8 minute read
Pennsylvania Performance Test
from May June 2016
by legacyiw
Performance Evaluation
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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-overyear 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.
When bucks are accepted, they are categorized into four groups with approximately 30-45 bucks per group. • Senior Fullbloods/Purebreds • Junior Fullbloods/Purebreds • Senior Percentages • Junior Percentages
Each group of animals is penned in weight groups as uniformly as possible for the 70-day test. They are fed a 16% protein free-choice ration with free-choice grass-alfalfa hay.
During the testing period, technicians from Pennsylvania State University measure the bucks’ weight gain. At the end of the test, the loin at the 13th rib is measured by ultrasound, and leg circumference is measured. Both measurements are adjusted based on the buck’s weight.
“We take into account that the bucks are different ages and adjust scans and weights so you they can be compared against each other,” Hubbard said. “Otherwise, it would be an apples to oranges comparison.” “Individual measurements are calculated and weighted for an overall index score,” Hubbard said.
The index is used to rank the bucks in order of their performance. The score is calculated on the following: • 40% on average daily gain • 20% on lifetime weight-per-day-of-age • 20% on longissimus muscle at the first lumbar site, adjusted by the goat’s metabolic weight • 20% circumference around the widest part of hind leg as measured with a tailor’s tape, adjusted
At the conclusion of the testing period, the bucks tested for breeding soundness and offered for sale to producers who have the opportunity to review the raw and adjusted data on each buck.
Hubbard said that there is no doubt that there are spectacular animals each year; however, he said, “We’d like to see the overall muscling trend go up. Then we know where the industry is heading. For every animal put in the test, we hope these producers have four more on the farm.”
Davis said, “The ABGA is working to grow the performance testing program and is offering monetary payouts to the top-performing animals as well as support of the universities that host the tests.”
If you are interested in performance testing in your local area, contact your ABGA director to find out where the nearest test facility is located.
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Fullblood Bucks
% Bucks
2014 Pennsylvania Evaluation Center Results
70-Day ADG Reg # Buck Name Birth Owner
.77 10638842 NBFX Nix Besser C347 Polar Vortex TW Nix Besser Farm/ Dr. & Mrs. Robert Herr 10 5 15 141 .73 10639030 BH 94 Cocoa Paint Ball Fixtion TW Brock Hohman 5 4 9 121
.72 10639029 BH 94 Cocoa Graffiti Fixtion .71 10641209 LOB Cailbu .68 10638840 NBFX Nix Besser C367 Gunner .66 10653769 BHB1 Sittin Bull .64 10641215 LOB Rosso .62 10651163 Goats Galore Hot Hooves Whats Up Charlie TW Brock Hohman
4 4 8 121 TW Leaning Oak Boers/ Verl & Pam Miller 3 4 7 139 TR Nix Besser Farm/ Dr. & Mrs. Robert Herr 2 3 5 142 TW Bush Hollow/ Carol Hall 1 3 4 107 TW Leaning Oak Boers/ Verl & Pam Miller 0 2 2 86 TR Goats Galore/ William & Jody Weist 0 2 2 138
.61 10655601 Locustwood Jasper TR Locustwood Farm/ Dr. Joanne Bicknese0 0 2 2 172 .59 10659880 Losch’s R.V.F. Certified’s Dark Shadow QT Losch’s Riverview Farm/ Sherrie Losch 0 1 1 112
.72 10643371 PGFS Phantoms Grove Remington TW Phantoms Grove/ Nicole Mearkle 1 n/a 1 94 .59 10651172 Goats Galore Hot Hooves Hank TR Goats Galore/ William & Jody Weist 0 n/a 0 118 .49 Pending Pending TW Losch’s Riverview Farm/ Sherrie Losch 0 n/a 0 116
Fullblood Bucks
% Bucks
70-Day ADG Reg #
2015 Pennsylvania Evaluation Center Results
Buck Name Birth Owner ADG Rank Pts Actual ADG Pts Total Pts Age in Days @ Start of Test
.81 10690100 SOBG SOGGY OAKS MUCHO COLOR TW Soggy Oaks Boer Goats, Barbara Levering 10 7 17 116 .78 10676311 RHG1 GOLDIES FARMS D19 S Goldies Farms/ Robert Goldie 5 5 10 174 .78 10680970 GOATS GALORE HOT HOOVES SACHEX TW Goats Galore/ William & Jody Weist 5 5 10 135 .75 10674787 LOB FIRE STORM RED CLOUD TW Leaning Oak Boers/ Verl & Pam Miller 3 5 8 142 .70 10689049 DOUBLE G BOER GOATS MONSTER S Double G Boer Goats/ Gale Gearhart 2 4 6 101 .69 10674788 LOB SUNDANCE KOUGAF TR Leaning Oak Boers/ Verl & Pam Miller 1 3 4 141 .68 10692917 PENDING TW Soggy Oaks Boer Goats, Barbara Levering 0 3 3 93 .64 10690077 LOCUSTWOOD BLAZING SADDLES TR Locustwood Farm/ Dr. Joanne Bicknese0 0 2 2 115 .61 10681046 PENDING TW Watts Farm/ David & Carolyn Watts 0 2 2 179 .60 10676196 NBFX TURBO NIX BESSER E523 TW Nix Besser Farm/ Dr. & Mrs. Robert Herr 0 2 2 96
.91 10680971 GOATS GALORE HOT HOOVES TOM CAT TW Goats Galore/ William & Jody Weist 2 n/a 2 138 .80 10690101 Pending TR Soggy Oaks Boer Goats, Barbara Levering 1 n/a 1 115 .61 Pending Pending TW Pine Acre Farms/ Jason Schrader 0 n/a 0 100 .60 Pending Pending TW Artistic Acres/ Turbot Acres- Joel Arnold, 0 n/a 0 94 Robert Pursel
.55 Pending Pending S Artistic Acres/ Turbot Acres- Joel Arnold, Robert Pursel 0 n/a 0 100
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