Monday, July 18, 2016

Detailed Buck Report

Ninety-six (96) bucks started the Western Maryland Pasture-Based Meat Goat Performance Test on July 8. Ninety-four (94) of the bucks are Kiko. There are two crossbreds in the test. Starting weights ranged from 32.4 to 78.8 lbs. and averaged 49.6 ± 8.9 lbs. The median weight was 48.5 lbs.

At the start of the test, age ranged from 95 to 174 days and averaged 131.7 ± 22.9 days. The median age was 133.5 days, with an average birth date of February 10. The oldest buck in the test was born on January 1 and the youngest buck was born on March 20.

Birth type ranged from 1 (single) to 3 (triplet) and averaged 2.1 ± 0.4. The median birth type was 2 (twin). Type of rearing ranged from 1 to 3 and averaged 2.0 ± 0.4. The median type of rearing was 2 (twin). Birth weights ranged from 4.5 to 10.5 lbs. and averaged 7.1 ± 1.2 lbs. The median birth weight was 7.0 lbs. Birth weights were not adjusted.

98% of the bucks in test are Kiko.

Age at weaning ranged from 65 to 160 days and averaged 92 ± 15.4 days. April 2 was the earliest date any bucks were weaned. June 16 was the latest.  The average weaning date was May 14. The median was May 17. Weaning weights ranged from 28.2 to 65.0 lbs. and averaged 42.1 ± 7.4 lbs. The median weaning weight was 40.8 lbs.

All weaning weights were corrected to 90 days. Corrected 90-day weaning weights ranged from 25.3 to 59.5 lbs.and averaged 41.7 ± 7.6 lbs. The  median corrected 90-day weaning weight was 41.3 lbs. 

90-day (corrected) weaning weights were adjusted for sex, type of birth and rearing, and age of dam. Age of dam ranged from 1 (yearling) to 11 and averaged 4.2 ± 1.8 years. The median age of dam was 4.  The adjustment factor for sex was 0.9, as a buck is expected to grow faster than a doe (1.0) and a wether (0.97).

Adjusted 90-day weaning weights ranged from  26.9 to 63.2 lbs. and averaged 44.3 ± 7.7 lbs. The adjustment factors are from Texas A&M University (via IKGA).

The dams from 70 percent of the bucks in the test were supplemented with grain during lactation. Thirty percent of the bucks are from pasture-only enterprises. Ten percent of the bucks in the test were creep fed.


601's WDA was 0.505 on July 8.

Weight per day of age (WDA) was calculated for each buck in the test. WDA ranged from 0.186 to 0.574 lbs. per day and averaged 0.386 ± 0.083 lbs. per day.

Information contained in the detailed buck report is for informational purposes ONLY. The data from one buck cannot be compared to the data from another buck, as the environmental influences are not accounted for. The data from bucks in the same consignment can be compared, so long as those bucks are from the same contemporary group (fed, managed the same).

The purpose of the Western Maryland Pasture-Based Meat Goat Performance Test (and other central performance tests) is to remove all environmental influences by managing all bucks in the same manner. This way, the differences observed (measured) in the test can be attributed to genetics.

The 96 bucks in the Western Maryland Pasture-Based Meat Goat Performance Test are a contemporary group. Bucks on different farms are not.

Download Detailed Buck Report