Nominations for the 2009 West Virginia Buck (and Ram) Performance Test are due April 1. Bucks are to be delivered to the WVU Reymann Memorial Farm (near Wardensville) between 8:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Monday, April 20. The test will conclude on July 1, and there will be a sale on July 25.
To be eligible, bucks must be born between January 1, 2009, and February 20, 2009, inclusive. A maximum of 30 bucks will be accepted.
For more information, contact Brad Smith at Brad.Smith@mail.wvu.edu or 304/257-4688 or Sara Hare at Sara.Hare@mail.wvu.edu or 304/874-3561.
The West Virginia test is the only performance test utilizing residual feed intake data as a measure of feed efficiency in small ruminants. Residual feed intake is actual minus (-) expected feed intake (based on size and growth potential).
Download 2009 Guidelines
Monday, February 16, 2009
Friday, February 6, 2009
Forms updated
The forms for the Western Maryland Pasture-Based Meat Goat Performance test have been updated for 2009 and may be downloaded from the blog.
Potential consigners may also request a nomination packet from Susan Schoenian at 18330 Keedysville Road, Keedysville, MD 21756, tel. (301) 432-2767 x343, or sschoen@umd.edu.
Potential consigners may also request a nomination packet from Susan Schoenian at 18330 Keedysville Road, Keedysville, MD 21756, tel. (301) 432-2767 x343, or sschoen@umd.edu.
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Preliminary survey results
So far, 46 people from 16 states have completed the goat test online survey, including 18 consigners, 17 potential consigners, and 15 potential buck buyers. 67 percent classify themselves as commercial for-profit goat producers. 48 percent are Boer breeders. 41 percent are Kiko breeders. 45 percent breed crossbred meat goats.
The traits most valued by the survey takers are parasite resistance (fecal egg counts), 85%; parasite resilience (FAMACHA© eye anemia scores and number of anthelmintic treatments), 84%; and growth on pasture, 78%. 89% of those surveyed think that the test places the appropriate amount of emphasis on parasite traits.
70 percent of survey takers do not think hay should be fed to the goats on pasture, unless there is a drought. 48 percent of survey takers are in favor of nutritional tubs. The remaining survey takers are split between nutritional tubs being used if there is a drought and not being in favor of nutrititional tubs at all.
If you have not completed the goat test survey yet, please do so and ask other meat goat producers to take the survey. The url for the survey is http://www.surveyshare.com/survey/take/?sid=81688.
The traits most valued by the survey takers are parasite resistance (fecal egg counts), 85%; parasite resilience (FAMACHA© eye anemia scores and number of anthelmintic treatments), 84%; and growth on pasture, 78%. 89% of those surveyed think that the test places the appropriate amount of emphasis on parasite traits.70 percent of survey takers do not think hay should be fed to the goats on pasture, unless there is a drought. 48 percent of survey takers are in favor of nutritional tubs. The remaining survey takers are split between nutritional tubs being used if there is a drought and not being in favor of nutrititional tubs at all.
If you have not completed the goat test survey yet, please do so and ask other meat goat producers to take the survey. The url for the survey is http://www.surveyshare.com/survey/take/?sid=81688.
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