Download - Health, Performance, and Carcass Characteristics of Pen-Fed vs. Pasture-Raised Meat Goats
HEALTH, PERFORMANCE, AND CARCASS CHARACTERISTICS OF PEN-FED VS. PASTURE-RAISED MEAT GOATS
Susan Schoenian1, Jeff Semler1, David Gordon1, Mary Beth Bennett2, and Dahlia O’Brien3
1University of Maryland, 2West Virginia University, 3Virginia State University
Introduction• The goat industry is growing worldwide.
• Though it has stagnated in recent years, the U.S. goat industry has increased substantially in the past several decades.
• The demand for goat products is increasing due to changing demographics and immigration patterns.
• There are many challenges to raising goats profitably, including fattening (finishing) goats for market.
There are substantial price differences between Selection 1, 2, and 3 slaughter kids.
1-Jan
11-Ja
n
21-Ja
n
31-Ja
n
10-Fe
b
20-Fe
b2-M
ar
12-M
ar
22-M
ar1-A
pr
11-A
pr
21-A
pr
1-May
11-M
ay
21-M
ay
31-M
ay
10-Ju
n
20-Ju
n
30-Ju
n10
-Jul
20-Ju
l
30-Ju
l
9-Aug
19-A
ug
29-A
ug8-S
ep
18-S
ep
28-S
ep8-O
ct
18-O
ct
28-O
ct
7-Nov
17-N
ov
27-N
ov7-D
ec
17-D
ec
27-D
ec75
95
115
135
155
175
195
215
235
255Prices for 32-kg kids $/head
2014 New Holland Sales Stables
Selection 1 Linear (Selection 1)
Nutrient requirements for 20 kg. Boer bucklings (NRC, 2007)ADG, g/d DM, kg/d DMI, % TDN, kg/d % TDN CP, g/d % CP
0 0.67 3.3 0.33 49.2 43 6.4
25 0.75 3.7 0.37 49.3 58 7.7
100 0.72 3.6 0.48 66.7 103 14.5
150 0.64 3.2 0.56 87.5 133 20.1
200 0.72 3.6 0.64 88.9 163 22.6
250 0.80 4.0 0.71 88.8 194 24.2
Higher rates-of-gain are not possible without some concentrate feeding.
Nutrient content of feedstuffs
Feedstuff % DM % CP % TDNEnergy concentrates 88-91 8-14 76-92
Protein concentrates 88-91 23-66 74-87
Grass hay 88-91 6-12 50-60
Legume hay 88-91 15-19 55-65
Fresh forage 24-29 14-18 61-67
University of Maryland ExtensionPen vs. Pasture Studies
2013-2014
2013• 30 intact male Kiko goats
(avg. 22.3 ± 2.7) were obtained from a farm in Kansas.
• They were randomly allocated to two treatment groups.
2014• 30 intact male Kiko
bucklings (avg. 21.2 ± 3.1 kg) were obtained from a farm in New Jersey
• They were randomly allocated to two treatment groups.
PEN goats were housed in a 4.9 m2 zero-grazing pen.
PASTURE goats grazed alongside bucks in the annual
Western Maryland Pasture-based Meat Goat Performance Test.
Pen-fed
Hay
• 2nd cuttingalfalfa-orchardgrass mix~ 1 kg per head per day
Grain
• Whole barley grain ~ 0.5 kg per head per day
Pasture-fed
Cool season grasses
• Orchardgrass• MaxQ™ tall fescue
Warm season forages
• Forage sorghum• Dwarf pearl millet• Sun Hemp• Cowpeas
Date Forage CP DOM DOM:CP6-19 Cool 16.7 46.9 2.8
6-29 Cool 19.0 50.0 2.6
7-3 Cool 21.2 50.1 2.4
8-7 Warm 21.5 47.4 2.2
8-14 Warm 21.8 44.0 2.0
8-20 Warm 18.4 38.3 2.1
Source: Grazingland Animal Nutrition Lab
During the second half of the study (d 42), the bucks were supplemented with pelleted soybean hulls at a rate of 341 g per head per day or about 1.5% of body weight.
Stomach worms• Upon arrival, bucks were dewormed
with drugs from all three anthelmintic classes.
AlbendazoleValbazen @ 3 ml/23 kg
+ Moxidectin
Cydectin® 0.1% oral drench@ 2 ml/5 kg
+Levamisole
Prohibit® soluble drench (concentrated drench solution)
@ 3 ml per 23 kg.
Coccidia
• Upon arrival, goats were treated for coccidiosis for five days in their water
Sulfadimethoxine (Di-Methox)
Internal parasite protocol
• Body weights• FAMACHA© scores (1-5)• Body condition scores (1-5)• Coat condition scores (1-3)• Dag scores (0-5)• Fecal consistency
scores (1-4)• Fecal egg counts (EPG)• Treatments
Initial and bi-weekly data End of test data
Carcass data
• Ultrasound rib eye• Ultrasound rib fatness• USDA grade
• Hot carcass weight (HCW)• Cold carcass weight (CCW)• Dressing percentage (DP)• Rib eye area (REA)• Body wall thickness (BWT)• Leg circumference• Kidney and heart fat (KH)
weight and percentage. • Fat weight and percentage• Bone weight and percentage• Lean weight and percentage• Boneless, fat-free yield• Fatty acid composition
21.0
23.0
25.0
27.0
29.0
31.0
33.0
35.0
Body weights (kg)2013
Fecal egg counts (EPG)(pastures were pre-infected by sheep)
0
200
400
600
800
1000
1200
1400
1600
1800
Tx = 8
Tx = 12
Tx = 3 Tx = 1
Tx = 3
2013
FAMACHA© scores (1-5)
1.5
2.0
2.5
3.0
3.5
4.0
Tx = 8
Tx = 12
Tx = 3
Tx = 1
Tx = 3Tx = all
2013
Live and carcass weights
Start weight End weight Hot carcass weight Cold carcass weight0.0
10.0
20.0
30.0
40.0
50.0
60.0
70.0
80.0
2013
Carcass percentages2013
KH fat Total fat Bone Lean Dressing Yield0.0%
10.0%
20.0%
30.0%
40.0%
50.0%
60.0%
Body weights (kg)2014
20.0
22.0
24.0
26.0
28.0
30.0
32.0
34.0
Fecal egg counts (EPG)2014
0
1000
2000
3000
4000
5000
2014
FAMACHA© scores (1-5)
1.00
1.20
1.40
1.60
1.80
2.00
2.20
2.40
2.60
Live and carcass weights, kg2014
LW HCW CCW0.0
5.0
10.0
15.0
20.0
25.0
30.0
35.0
b
a
ab
ab
Carcass percentages, %2014
KH fat Fat DP Bone Lean Yield0.0
10.0
20.0
30.0
40.0
50.0
60.0
a b a
a
a
a
a
b
b b
b
b
Conclusion• Pen-feeding improved the health and performance of meat goat bucklings.
• Pen-fed goats produced heavier carcasses with a higher percentage of lean than pasture-raised goats.
• Pen-feeding added $65-$70 per head in value and was more profitable than pasture-raising in this 2-year study.
Thank you for your attention. Questions?