Post on 26-May-2015
OPTIONS FOR FATTENING (FINISHING) MEAT GOATS
SUSAN SCHOENIANSheep & Goat SpecialistUniversity of Maryland ExtensionWestern Maryland Research & Education Centersschoen@umd.edu - www.sheepandgoat.com - www.acsrpc.org
Introduction• The goat industry is growing
worldwide.
• The U.S. goat industry has increased substantially in the past 20 years.
• The demand for goat products is increasing due to changing demographics and immigration patterns.
• There are many challenges to raising goats profitably, including fattening (finishing) goats for market.
Quality (finish) affects prices.
$70
$90
$110
$130
$150
$170
$190
27-36 kg kids, $ per head (weighted average)New Holland, Pennsylvania USA
April 1 -November, 4, 2013
• Superior muscling• Superior meat yield
Selection 1 Selection 2 Selection 3
• Average muscling• Medium meat yield
• Inferior muscling• Poor meat yield
USDA grades for live goats and goat carcasses
Grades are supposed to be independent of age, breed, sex, weight, and fat(?).
Nutrient requirements for 20 kg. Boer bucklings (NRC, 2007)
ADG, g/d DM, kg/d DMI, % TDN, kg/d % TDN CP, g/d % CP
0 0.67 3.3 0.33 49.2 43 6.4
25 0.75 3.7 0.37 49.3 58 7.7
100 0.72 3.6 0.48 66.7 103 14.5
150 0.64 3.2 0.56 87.5 133 20.1
200 0.72 3.6 0.64 88.9 163 22.6
250 0.80 4.0 0.71 88.8 194 24.2
Higher rates-of-gain are not possible
without some concentrate feeding.
Nutrient content of feedstuffs
Feedstuff % DM % CP % TDN
Energy concentrates 88-91 8-14 76-92
Protein concentrates 88-91 23-66 74-87
Grass hay 88-91 6-12 50-60
Legume hay 88-91 15-19 55-65
Fresh forage 24-29 14-18 61-67
Literature review
• Concentrate feeding increases average daily gain (ADG).
• Concentrate feeding increases dressing percentage, carcass weight, and carcass fatness.
• Concentrate feeding may reduce the percentage of trimmed retail cuts.
• Concentrate feeding may alter fatty acid composition.
• Higher quality forage will also improve goat performance and carcass quality.
Literature review
• The most important aspect of concentrate feeding is the cost: benefit ratio.
• There is a narrow opportunity for profit when feedlotting goats.
• Texas A&M researchers determined the most economical ration to be whole corn and a premix pellet, which must be ground to prevent sorting.
Literature review• The cost of gain can be
reduced by feeding on-farm diets, e.g. whole barley and a premix pellet.
• The cost of gain can be reduced by feeding by-product-based rations: e.g. distiller’s grains and soybean hulls.
• Fiber-based (soy hulls) diets may produce more economical gains than starch-based (corn) diets.
• The cost of gain can be reduced by finishing goats to a lighter weight.
• The cost of gain can be reduced feeding the same amount of feed over a longer period of time.
University of Maryland ExtensionPen vs. Pasture Studies
2011-2013
• N = 18• Intact males• Mixed breeds, but
mostly Kiko• From 7 farms• Avg. 20.1 3.5 kg
2011 2012 2013
• N = 30• Intact males• Mixed breeds, but
mostly Kiko• From 10 farms• Avg. 20.5 3.7 kg
• N = 30• Intact males• All Kiko• From 1 farm• Avg. 23.5 3.1 kg
Bucks were randomly assigned to two treatment groups: PEN or PASTURE.
PEN goats were housed in a 4.9 m2 zero-grazing pen.
PASTURE goats grazed alongside bucks in the
annual Western Maryland Pasture-based Meat Goat
Performance Test.
• First cuttingOrchardgrass hay(Dactylis glomerata L.)
• ~0.9 kg per day
2011 2012 2013
PEN goats were fed hay ad libitum.
• First cuttingOrchardgrass hay(Dactylis glomerata L.)
• ~0.9 kg per day
• Mostly 2nd cuttingOrchardgrass- alfalfa mixed hay
• ~1.1 kg per day
2011 2012 2013
PEN goats were limit-fed grain, once daily based on appetite.
• Commercial meat goat pellet (17% CP)
• $0.48 per kg• Max 0.73. kg per day
Avg. 0.45. kg per day
• 4 parts whole barley to 1 part 38% pellet
• $0.35 per kg• Max 0.68 kg per day• Avg. 0.55 kg per day
• Whole barley• $0.29 per kg• Max. 0.59 kg per day• Avg. 0.5 kg per day
• ~ 17 bucks per ha
2011 2012 2013
PASTURE goats were rotationally grazed among six 0.8-ha paddocks.
Cool season grasses comprised two-thirds of the grazing area (~3.4 ha).
• ~ 13 bucks per ha • ~ 19 bucks per ha
Tall fescue (MaxQ™)Festuca arundinacea
OrchardgrassDactylis glomerata L.
• Dwarf pearl milletPennisetum glaucum
2011 2012 2013
• Millet + brassicaPennisetum glaucum + Brassica napus x B. campestris
• Dwarf forage sorghumSorghum bicolor (BMR variety)
Warm season annuals comprised one-third of the grazing area (~1.6 ha).
Stomach worms
• Upon arrival, bucks were dewormed with drugs from 2-3 anthelmintic classes.
1) AlbendazoleValbazen @ 3 ml/23 kg
2) MoxidectinCydectin® 0.1% oral drench@ 2 ml/5 kg
3) LevamisoleProhibit® soluble drench (concentrated drench solution)@ 3 ml per 23 kg.
Coccidia
• Upon arrival, goats were treated for coccidiosis for five days in their water.
• 2011, 2012Amprolium (Corid)
• 2013Sulfadimethoxine (Di-Methox)
Internal parasite protocol
• Body weights• FAMACHA© scores (1-5)• Body condition scores (1-5)• Coat condition scores (1-3)• Dag scores (0-5)• Fecal consistency
scores (1-4)*• Fecal egg counts (EPG)• Treatments
Bi-weekly data End of test data
Carcass data
• Ultrasound rib eye• Ultrasound rib fatness• USDA grade*
• Hot carcass weight (HCW)• Cold carcass weight (CCW)• Dressing percentage (DP)• Rib eye area (REA)• Body wall thickness (BWT)• Leg circumference*• Kidney and heart fat (KH)
weight and percentage. • Fat weight and percentage• Bone weight and percentage• Lean weight and percentage• Boneless, fat-free yield• Fatty acid composition
* Started in 2013
• Pen-fed goats gained more and produced superior carcasses, yielding 5% more boneless, fat-free meat.
2011 2012 2013
• Pasture-raised goats
gained faster, but had
higher fecal egg counts and
FAMACHA© scores. There
were no differences in
carcass traits, including
yield.
• Pen-fed goats grew much
faster and had lower fecal
egg counts and lower
FAMACHA© scores. They
produced superior
carcasses, yielding almost
5% more boneless, fat-free
meat.
Results have varied by year.
Body weights (kg)
16.0
18.0
20.0
22.0
24.0
26.0
28.0
30.0
32.0
ADG: 105 vs. 52 g/d
2011
Fecal egg counts (EPG)
250
750
1250
1750
2250
2750
3250
3750
4250
2011
FAMACHA© scores (1-5)
1.3
1.5
1.7
1.9
2.1
2.3
2.5
2.7
2.9
2011
Live and carcass weights (kg)2011
End weight Hot carcass weight Cold carcass weight
Pasture 26 10.3 9.4
Pen 28.8 12.9 12.3
2.5
7.5
12.5
17.5
22.5
27.5
Carcass percentages2011
KH fat Total fat Bone Lean Yield Dressing
Pasture 0.014 0.021 0.423 0.548 0.198 0.394
Pen 0.026 0.043 0.372 0.579 0.245 0.444
5.0%
15.0%
25.0%
35.0%
45.0%
55.0%
16.0
18.0
20.0
22.0
24.0
26.0
28.0
Body weights (kg)
ADG: 83 vs. 68 g/d
2012
Fecal egg counts, epg
250
750
1250
1750
2250
2750
Tx = 11
2012
FAMACHA© scores (1-5)
1.3
1.5
1.7
1.9
2.1
2.3
2.5
2.7
Tx = 11
2012
Live and carcass weights (kg)
Live weight Hot carcass weight Cold carcass weight
Pasture 27.3 11.5 10.5
Pen 26.5 11.4 10.3
2.5
7.5
12.5
17.5
22.5
27.5
2012
Carcass percentages
KH fat Fat Yield Bone Lean Dressing
Pasture 0.015 0.0204 0.188 0.441 0.486 0.422
Pen 0.017 0.0244 0.187 0.442 0.483 0.429
2.5%
7.5%
12.5%
17.5%
22.5%
27.5%
32.5%
37.5%
42.5%
47.5%
2012
22.0
24.0
26.0
28.0
30.0
32.0
34.0
Body weights (kg)
ADG: 141 vs. 29 g/d
2013
Fecal egg counts (EPG)(pastures were pre-infected by sheep)
100
300
500
700
900
1100
1300
1500
1700Tx = 8
Tx = 12
Tx = 3 Tx = 1
Tx = 3
2013
FAMACHA© scores (1-5)
1.8
2.3
2.8
3.3
3.8 Tx = 8
Tx = 12
Tx = 3
Tx = 1
Tx = 3
Tx = all
2013
Live and carcass weights
Start weight End weight Hot carcass weight Cold carcass weight
Pen 48.3 74.5 32.4 29.9
Pasture 49.8 55.2 22.4 20
5.0
15.0
25.0
35.0
45.0
55.0
65.0
75.0
2013
Carcass percentages2013
KH fat Total fat Bone Lean Dressing Yield
Pen 0.011 0.023 0.351 0.555 0.435 0.223
Pasture 0.003 0.004 0.442 0.485 0.403 0.175
5.0%
15.0%
25.0%
35.0%
45.0%
55.0%
Economics of pen-feeding• Will vary by year and farm.• Will depend upon feed costs.• Will depend upon genetic potential of goats.• Will depend upon market prices.
• Pen-feeding was more profitable.
2011 2012 2013
• Pasture-rearing was more profitable.
• Pen-feeding was more profitable.
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
When pen feeding is most likely to be more profitable than pasture-rearing.
• Feedstuffs are competitively priced.• Pasture costs are high, due to high land values or rental rates.• Predator risk is high for pastured animals.• Internal parasite challenge is high for pastured animals.• Market prices are high and market pays a premium for higher
quality goats.• Goats have the genetic potential to perform on a moderate to
high plane of nutrition.
Tips for pen feeding goats
• Limit feed • If self-feeding, grind or
pellet feed to prevent sorting
• Feed plenty of forage (hay or pasture)
• Feed proper ratio of calcium to phosphorus/
• Vaccinate for overeating disease type D
• Feed goats that have good potential for growth.
Thank you for your attention. Questions?