No gain
Due to poor pasture conditions, it was no surprise that the goats simply maintained their weight over the previous two-week period. Weight gain ranged from -4 to + 4 lbs. and averaged 0.16 lbs. Average daily gain (ADG) ranged from -0.286 to +0.286 lbs. per day and averaged 0.011 lbs. per day. On the positive side, no goat lost significant weight. John Smith (VA) had two goats that gained 4 lbs. over the past two weeks.
For the first 56 days of the test, average daily gain has ranged from -0.036 to 0.411 lbs. per day and averaged 0.13 lbs. per day. The top-gaining buck remains the #2 buck consigned by Craig Adams (IL). John Smith and Wes Pinneo (KS) both have bucks that have gained 0.321 lbs. per day. All of the top-gaining bucks are Kiko.
Last Thursday's FAMACHA© scores ranged from 1 to 3 and averaged 1.8. None of the goats required anthelmintic treatment. Body condition scores declined slightly from two weeks ago, from 2.5 to 2.3. Coat condition scores were virtually unchanged. Dag scores improved a half score, from 1.7 to 1.1, as very few goats showed signs of scours.
July 29 FECs
Fecal egg counts from the samples collected on July 29 ranged from 0 to 3,350 eggs per gram. Only six goats had fecal egg counts above 1,000 epg. Only two goats had fecal egg counts above 2,000 epg.
According to the August 2010 issue of Turning the Worm (an Australian newsletter), the pathogenic burden of the barber pole worm is 2,000 epg. At the beginning of July, the worm burden at the test site was 100 percent Haemonchus (barber pole worm).
Seventeen of the fecal samples contained no strongyle (round/stomach) worm eggs. While the dry weather is not conducive to the development of the barber pole worm, close grazing may result in some goats consuming higher amounts of infective worm larvae.
The goats still have access to protein tubs and a round bale of hay. They will be worked next on Wednesday, August 25, a day early, due to state fair commitments among several members of the goat team.
