This presentation was given at the International Goat Symposium in Lindsay, Ontario, Canada on September 19, 2007. Profits Through Genetics.

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