Performance Evaluation Pennsylvania Livestock Evaluation Center by Karla Blackstock
Boer goats are fairly new to the United States and selecting sires has been based on strict adherence to breed standards. These visual components, or phenotypic traits, have been important to this young industry; however, like most livestock species, performance-based measures are critical for breed advancement. Performance-based data are readily available for many other production livestock, and the ABGA is working with institutions such as the Pennsylvania State Evaluation Center to provide goat producers with useful, impartial data. Gregg Hubbard, station manager at the Pennsylvania evaluation center said, “Back in 2002, the state of Pennsylvania was building a new evaluation facility for bulls, boars and rams. At that point, it was deemed that we would have space for Boer goat testing.” The Pennsylvania center recognized that the Boer goat industry was growing quickly and mirrored their testing facility after goat testing centers in Texas and Oklahoma. “These are unbiased tests set up to improve the industry. Goats are a newer species and there is a lot of potential to improve meat and meat quality. Ram testing had been successful at our center, and goats were coming on strong in our region,” Hubbard said. The purpose, Hubbard said is to identify year-over16 - The Boer Goat
year patterns and directly give back to producers on the farm. The testing program allows for a variety of producers to participate by nominating young bucks each year. ABGA Director Sara Davis said, “Animals entered in a performance test like the one in Pennsylvania are being given the opportunity to show their maximum genetic potential for growth.” She went on to say that you may not be able to directly compare data from pasture-based performance tests due to variable environment, nutrition and the influence of parasites. “Weight gain after weaning is a strongly heritable trait,” Davis said. “Animals from different farms are given a uniform ration and environment and prove their potential for gain. The top gaining bucks in these tests provide producers with a strong basis to improve the growth rate of their kid crop.” Davis said the ABGA is working with the Breed Improvement and Research committee to expand the performance-based testing programs across the country, allowing more accessible test centers in various geographic regions. For the time being, producers who would like to enter young bucks in the Pennsylvania test, can nominate kids each year from January 1 through March 15. Fullblood/Purebred and record of pedigree percentage bucks are accepted and categorized into senior and junior bucks. Senior bucks are those born between Sept 1 and Dec. 31. Junior bucks must be born in January and February. All bucks have to be weaned with a recorded birth date and their sire must be known and documented. Additional health regulations must be followed. For these additional health requirements and rules, see the ABGA website or the Pennsylvania Livestock Evaluation Center website.
