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Transcript of This presentation was given at the International Goat Symposium in Lindsay, Ontario, Canada on...
This presentation was given at the International Goat Symposium in
Lindsay, Ontario, Canada on September 19, 2007.
“Profits Through Genetics”
Genetic Improvement Through Central Buck Testing
Lessons and Opportunities
Susan SchoenianSheep and Goat Specialist
Western Maryland Research & Education CenterUniversity of Maryland Cooperative Extension
http://www.mdgoattest.blogspot.com
www.sheepandgoat.com
Which buck is “better?”
Yes, but what’s your average daily gain and how many
times have you been dewormed?
I’m a pretty boy!
You can’t judge a book by its cover.
The U.S. Meat Goat Industry Lags behind other
animal industries in the use of performance records.
Selection decisions are made primarily on the basis of appearance.
Methods of genetic improvement
On-farm performance record keeping
Adjusted weights, ratios, indexes
Central performance testing Ram, buck, bull, and boar tests Progeny
Central performance record keeping
BLUP -- EPD’s and EBV’s Across herd, across breed
Central Performance Testing "A central performance test is where animals from different herds are brought to one central
location where performance is recorded. The rationale is that observed differences are more likely due to genetic differences, which will be passed onto offspring, rather than environmental differences, which will not be passed onto offspring. The goal of a central performance test is to identify genetic differences among animals."
-- Dr. Dan Waldron, Texas A&M University
Western Maryland Pasture-Based Meat Goat Performance Test
Established in 2006 Up to 50 male goats Pasture-only diet1
Graze early-June through early-October (~112 days)
Collect data on growth, parasite resistance and resilience, and carcass merit.
12007 drought necessitated use of nutritional tubs and hay.
Resources for test Pasture
10-acre pasture system Divided into five 2-acre paddocks Cool season grass pastures: Max Q™
tall fescue, orchardgrass, and chicory. Warm season grass: field of pearl
millet added in 2007 (~1.5 additional acres).
Fencing Perimeter fencing: 6-strand,
high-tensile, electric. Interior fencing: 2 to 4 strand electric. Pearl millet fenced with electric netting.
Resources for test
Central laneway 3 port-a-hut shelters Two mineral feeders Water troughs Handling system with
work platform
Test requirements: goats Male goats (bucks or wethers) Any breed or cross Born between December 15 and March
15 Vaccinated two times for CD-T. Weaned for at least 2 weeks prior to
test. Hooves in condition to stand in foot bath. Free from contagious diseases. Appropriate size (weight) for age. National scrapie ID. Health papers.
Results: Participation
2006 2007
No. goats at start 35 48
No. goats at end 31 47
Bucks 31 40
Wethers 0 7
No. of consigners 8 10
No. of states 6 5
Kiko, Boer, Kiko x Boer, dairy x meat
Upon arrival to test site
Unload into handling system. Stand in footbath of zinc sulfate
for 10 minutes Secure in head gate on elevated
ramp for close inspection Collect fecal sample Determine FAMACHA© score Determine body condition score Deworm with Moxidectin Delouse, if necessary Treat for coccidiosis in water for
first three days of test
Test protocol/management
Managed as a single group on pasture.
Rotationally grazed. Checked 1 to 2 times
per day. Handled every two
weeks for data collection and general health monitoring.
Reports to consigners
Every 2 weeks Created a blog to
communicate with producers and anyone else interested in test.
http://mdgoattest.blogspot.com
Data collection Growth
Weigh every 14 days Parasite resilience
Determine FAMACHA© scores every 14 days
Evaluate body condition score every 14 days
Parasite resistance Collect fecal samples at 0, 28, and
56 days General health
Treat problems and note in records
Carcass merit Ultrasound scanning for backfat
thickness and rib eye area Scrotal circumference
Growth PerformanceAverage daily gain (ADG) – pounds (grams) per day
Goats are weighed every 14 days. Initially, they were
weighed every 28 days.
First two weeks serves as an adjustment period.
Results: growth performance
Growth Performance
40
45
50
55
60
65
70
75
80
June
9-1
0
June
22
-23
July
6-7
July
20
-21
Au
g 3-
4
Au
g 17
-18
Au
g 29
-31
Se
pt 1
2-1
5
Se
pt 2
9
po
un
ds
2006 2007
Average daily gain (ADG)
2006 – 0.190 lbs. (86 g) per day2007 – 0.235 lbs. (107 g) per day
Parasite resilience Ability to maintain production in the face of infection with parasites.
FAMACHA© scores every two weeks. 1,2 – do not deworm 4,5 – deworm with
moxidectin 3 - ?????
Previous scores Scores of other goats Body condition score Average daily gain Condition of hair coat
FAMACHA© scores estimate packed cell volume (PCV) [blood hematocrit.
Results: parasite resilience
20
1120
FAMACHA scores and anthelmintic treatments
0.0
0.5
1.0
1.5
2.0
2.5
3.0
3.5
Ju
ne
9-1
0
Ju
ne
22
-2
3
Ju
ly 6
-7
Ju
ly 2
0-2
1
Au
g 3
-4
Au
g 1
7-1
8
Au
g 2
9-3
1
Se
pt
12
-15
Se
pt
29
FA
MA
CH
A s
core
s (1
-5)
05101520253035404550
Num
ber
of g
oats
tre
ated
2006 No. goats treated 2007 No. goats treated
2006 FAMACHA scores 2007 FAMACHA scores
Anthelmintic treatments
2006 – 1.65 treatments per goat2007 – 0.09 treatments per goat
Parasite resistanceAbility of host to prevent infection
Fecal samples collected from rectum of each goat. 0 days 28 days 56 days 96 days (2007)
Fecal egg count (FEC) determined using modified McMaster technique.
Eggs per gram (EPG)
Results: parasite resistance
Fecal egg counts – eggs per gram
2006 2007
Low High Avg. Low High Avg.
Day 0 0 1150 308 0 5600 634
Day 28 0 2800 732 0 7857 1591
Day 56 0 1450 565 0 9400 1699
Day 96 0 3240 1005
General health and thriftiness Goats have been
treated for: Fever Respiratory
symptoms Ear infections Scours Bloat Lice
Zero tolerance for CLcaseous lymphadenitis
Goats with abscesses are isolated for testing or sent home.
Abscesses are lanced and tested.
Goats with CL are sent home or to market.
Goats with non-CL abscesses can return to the test.
Non-CL abscess
What it costs to run
Annual costs Fertilization program for
pasture Pasture renovation Fencing repairs Anthelmintics and other
medicine Fecal testing Ultrasound scanning Daily goat care Miscellaneous
Current funding Producers pay a testing fee
of $75 per goat $20 due at time of
nomination. Balance ($55) due when
goats are delivered to test site.
Grant funds have paid for shelters, handling system, some fencing, and two years of labor.
•In 2007, producers were able to consign additional goats for $30 per goat in order to meet the goal of having 50 goats in the test.•Two 4-H consigners paid a reduced fee of $50 per goat to have their goats tested.
Lessons: what we’ve learned
We can monitor performance better if we weigh the goats every 14 days vs. 28-day intervals.
We were deworming the goats too much the first year; FAMACHA© scores of 3 do not usually need dewormed.
The FAMACHA© system is an effective system for monitoring and controlling internal parasites (barber pole worm) in meat goat kids grazing summer pastures.
Challenges Must have the right person
taking care of the goats. The test needs to pay for
itself. Getting enough goats for test. Getting producers to
understand and use performance data when buying and/or selecting meat goats.
Opportunities
Most meat goat producers do not understand how to make genetic improvement in their herds.
Most meat goat producers do not value performance testing.
Most meat goat producers do not understand central performance testing.
Boer goat breeders are less interested in performance testing (on pasture) than Kiko breeders.
I’m not just a pretty
boy.
Opportunities It will take years to
develop this performance testing program and for it to gain acceptance among the widespread meat goat industry.
Thank you for your attention.
QUESTIONS?
http://mdgoattest.blogspot.com
http://www.sheepandgoat.com