West Virginia Meat Goat Evaluation

The trial run of a Meat Goat Performance Test was conducted this summer at the West Virginia University Reymann Memorial Farm in Wardensville.

Twenty-four (24) Boer cross bucks were evaluated using the GrowSafe™ system, which includes a series of feeding stations that only one animal can use at a time. Each animal receives a RFID tag, which enables the computer system to record when and how much it ate. At the end of the test, system users can determine each individual animal's feed efficiency.

The bucks were evaluated over a 53-day test period. Average daily gain for the entire test ranged form 0.46 to 1.12 lbs. per day for a group average of 0.66 lbs. per day. There was some difficulty with the bucks getting their horns stuck in the feeder.

The West Virginia Sheep Management Project is evolving into the West Virginia Small Ruminant Project, to include meat goats.

Source: News Ewe Can Use, Fall 2006