks are routinely monitored for internal parasites using fecal egg counts. Entrance weight for the 50 bucks averaged 53.1 lbs. with a range of 34.1 to 83.7 lbs.The average age was 92 days with a range from 50 to 158 days.
Adjustment Period
All bucks underwent an adjustment period of eighteen days immediately after check-in. During the adjustment period, bucks were acclimated to the test ration and to the Calan feeders. Nine bucks were assigned to each 20' x 20' inside pen equipped with nine Calan feeders. Each pen also had a 20' x 20' outside run. The inside and outside pen space is separated by an overhead door which can be raised or lowered as the weather dictates.Every other pen was also equipped with a fan to circulate air in the barn complex whenever needed.The grass in the outside pens was mowed often, and grazing was negligible.Each buck wore a collar with an electronic "key" encased in hard plastic.The key unlocks the door to only one Calan feeder, thus enabling the buck to eat out of his individual feeder.Each morning, yesterday's feed that remains in the Calan feeder is weighed and removed from the Calan feeder.Fresh feed is weighted and placed into the Calan feeder.The difference in weights between the fresh feed place in the Calan feeder one morning and the remaining feed the next morning is the amount consumed. Because only one goat is capable of opening the Calan door and eating, it is possible to calculate the feed intake of the individual bucks.The area immediately around the Calan feeders and waterers is concrete, however, the large majority of the inside pen is earth and is covered by pine shavings. Pine shavings were periodically added as needed to maintain fresh bedding.Bucks had free access to water provided by a float-valve raised waterers.
Ration
The following ration was formulated by nutritionist at Langston University. In 1999, the amount of salt and ammonium chloride was doubled due to problems with urinary calculi the previous year. Except for the increase in salt and ammonium chloride, the ration unchanged from that was used in the first two meat buck performance tests. The ration was fed free-choice during the adjustment period and during the 12-week test.
| Ingredient |
Percentage (as fed) |
| Cottonseed hulls |
29.07% |
| Alfalfa meal |
19.98% |
| Cottonseed meal |
15.99% |
| Ground corn |
15.99% |
| Wheat midds |
9.99% |
| Pellet Partner (binder) |
5.00% |
| Ammonium chloride |
1.00% |
| Yeast |
1.00% |
| Calcium Carbonate |
0.95% |
| Salt |
0.50% |
| Trace mineral salt |
0.50% |
| Vitamin A |
0.02% |
| Rumensin |
0.01% |
| TOTAL |
100.00% |
The crude protein content of the ration is 16% with 2.5% fat, 20.4% fiber and 60.6% TDN.Calcium phosphorus and sodium levels are .74%, .37% and 1.07%, respectively. Zinc concentration is 33.04 ppm, copper is 17.15 ppm and selenium is .21 ppm.
ABGA Approved Performance Test
In early 2000, the Oklahoma performance test was designated by the American Boer Goat Association Board of Directors as an ABGA Approved Performance Test. Qualified fullblood or purebred Boer bucks will be eligible to earn points towards entry into the "Ennobled Herd Book".Candidate bucks must pass a pre-performance test inspection conducted by one (1) or more ABGA approved breeders.
Ten (10) points will be awarded a Boer buck who shows an average daily weight gain (ADG) in the top five percent (5%) of the animals on test. Five (5) points will be awarded a Boer buck who shows an average daily weight gain (ADG) in the next fifteen percent (15%) of the animals on test.All bucks must gain at least three-tenths (.3) pounds per day to be awarded any points.
The Oklahoma performance test continues to grow and to serve the meat goat industry.
Gain
Average weight at the end of the test was 108.4 lbs. with a range of 68.3 to 152.0 lbs.Average gain for the test was 50.1 lbs. with a range of 24.2 to 74.9 lbs.
Average Daily Gain (ADG)
For the test, the bucks gained on averaged .60 lbs./day with a range from .29 lbs./day to .89 lbs./day.
Feed Efficiency
For the test, the bucks consumed an average of 308.1 lbs. of feed with a range of 143.7 lbs. to 470.7 lbs.For the test, the bucks averaged a feed efficiency of 6.30 (feed efficiency is defined as the number of lbs. of feed needed for one lbs. of gain), with a range of 3.98 to 11.71.
Muscling
The average loin eye area as determined by ultrasonography was 1.98 square inches with a range of 0.97 to 3.02 square inches and the average right rear leg circumference was 17.6 inches with a range of 13.0 to 22.5 inches.>
Index
For 2001, the index was calculated using the following parameters:
30% on efficiency (units of feed per units of gain)
30% on average daily gain
20% on area of longissimus muscle (loin) at the first lumbar site as measured by real time ultrasound adjusted by the goat's metabolic body weight:
[area of longissimus muscle (loin)] / BW0.75
20% circumference around the widest part of the hind right leg as measuredwith a tailor's tape adjusted by the goat's metabolic body weight:
[circumference of hind left leg] / BW0.75
The adjustment to metabolic body weight gives lighter weight goats a fair comparison of muscling to heavier goats.
The deviation from the average of the parameters measured from the goats in the performance test was used in the index calculation. Thus, the average index score for bucks on-test was 100%.Bucks that are above average have indexes above 100% and those below average have index scores below 100%.
Congratulations
The Oklahoma Meat Goat Association and the Agricultural Research and Extension Program at Langston University congratulate
- Mr. Marvin Shurley of Sonora, TX for having the Top-Indexing buck in the 2001 Oklahoma Meat Buck Performance Test
Also, deserving congratulations are:
- Mr. Tommy Morriss of Sonora, TX for having the #1 Fastest-Gaining buck
- Mr. Richard Williams of Stillwater, OK for having the #2 Fastest-Gaining buck
- Mr. Marvin Shurley of Sonora, TX for having the #3 Fastest-Gaining buck
- Mr. Marvin Shurley of Sonora, TX for having the #4 (tie) Fastest-Gaining buck
- Mr. Jim Rosenbaum of Gainesville, TX for having the #4 (tie) Fastest-Gaining buck
- Ms. Judy Hollis of Sonora, TX for having the Most-Feed-Efficient buck
- Mr. Marvin Shurley of Sonora, TX for having the Most-Heavily-Muscled buck
- Dr. Fred Homeyer of Robert Lee, TX for having the Best-Conformation-Boer buck.
Acknowledgments
The Buck Test supervisor wishes to acknowledge Dr. Lionel Dawson of Oklahoma State University for his contributions as the admitting and on-call veterinarian, Ms. Barbarina Costello for her management and oversight of the day-to-day activities, Mr. Jerry Hayes of Langston University for aid and supervision, Dr. Fred Ray of Oklahoma State University for conducting the ultrasound measurements for the lion eye area, Mr. Les Hutchens and his associates at Reproductive Enterprises, Inc. for conducting the breeding soundness exams, and Stillwater Milling for custom mixing the feed.
