Growth performance over the past 12 days was very good. On average, the goats gained 0.346 lbs. per day. Weight gain of individual goats varied from 0 to 0.75 lbs. per day. No goats lost weight. Sixteeen goats gained 0.5 lbs. per day or more.
Growth rate over the 70-day test period is 0.23 lbs. per day. The 56-day growth rate had declined to 0.21 due to the weight loss (-0.19 lbs./day) of most of the goats during the previous 14-day period (August 3-August 17).
FAMACHA© eye anemia scores ranged from 1 to 3 and averaged 1.94, an improvement from 12 days ago when they averaged 2.15. Body condition scores ranged from 2.0 to 3.25 and averaged 2.79, up slightly from 12 days ago when they averaged 2.71. No goats required anthelmintic treatment.
Up to this point, the goat with the best growth performance is a Kiko cross buck consigned by Don Smith, Back 60 Goat Farm, Charlottsville, VA. This 87-lb. buck is gaining 0.338 lbs. per day. He gained 0.417 lbs. per day during the past 12 days.
His FAMACHA© and body condition scores have always been better than the group average. His fecal egg count on July 6 was high at 2,050, but declined to 533 by August 3, 28 days later. Like most of the goats on test, he has not required deworming. He has remained healthy over the duration of the test and has not required any special treatment.
The pastures are rebounding due to recent rainfall. Last week, the research center received 3.2 inches of rain. Currently, the goats may selectively graze from 8 acres of pasture. A 2-acre field of chicory has been closed off to give it a chance to recover, which it is doing. The field of pearl millet was mowed and is regrowing.
Download August 29th report
