According to the December 2012 issue of Goat Rancher magazine, the buck performance tests in Oklahoma (Kerr Center) and Western Illinois are being shut down. In recent years, buck performance tests at Fort Valley State University (Georgia) and Langston University (Oklahoma) were also cancelled.
In contrast, University of Maryland Extension remains committed to meat goat performance testing. In fact, the test facilities are being enhanced for 2013, with the construction of new fencing, the addition of a hoop house, and the purchase of a new work platform/digital scale.
The Western Maryland Pasture-Based Meat Goat Performance Test has always been unique in that pasture provides the sole source of nutrition to the goats on test. An extensive amount of data is collected on each buck in the test, with special emphasis on identifying bucks with documented resistance and resilience to internal parasites (primary the barber pole worm).
The nomination period for the 2013 test is April 1- May 15. If nominations exceed the carrying capacity of the test, preference will be given to previous consigners and Maryland residents. Nomination forms and other documents pertaining to the test will be posted to this blog (right hand column) after January 1.
The top-performing bucks from the 2013 Western Maryland Pasture-Based Meat Goat Performance Test will be sold at an Elite Buck Sale, to be held Saturday, September 21 in Chatham, Virginia. The sale will be part of a larger event for meat goat and hair sheep producers. On August 1, there will be a Twilight Goat Meeting at the test site.
Contact Susan Schoenian at (301) 432-2767 x343 or sschoen@umd.edu for more information about the Maryland test. If you are a previous or potential consigner or buck buyer, feel free to complete this survey about the test: http://www.surveyshare.com/s/AQA4NKA.
In contrast, University of Maryland Extension remains committed to meat goat performance testing. In fact, the test facilities are being enhanced for 2013, with the construction of new fencing, the addition of a hoop house, and the purchase of a new work platform/digital scale.
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| A couple of bucks from last year's test and sale. |
The Western Maryland Pasture-Based Meat Goat Performance Test has always been unique in that pasture provides the sole source of nutrition to the goats on test. An extensive amount of data is collected on each buck in the test, with special emphasis on identifying bucks with documented resistance and resilience to internal parasites (primary the barber pole worm).
The nomination period for the 2013 test is April 1- May 15. If nominations exceed the carrying capacity of the test, preference will be given to previous consigners and Maryland residents. Nomination forms and other documents pertaining to the test will be posted to this blog (right hand column) after January 1.
The top-performing bucks from the 2013 Western Maryland Pasture-Based Meat Goat Performance Test will be sold at an Elite Buck Sale, to be held Saturday, September 21 in Chatham, Virginia. The sale will be part of a larger event for meat goat and hair sheep producers. On August 1, there will be a Twilight Goat Meeting at the test site.
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| A couple of Kiko bucks from last year's test. |
Contact Susan Schoenian at (301) 432-2767 x343 or sschoen@umd.edu for more information about the Maryland test. If you are a previous or potential consigner or buck buyer, feel free to complete this survey about the test: http://www.surveyshare.com/s/AQA4NKA.
