As part of the day's activities, the 11 top-performing bucks from the 2009 Western Maryland Pasture-Based Meat Goat Performance Test were offered for sale via silent auction. The sale also included does that had been nominated by consigners to the test.
The top-performing buck of the test (a purebred Kiko), consigned by Craig Adams from Litchfield, Illinois, was purchased for $750. The buyer was Luke Miller from Huntington, Indiana. The other buck (another purebred Kiko) that met the gold standards for performance and was consigned by John Smith from Petersburg, Virginia, sold to Craig Adams for $825.
The top-selling buck was a purebred Kiko consigned by Craig Adams. It was purchased by Wood Field Farm of Pittstown, New Jersey for $1,050. The nine performance-tested bucks sold for an average price of $514. Excluding the top-selling buck, eight bucks averaged $447.Nineteen Kiko and Boer does sold for an average price of $269. The top-selling doe was a purebred Kiko consigned by John Smith. It sold for $575. Smith sold another purebred Kiko doe for $525. The buyer of both of the top-selling does was Wood Field Farm.
Craig Adams was presented with awards for having the top-performing buck and top consignment of bucks (best three) in the 2009 test. John Smith was in close contention for both awards. Jeanne Dietz-Band received an award for having the top-performing Maryland buck. Her buck was amongst the top 11.During the field day portion of the day, Dr. Richard Browning, a research animal scientist from Tennessee State University gave presentations on meat goat breed comparisons and on-farm meat goat performance testing.
The field day also hosted a goat skillathon. Twenty-eight youth participated. Youth from Berkeley County, West Virginia, and Howard County did especially well. Tara Burner was the first place intermediate. Ashley Butler was the first place senior. Kameron Dorsey from Frederick County was the first place junior.
Ten bucks still remain at the test site. They will be harvested on October 16 to collected carcass data. They were checked today to determine any need for deworming.Thanks to all the consigners and buyers and everyone who helped with the test, sale, field day, and skillathon.
