Growth rate is assessed by average daily gain (ADG, lbs. per day) for the 100 day test period. Parasite resistance is determined by fecal egg count (eggs per gram of feces/epg) data: highest and average. Parasite resilience is measured by FAMACHA© eye anemia scores (1-5) and the number of anthelmintic treatments administered.
To rank or group the bucks, we are using a similar system as Oklahoma State University's forage-based buck test: gold, silver, and bronze levels of performance. The bucks must meet minimum standards for each evaluation criteria for each level of performance.
If a goat has superior growth performance, but doesn't meet the required standards for parasite resistance and/or parasite resilience, he is not considered a gold, silver or bronze level goat. And vice versa. Superior parasite resistance and resilience must also be accompanied by superior growth performance.
To be considered a gold level goat, bucks in this test must not have been dewormed or had a FAMACHA© score higher than 2. Their high and average fecal egg counts must not have been over 1,000 epg. They must have gained at least 0.20 lbs. (91 g) per day while on test (from June 20 until September 29).
Four bucks met the gold standard for performance: a Kiko buck consigned by John Smith (VA), a 75% Kiko buck consigned by Merritt Burke (DE), a Kiko buck consigned by Kendell Barnes (KY), and a 92% Kiko buck consigned by Don Smith (VA).
To be considered a silver level goat, a buck may have been dewormed one time, but his FAMACHA© score must not have exceeded 3. High and average egg counts must not have exceeded 1,500 epg. Bucks must have gained at least 0.15 lbs. (68 g) per day.
Four bucks met the silver standard for performance: a 75% Kiko buck consigned by Don Smith, a Kiko buck consigned by Jeanne Dietz-Band (MD), a Kiko cross buck consigned by Robie Robinson (VA), and a Kiko buck consigned by Kendell Barnes. The Robinson buck will not be in the sale.
To meet the bronze standard for performance, a buck may have been dewormed twice, but his FAMACHA© score must not have exceeded 3. High and average fecal egg counts must not have exceeded 2,000 eggs per gram. Bucks must have gained at least 0.13 lbs. (59 g) per day (the test average).
Two bucks met the silver standard for performance: a Kiko cross buck consigned by Robie Robinson and a Kiko buck consigned by Warren Barnes (MO).
An additional ten bucks will be chosen for the sale. Selection criteria will be similar. Some goats are not under consideration due to health problems or issues related to structure or reproductive soundness.
Download final rankings/groupings
Downoad list of top 10 performing bucks
On a spreadsheet, the colors gold, silver, and bronze do not show up well. As a result, they were replaced by blue (gold), red (silver), and yellow (bronze). If the cells all the way across are blue, then the goat is a blue (gold) level goat. If one cell is red or yellow, the goat is rated at the next lower level of performance.
If the cell on the spreadsheet is white, the goat did not meet the standards for gold, silver, or bronze performance levels. The blackened cells for fecal data indicate that this data is skewed due to multiple anthelmintic treatments.
Contact Susan Schoenian at (301) 432-2767 ext. 343 or sschoen@umd.edu if you need an explanation of how the data was calculated and the standards were set.
