Presentation at the 2016 AKGA conference in Ohio.

1. SUSAN SCHOENIAN
Sheep & Goat Specialist
University of Maryland Extension
sschoen@umd.edu
http://mdgoattest.blogspot.com

2. The role of central performance tests
“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 In a central performance test, you can only compare
animals in the test to each other (not to animals in
other test years or on other farms).

3. Purpose of Western Maryland Pasture-
Based Meat Goat Performance Test
 To have a common environment and
unbiased evaluation of economically-
important traits of potential meat goat
sires.
 To evaluate the post-weaning growth
performance of bucks and evaluate their
resistance and resilience to gastro-
internal parasites, primarily the barber
pole worm.
 To offer an alternative to traditional feed
and pen-based performance tests.
 To promote the use of performance-
tested bucks in the meat goat industry.

4. Location
 Western Maryland Research &
Education Center
Keedysville, Maryland
 One of several regional research
& education centers affiliated
with University of Maryland.
 500 acre farm

5. Test site ~12.5 acres

6. Pasture resource
Paddock Size 2016 forage species
A 2 acres
Cool season perennials
MaxQ™ tall fescue
Orchardgrass
B 2 acres
C 1 acre
D 2 acres Warm season annuals
BMR pearl millet
Sunn Hemp
Cow peas
Rape
Chicory
E 2 acres
F 1 acre
G 2.5 acres
Silvopasture
MaxQ™ tall fescue

7. Supplemental feeding
 From 2006 until 2014 (midway through test), goats
did not receive any supplemental feed other than
free choice minerals.
 In 2014 and 2015, pooled fecal samples were
submitted to the Grazing Animal Nutrition (GAN)
Lab in Temple, Texas, to determine diet quality
(prior 36-48 hours).
 NIRS data showed that goats’ diet was likely
deficient in energy; for cattle, a DOM/CP ratio of
less than 4 is outside the ratio for positive rumen
efficiency.
 Starting second half of 2014 test, goats have received
supplemental feed while grazing.
 2014, 2015 - soy hull pellets (up to 1 lb. per head)
 2016 - whole barley will be fed (up to 1 lb. per head)

8. In 2015, supplementation seemed
to improve resilience to internal parasites.
1.5
1.7
1.9
2.1
2.3
2.5
2.7
2.9
0
500
1000
1500
2000
2500
3000
Arrival 0 14 28 42
FEC 2015
FEC 2014
FAMACHA
2015
FAMACHA
2014
Through d-42
2014 - 17 Tx
2015 - 5 Tx
Due to nutritional
supplementation
(?)

9. Central laneway
 Hoop house (48 x 30 ft)
 Handling system
 Port-a-hut shelters
 Treatment pen
 Mineral feeders
 Water
 Environmental enrichment
 Isolation pen (outside of pasture)
 Pen for feeding (16 x 16 ft)

10. Handling
 Test utilizes DS Livestock Equipment
corrals and handling system with
elevated work deck (Billy Buster) and
weigh platform.
 Aim to use low-stress livestock
handling techniques (minimal
handling by horns).
 Starting in 2016, goats will be
weighed first, released, and run
through handling system a second
time for scoring.

11. Eligibility: people
 Open to goat producers from any
state, who may consign up to five
goats to test.
 Minimum of 2 recommended
 Half sibs recommended.
 If nominations exceed test capacity,
preference is given to Maryland
producers (not many) and previous
consigners, without excluding new
consigners.

12. Eligibility: goats
 Goats may be of any breed or breed
cross, with or without registration or
eligibility.
 They must have been born between
January 1 and March 15 and weigh 40-70
lbs. upon delivery to the test site.
 They must have been vaccinated twice
for CDT and have been weaned for at
least two weeks.
 Health papers and official scrapie ID are
required.
 Zero tolerance for abscesses.

13. Timeline
 Nomination period: April 15-June 1
 Nominations packets mailed to previous consigners
(past two years and upon request).
 All pertinent documents can be downloaded from blog at
http://mdgoattest.blogspot.com
 $20 per head nomination fee (usually refundable)
 All nominations received by deadline are treated equally.
 Deliver to test site: end of June (June 24, 2016)
 Adjustment period:
Test starts after 13 day adjustment period (July 7)
 Test lasts for 84 days (ends September 30, 2016)
 At end of test, goats must be picked up or test will facilitate
commercial sale (no longer sale of top-performing bucks).

14. Protocol: upon arrival
 Stand in footbath of zinc sulfate
 Weighed
 Scored (FAMACHA©, BCS, etc.)
 Health check, e.g. abscesses, lice
 Sequentially dewormed
moxidectin + albendazole + levamisole
 Given injection of antibiotic (LA-200®)
 Ear tagged
 Vaccinated for soremouth
 Treated (in water) for coccidiosis (for 5 days)

15. Weighing
 Goats are weighed upon arrival.
 After a 13-day adjustment period, starting
weights are determined.
 Goats are weighed bi-weekly.
 Ending weights are determined on day-84.
 Goats are weighed two days in a row to
determine starting and ending weights
(average of two weights).
 Starting in 2016, all goats will be weighed
before any scoring, treatment, or fecal
sampling.

16. Scoring
 Upon arrival and every two weeks,
goats are scored for the following:
1. FAMACHA© score (1-5)
2. Body condition score (BCS, 1-5)
3. Coat score (1-3)
4. Dag score (0-5)
5. Fecal consistency score (1-4)
 Scoring is done by same person.

17. Fecal samples
 Fecal samples (2-4 g) are collected from the
rectum of each goat.
 Upon arrival and every two weeks.
 Two attempts are made to collect fecal
samples from individual goats.
 Pooled fecal samples are collected upon
arrival (each consignment) and every 4
weeks (random) for coproculture (larvae ID).
 Fecal analysis is done by Dr. Dahlia O’Brien’s
lab at Virginia State University (previously
Delaware State University and the University
of Georgia (larvae ID).

18. Deworming protocol
 Goats with FAMACHA© scores of
4 or 5 are dewormed.
 Goats with FAMACHA© scores of
1 or 2 are not dewormed.
 Goats with FAMACHA© scores of
3 may or may not be dewormed.

19. Deworming protocol: FAMACHA© 3
 The decision to deworm goats with FAMACHA© scores of 3 is based on
criteria of the Five Point Check®.
1. FAMACHA© score
2. Bottle jaw (sub-mandibular edema)
3. Body condition score (BCS, 1-5)
4. Dag score (0-5)
5. Coat condition (1-3)
 Goats with FAMACHA© scores of 3 will also be dewormed if they have one of
more of the following risk factors
1. Weight loss
2. Decline in FAMACHA© score
3. Last (2 weeks ago) FEC > 2000 epg
4. Scours (fecal consistency score of 1/4)
5. > 10% test goats with FAMACHA© scores of 4 or 5
 Beginning in 2016, goats with FAMACHA© scores of 3 will be dewormed if
they lose more than 0.1 lbs. during the previous 2 week period.

20. Protocol: near end of test
 Ultrasound scanning
 Loin eye area
 Loin depth
 Back fat
 Visual appraisal
 Structural correctness
 Conformation
 Feet and legs
 Hooves (growth and abnormalities)
 Mouth (bite)
 Reproductive soundness
 Scrotal circumference
 Teat number and structure
 USDA grade (Selection 1, 2, 3)

21. Top-performing bucks
Top-10 or Gold, Silver, Bronze-performing bucks
Selection criteria Gold Silver Bronze
High fecal egg count < 1000 epg < 1500 epg < 2000 epg
Average fecal egg count < 500 epg < 750 epg < 1000 epg
FAMACHA© score < 3 < 3 < 3
# dewormings 0 0 < 1
Average daily gain (ADG) varies varies ADG ratio > 100
No structural or soundness issues. No health treatments.
SC, teats, and ultrasound data for informational purposes only.

22. Information and communication
 Meat Goat Test Blog
http://mdgoattest.blogspot.com
 Meat Goat Test listserv
listserv@listserv.umd.edu
subscribe meatgoattest
 E-mail group (consigners only)
 Information sent via mail upon
request.

23. Participation
Year No.
goats
No.
consigners
No.
states
2006 31 9 5
2007 47 11 7
2008 57 20 10
2009 60 17 11
2010 72 20 12
2011 81 23 11
2012 49 20 10
2013 81 23 11
2014 77 23 11
2015 84 25 12
2016 100 36 17
739 100 20

24. Participation: Five or more years
counting 2016 nominations
Consigner State # years # bucks
John Smith Virginia 10 41
Kendall & Dana Barnes Kentucky 9 35
Sam Burke* Delaware 8 37
Jarred Dennison Kentucky 7 33
Jeanne Dietz-Band Maryland 6 33
Wes Pinneo Kansas 6 26
Waldo Nelson Maryland 6 20
Craig Adams Illinois 5 26
P.J. Murphy New Jersey 5 23
Don Smith Virginia 5 27
Mike Renick West Virginia 5 16

25. Results
Year Top performing buck Top consigner
2006 Not awarded Jeanne Dietz-Band (Maryland)
2007 Not awarded Don Smith (Virginia)
2008 Kendall & Dana Barnes (Kentucky) John Smith (Virginia)
2009 Craig Adams (Illinois) Craig Adams
2010 Craig Adams Craig Adams
2011 Sam Burke (Delaware) Luke Miller (Indiana)
2012 Jodie & Randy Majanczik (Kentucky) Sam Burke (Delaware)
2013 Kendall & Dana Barnes
John Weber (Illinois)
Sam Burke
2014 Jodie & Randy Majanczik
Brent Ballinger (Kentucky)
Jodie & Randy Majanczik
2015 Jodie & Randy Majanczik David Peters (North Carolina)

26. Average fecal egg counts

27. Average daily gain (lbs./day)

28. Famacha© scores and treatments

29. Multi-state, multi-institutional
The “Goat Team” Support
 SUSAN SCHOENIAN
Sheep & Goat Specialist
Western Maryland Research & Education Center
 JEFF SEMLER
Agricultural Extension Agent
University of Maryland-Washington Co.
 DAVID GORDON
4-H/Ag Extension Agent
University of Maryland-Montgomery Co.
 MARY BETH BENNETT
Agricultural Extension Agent
West Virginia University- Berkeley Co.
 PAM THOMAS
Administrative Assistant
Western Maryland Research & Education Center
 Fecal egg analysis and larvae ID
Dr. Dahlia O’Brien
Virginia State University
 Ultrasound scanning
Jim Pritchard
Previously West Virginia University
 University of Maryland Eastern Shore
Dr. E. Nelson Escobar
 Veterinarians
Dr. Kevin Pelzer, Virginia Tech (consulting)
Dr. Mara Mullinix (2013-2015)
Dr. John Ludwig (2016)

30. Funding $$$$$$$$$$$$
Primary
 Consignment fees (per goat)
Currently $120/goat
Infrastructure
 Northeast SARE via University of
Maryland Eastern Shore
 University of Maryland Extension
(internal grants)
Other
 Consigners (donations)

31. Learn more
 Meat Goat Test Blog
http://mdgoattest.blogspot.com
www.sheepandgoat.com: select goat test from Blogs drop-down menu
 Subscribe to listserv to receive blog entries via e-mail
listserv@listserv.umd.edu (subscribe meatgoattest)
Select Listservs from Resources drop-down menu
 Information and past reports
http://www.sheepandgoat.com/#!goattest/cbev
Select Goat Test from Programs drop-down menu
 Ten years of the Western Maryland Pasture-Based Meat Goat Performance Test
http://www.sheepandgoat.com/#!10yearsbucktest/c23ym
Select Articles from the Resources drop-down menu
 Flickr™ images
https://www.flickr.com/photos/baalands/collections/72157622671549924/
Select Flickr images from Social Media drop-down menu

32. Questions?
Comments?
Thank you for your attention
SUSAN SCHOENIAN
Sheep & Goat Specialist
University of Maryland Extension
sschoen@umd.edu
www.sheepandgoat.com
https://mdgoattest.blogspot.com