The 2012 Western Maryland Pasture-Based Meat Goat Performance Test officially ended today. The goats were weighed for the second consecutive day. Today's weight was averaged with yesterday's weight to determine the final weight. There was very little difference in the two weights: 58.0 ± 9.0 vs. 57.9 ± 9.1 lbs. Forty-seven bucks ended the test weighing an average of 57.9 lbs. ± 910 lbs. Final weights ranged from 34 to 78 lbs. The median was 58 lbs.
As a group, the goats did not gain any meaningful weight during this last weigh period (August 22 - September 6). Weight gain ranged from -5 to 6 lbs. and averaged 0.5 ± 2.2 lbs. The median gain was 0. Average daily gain (ADG) ranged from -0.333 to 0.400 lbs. per day and averaged 0.031 ± 0.147 lbs. per day. The median ADG was zero. For the final 15 days of the test, the goat with the highest ADG was #8, a Kiko buck consigned by Tim & Lisa Blackaby (KY).
For the 84-day duration of the test, ADG ranged from -0.018 to 0.250 and averaged 0.137 ± 0.056 lbs. per day. The median gain was 0.137 lbs. per day. Only one goat failed to gain weight, as it had become sick towards the end of the test. The top-gaining goat was #29, a Kiko x Boer buck consigned by Randy & Jodie Majancsik (KY).
The second best rate-of-gain was achieved by another Majancsik buck, #24, a Kiko. It gained 0.220 lbs. per day. Sam Burke (DE) consigned a pair of bucks that gained over 0.20 lbs. per day. In last year's test, ADG was slightly less, averaging 0.124 ± 0.058 lbs. per day. The top buck gained 0.235 lbs. per day.
FAMACHA© scores continued to improve. They ranged from 1 to 4 and averaged 2.3 ± 0.6, compared to 2.6 on August 30 and 2.8 on August 22. Only two goats had FAMACHA© scores of 4. Eleven goats were dewormed with levamisole (Prohibit® @ 3 ml/50 lbs.), primarily as a precaution for the test ending. A few goats had positive dag scores, indicative of past or present scouring (diarrhea). Body condition and coat condition scores remained relatively unchanged.
Fecal samples were collected for the final time. Results of the fecal analyses should be available early next week for incorporation into the data set and final selection of the sale bucks. A fecal egg count above 2,000 epg can still disqualify a buck from the sale. Bucks that fail to qualify for the Gold, Silver, or Bronze standards of performance for growth, parasite resistance, and parasite resilience may still be sold via private treaty.
Download September 7 report (d-84) (updated)
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| #29 (Majancsik) was the top-gaining goat in the '12 test. |
As a group, the goats did not gain any meaningful weight during this last weigh period (August 22 - September 6). Weight gain ranged from -5 to 6 lbs. and averaged 0.5 ± 2.2 lbs. The median gain was 0. Average daily gain (ADG) ranged from -0.333 to 0.400 lbs. per day and averaged 0.031 ± 0.147 lbs. per day. The median ADG was zero. For the final 15 days of the test, the goat with the highest ADG was #8, a Kiko buck consigned by Tim & Lisa Blackaby (KY).
For the 84-day duration of the test, ADG ranged from -0.018 to 0.250 and averaged 0.137 ± 0.056 lbs. per day. The median gain was 0.137 lbs. per day. Only one goat failed to gain weight, as it had become sick towards the end of the test. The top-gaining goat was #29, a Kiko x Boer buck consigned by Randy & Jodie Majancsik (KY).
The second best rate-of-gain was achieved by another Majancsik buck, #24, a Kiko. It gained 0.220 lbs. per day. Sam Burke (DE) consigned a pair of bucks that gained over 0.20 lbs. per day. In last year's test, ADG was slightly less, averaging 0.124 ± 0.058 lbs. per day. The top buck gained 0.235 lbs. per day.
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| Jill Zink's pair of Fullblood Boer bucks |
FAMACHA© scores continued to improve. They ranged from 1 to 4 and averaged 2.3 ± 0.6, compared to 2.6 on August 30 and 2.8 on August 22. Only two goats had FAMACHA© scores of 4. Eleven goats were dewormed with levamisole (Prohibit® @ 3 ml/50 lbs.), primarily as a precaution for the test ending. A few goats had positive dag scores, indicative of past or present scouring (diarrhea). Body condition and coat condition scores remained relatively unchanged.
Fecal samples were collected for the final time. Results of the fecal analyses should be available early next week for incorporation into the data set and final selection of the sale bucks. A fecal egg count above 2,000 epg can still disqualify a buck from the sale. Bucks that fail to qualify for the Gold, Silver, or Bronze standards of performance for growth, parasite resistance, and parasite resilience may still be sold via private treaty.
Download September 7 report (d-84) (updated)
