These PowerPoint slides are from an abstract presented at the 2012 annual meeting of the Southern Section of the American Society of Animal Science.

1. Carcass characteristics of
pasture vs. pen-fed meat goats
S. G. Schoenian1*, J.W. Semler1, D. L. Gordon1,
M.B. Bennett2, and D.J. O’Brien3
1Universityof Maryland College Park
2West Virginia University
3Delaware State University

2. Background
• There is a lack of data
pertaining to the
performance, carcass
characteristics, and
economics of finishing
meat goats in
different production
systems.

3. Procedure
• Consigners to the 2011
Western Maryland
Pasture-Based Meat Goat
Performance Test were
asked to provide an
additional goat for pen-
feeding.
• The same consigner
provided a second buck
from the pasture test for
slaughter comparison.

4. Procedure
Pen-fed (n=9) Pasture-raised (n=9)
• 4.9 m2 zero grazing pen • Rotationally-grazed among six
• Unlimited access to grass hay 2-acre paddocks of cool and
• Limit-fed grain once per day warm season grasses
– Avg. 1 lb. per head per day • No supplemental feeding
• Free choice minerals • Free choice minerals w/Rumensin®
w/Rumensin®

5. Data (6/10-9/15)
• Bi-weekly
– Body weights
– FAMACHA© scores
– Body condition scores
– Coat condition scores
– Dag scores
– Fecal egg counts
• October 1
– Ultrasound
• Backfat
• Rib eye area

6. Procedures
• After 112 days of consuming their
respective diets, the goats were harvested
to collect carcass data.
• Live weights were determined prior to
transport to a custom-exempt slaughter-
house (60 km away) for same day
slaughter.
• Hot carcass weights were determined
immediately after slaughter.
• Cold carcass weights were determined 6
days later when the carcasses were
processed for data collection.

7. Procedures
• Kidney and heart fat was
removed from the carcass
and weighed.
• Carcasses were split between
the 12th and 13th rib.
•
Body wall thickness was
measured with a metal ruler.
• Rib eye area was measured
using a plastic grid.

8. Procedures
• Carcasses were
completely deboned
and separated into
bone, fat, and lean,
which were weighed
to determine carcass
percentages.
• A sample of the rib eye was sent to the meat lab at
Ohio State University for analysis.

9. Data
MEASURED
CALCULATED
• Hot carcass weight (HCW)
• Dressing percentage
• Cold carcass weight (CCW) HCW ÷ Live weight
• Rib eye area (REA) • Percent KH fat
• Body wall thickness (BWT) KH ÷ CCW
• KH fat (KH) weight • Percent Bone
Bone ÷ CCW
• Fat weight
• Percent Fat
• Bone weight Fat ÷ CCW
• Lean weight • Percent lean
Lean ÷ CCW
• Yield
Lean ÷ Live weight

10. Results
Trait Pasture Pen
LW, kg 26.0 ±0.94a 28.8 ±2.16a
HCW, kg 10.3 ±0.52a 12.9 ±1.23a
DP, % 39.4 ±1.15a 44.4 ±1.57b
CCW, kg 9.4 ±0.49a 12.3 ±1.25b
%KH 1.45 ±0.008a 2.64 ±0.025b
BWT, cm 0.41 ±0.04a 0.62 ±0.09b
REA, cm2 8.06 ±0.51a 10.11 ±1.11a
U-REA, cm2 6.42 ±0.23 7.91 ±0.82
% Fat 2.14 ±0.08a 4.34 ±0.26b
% bone 42.28 ±1.10 37.15 ±1.56
% Lean 54.80 ±1.16a 57.87 ±1.51a
Yield, % 19.78 ±0.09a 24.49 ±1.49b

11. Live and carcass weights (kg)
30.0
25.0
20.0
p < 0.05
15.0
10.0
5.0 a a a a a b
0.0
Live weight Hot carcass weight Cold carcass weight
Pasture Pen-fed

12. Dressing percentage, %
Pasture-raised Pen-fed
55.0%
50.0%
45.0%
40.0%
35.0%
30.0%
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Each number on the horizontal axis represents two goats from the same consigner.

13. Dressing percentage, %
44.4
45.0
43.0
41.0 39.4
39.0
37.0
a b
35.0
Pasture-raised Pen-fed
p < 0.02

14. Carcass yields, %
p < 0.001
4.5%
4.0%
p < 0.001 b
3.5%
3.0%
2.5% b
2.0%
1.5% a
1.0% a
0.5%
0.0%
% KH % Fat
Pasture-fed Pen-fed

15. Carcass yields, %
60.0%
55.0%
50.0%
45.0%
40.0%
35.0% p < 0.02
30.0%
25.0%
20.0%
15.0% a a a a a b
10.0%
% Bone % Lean Yield, %
Pasture-raised Pen-fed

16. Rib eye area, cm2

17. Rib eye area, cm2
Pasture-fed Pen-fed
11.00
10.00
9.00
8.00
7.00
6.00 a a
5.00
Carcass Ultrasound

18. Carcass vs. ultrasound
Carcass Ultrasound
11.00
10.00
9.00
8.00
7.00
6.00
a b a b
5.00
Pasture Pen
p < 0.05

19. Conclusion
• Pen-feeding
improved the carcass
yield of meat goats in
this preliminary study,
but the economics of
pen-feeding will
vary by operation.
• A more formal study will be conducted in 2012 to
evaluate the performance, carcass traits, and
economics of pen vs. pasture feeding.

20. Thank you for your attention.