Using grain to improve goat carcass quality and value
Susan Schoenian and Jeff SemlerUniversity of Maryland Extension
Thank you for your support of the 2012 pen vs. pasture study.
I like grain!
Pen-fed (n=15) Pasture-fed (n=15)
• Maintained on pasture• Pasture only diet
Warm and cool season grasses and forbs
• No supplemental feed
• Maintained in dry lot• Free choice grass hay• Fed grain once per day
(4 parts whole barley: 1 part 36% CP pellet)
Growth rate – average daily gain (ADG)
0.183 vs. 0.149 lbs./day2.85 lbs. over 84 days
Worm status
11 goats dewormed
0 goats dewormed
Live grade and carcass yield
Meat Quality (last year’s data)Longissimus dorsi had 1.3% intramuscular fat and 23.3% protein.
Even when there are differences in fatty acid content, the differences are not likely relevant to the human diet.
Palmitic acid 16-0
Stearic acid 18-0
Oleic acid 18-1, cis-9
0.05.0
10.015.020.025.030.035.0
Grams per 100 grams of fat
Pasture Pen
a a a aa
b
Good SFABad SFA Good MUFA
Economics
Advantage to pen-fed goatsGrowth+ 2.85 lbs. @ $1.60/lb. = + $4.56Feed costs$14.05 (pen) - $7.81 (pasture) = + $6.24Additional profit$4.56 + $6.24 = $10.80/goat$10.80 x 15 goats = $162 total
On the other handThe cost of parasite control and any death losses (due to parasites) would have offset the advantage exhibited by the pasture-fed goats.
We’d like to repeat the study . . . Why?
• Results in 2011 and 2012 were opposite.
• We’d like to correct the possible biases in the study.– Equalize groups of goats – Use same scale for weighing
• Feed a different ration to the pen-fed goats.– Mixed hay + whole barley
• Regardless of the comparison, we’d like to determine if pen feeding can be a viable method for raising market goats.
Thank you Maryland Grain Producers!
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