2008 Oklahoma Commercial Meat Goat Forage Performance Test

Kerr Center for Sustainable Agriculture, Inc.
In partnership with Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service

Rules, Regulations and Protocol

Objective:
To identify individual bucks as well as their sires and dams that carry genetics expressing strong traits important in commercial meat goat production. Additionally, this test will allow breeders to compare genetics within their herd to make better management decisions as to herd lines that will produce profitable progeny for future herds. This test will also provide valuable information for all goat producers and the public.

Dates:
Check-in: June 27, 2008 (Friday) 8am-7pm
Warm-up: June 28, 2008- July 13, 2008 (approximately 2 weeks)
Test Period: July 14, 2008- October 24, 2008 (105 days)
Performance Sale, Field Day & Awards: October 25, 2008

Entry Requirements:

1. A producer group will consist of 1 or more bucks (maximum of 6) that were born between February 1, 2008 and April 15, 2008. All breeds and crossbreds are accepted.
2. To be considered for the Herdsman Award you must have a group of 3 or more bucks.
3. Bucks must weigh a minimum of 35lbs at check-in.
4. Bucks should be at least 14-days weaned, had a minimum of 1 de-worming and 1 CDT vaccination 4 weeks prior to entry, and have their feet trimmed.
5. Bucks must be tagged with a scrapie tag from their state of origin. No exceptions.
6. All out of state bucks must be accompanied by an official inter-state health certificate and in compliance with all Oklahoma shipment requirements.  For information: Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food & Forestry, and (405) 522-6142.
7. Entry fee of $120 per buck will be required to secure a position within the test. The entry fee will cover feed supplementation, medication, wormer, routine veterinarian services and other test costs.
8. Producers will be responsible for all vet fees incurred in the case of treatment for serious injury, disease or necropsy (in the case of death).

Test Protocol:

1. Bucks will be given a thorough examination by a veterinarian at check-in. Goats showing signs of sore mouth, CL, foot rot or other communicable disease will not be allowed to enter the test.
2. Bucks will receive a CDT vaccine, worming, fecal test, FAMACHA score and an ear tag with test ID at the time of check-in.
3. Bucks that display symptoms of disease or illness during the test will be held in quarantine (on forage) until it is determined by the Test Manager or either the Test Veterinarian or On-Site Veterinarian that they may re-enter the general population or must leave the test.
4. Low performing bucks may need to be removed from the test. This decision will be made by the Test Manager in consultation with the producer.
5. Every effort will be made to accommodate the producer if a buck must leave the test.
6. In the case death, a full necropsy will be performed by the On-Site Veterinarian at the expense of the owner.  
7. Sufficient forage will be provided for the bucks to perform up to their genetic potential. A feed supplement containing protein, vitamins, minerals and other additive ingredients will be provided as needed to maximize the utilization of forage.
8. Bucks that score a 4 or 5 on the FAMACHA scale will be de-wormed.
9. All decisions made by the Test Manager, Test Veterinarian and On-Site Veterinarian will be final.
10. Test results will be determined by average daily gain (ADG) and fecal egg count.

Results:

1. Buck ranking within the test will be classified on a scale of Gold, Silver and Bronze.
   • Gold - Bucks must have an average daily gain of .25lbs per day or better and their fecal egg count can never be above 750 during the test. Cannot be dewormed at any point during the test.
   • Silver - Bucks must have an average daily gain of .21lbs per day or better and their fecal egg count can never be above 1,000 during the test. Cannot be dewormed at any point during the test.
   • Bronze - Bucks must have an average daily gain of .17lbs per day or better and their fecal egg count can never be above 1250 during the test. Cannot be dewormed at any point during the test.
2. All bucks ranked gold, silver, or bronze can be sold in the performance sale at the end of the test.
3. To compete for Grand Champion Herdsman, each producer must enter 3 or more bucks. This award will be determined by the average of gold, silver and bronze bucks for each producer.

Educational Information

1. A summary sheet containing all data collected for the bucks will be supplied to each producer. A test summary with forage, weather and other important information will also be distributed.
2. A Field Day will be held at the test site on October 25, 2008 to view the bucks, tour the forage test and discuss performance on forage for the meat goat industry. Additionally, awards will be given to the top performers.
3. All test data and results will be made public.

Information collected on individual bucks:

Breed
Birth Date
Sire (Optional)
Dam (Optional)
Beginning Weight
Midpoint Weight
Final Weight
Average Daily Gain
All FAMACHA Scores
Scrotal Circumference
Medical Records

Technical Advisory Committee

Test Agronomist- Chris Rice, OCES Southeast District Agronomist
Test Nutritionist- Jack Wallace, OCES Southeast District Animal Nutritionist
Test Veterinarian- Dave Sparks, OCES Area Food-Animal Quality and Health Specialist
Leflore County Educator- Brian Freking

Test Staff

Test Manager- Mary Penick, Kerr Center Livestock Specialist
Test Herdsman- Andy Makovy, Kerr Center Livestock Herdsman

On-Site Veterinarian

Leon Mitchell, DVM

Care Contract

Download Nomination Form

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