OPTIONS FOR FATTENING (FINISHING) MEAT GOATS

SUSAN SCHOENIANSheep & Goat SpecialistUniversity of Maryland ExtensionWestern Maryland Research & Education Centersschoen@umd.edu - www.sheepandgoat.com - www.acsrpc.org

Introduction• The goat industry is growing

worldwide.

• The U.S. goat industry has increased substantially in the past 20 years.

• 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.

Quality (finish) affects prices.

$70

$90

$110

$130

$150

$170

$190

27-36 kg kids, $ per head (weighted average)New Holland, Pennsylvania USA

April 1 -November, 4, 2013

• Superior muscling• Superior meat yield

Selection 1 Selection 2 Selection 3

• Average muscling• Medium meat yield

• Inferior muscling• Poor meat yield

USDA grades for live goats and goat carcasses

Grades are supposed to be independent of age, breed, sex, weight, and fat(?).

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 % TDN

Energy 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

Literature review

• Concentrate feeding increases average daily gain (ADG).

• Concentrate feeding increases dressing percentage, carcass weight, and carcass fatness.

• Concentrate feeding may reduce the percentage of trimmed retail cuts.

• Concentrate feeding may alter fatty acid composition.

• Higher quality forage will also improve goat performance and carcass quality.

Literature review

• The most important aspect of concentrate feeding is the cost: benefit ratio.

• There is a narrow opportunity for profit when feedlotting goats.

• Texas A&M researchers determined the most economical ration to be whole corn and a premix pellet, which must be ground to prevent sorting.

Literature review• The cost of gain can be

reduced by feeding on-farm diets, e.g. whole barley and a premix pellet.

• The cost of gain can be reduced by feeding by-product-based rations: e.g. distiller’s grains and soybean hulls.

• Fiber-based (soy hulls) diets may produce more economical gains than starch-based (corn) diets.

• The cost of gain can be reduced by finishing goats to a lighter weight.

• The cost of gain can be reduced feeding the same amount of feed over a longer period of time.

University of Maryland ExtensionPen vs. Pasture Studies

2011-2013

• N = 18• Intact males• Mixed breeds, but

mostly Kiko• From 7 farms• Avg. 20.1 3.5 kg

2011 2012 2013

• N = 30• Intact males• Mixed breeds, but

mostly Kiko• From 10 farms• Avg. 20.5 3.7 kg

• N = 30• Intact males• All Kiko• From 1 farm• Avg. 23.5 3.1 kg

Bucks were randomly assigned to two treatment groups: PEN or PASTURE.

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.

• First cuttingOrchardgrass hay(Dactylis glomerata L.)

• ~0.9 kg per day

2011 2012 2013

PEN goats were fed hay ad libitum.

• First cuttingOrchardgrass hay(Dactylis glomerata L.)

• ~0.9 kg per day

• Mostly 2nd cuttingOrchardgrass- alfalfa mixed hay

• ~1.1 kg per day

2011 2012 2013

PEN goats were limit-fed grain, once daily based on appetite.

• Commercial meat goat pellet (17% CP)

• $0.48 per kg• Max 0.73. kg per day

Avg. 0.45. kg per day

• 4 parts whole barley to 1 part 38% pellet

• $0.35 per kg• Max 0.68 kg per day• Avg. 0.55 kg per day

• Whole barley• $0.29 per kg• Max. 0.59 kg per day• Avg. 0.5 kg per day

• ~ 17 bucks per ha

2011 2012 2013

PASTURE goats were rotationally grazed among six 0.8-ha paddocks.

Cool season grasses comprised two-thirds of the grazing area (~3.4 ha).

• ~ 13 bucks per ha • ~ 19 bucks per ha

Tall fescue (MaxQ™)Festuca arundinacea

OrchardgrassDactylis glomerata L.

• Dwarf pearl milletPennisetum glaucum

2011 2012 2013

• Millet + brassicaPennisetum glaucum + Brassica napus x B. campestris

• Dwarf forage sorghumSorghum bicolor (BMR variety)

Warm season annuals comprised one-third of the grazing area (~1.6 ha).

Stomach worms

• Upon arrival, bucks were dewormed with drugs from 2-3 anthelmintic classes.

1) AlbendazoleValbazen @ 3 ml/23 kg

2) MoxidectinCydectin® 0.1% oral drench@ 2 ml/5 kg

3) LevamisoleProhibit® soluble drench (concentrated drench solution)@ 3 ml per 23 kg.

Coccidia

• Upon arrival, goats were treated for coccidiosis for five days in their water.

• 2011, 2012Amprolium (Corid)

• 2013Sulfadimethoxine (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

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

* Started in 2013

• Pen-fed goats gained more and produced superior carcasses, yielding 5% more boneless, fat-free meat.

2011 2012 2013

• Pasture-raised goats

gained faster, but had

higher fecal egg counts and

FAMACHA© scores. There

were no differences in

carcass traits, including

yield.

• Pen-fed goats grew much

faster and had lower fecal

egg counts and lower

FAMACHA© scores. They

produced superior

carcasses, yielding almost

5% more boneless, fat-free

meat.

Results have varied by year.

Body weights (kg)

16.0

18.0

20.0

22.0

24.0

26.0

28.0

30.0

32.0

ADG: 105 vs. 52 g/d

2011

Fecal egg counts (EPG)

250

750

1250

1750

2250

2750

3250

3750

4250

2011

FAMACHA© scores (1-5)

1.3

1.5

1.7

1.9

2.1

2.3

2.5

2.7

2.9

2011

Live and carcass weights (kg)2011

End weight Hot carcass weight Cold carcass weight

Pasture 26 10.3 9.4

Pen 28.8 12.9 12.3

2.5

7.5

12.5

17.5

22.5

27.5

Carcass percentages2011

KH fat Total fat Bone Lean Yield Dressing

Pasture 0.014 0.021 0.423 0.548 0.198 0.394

Pen 0.026 0.043 0.372 0.579 0.245 0.444

5.0%

15.0%

25.0%

35.0%

45.0%

55.0%

16.0

18.0

20.0

22.0

24.0

26.0

28.0

Body weights (kg)

ADG: 83 vs. 68 g/d

2012

Fecal egg counts, epg

250

750

1250

1750

2250

2750

Tx = 11

2012

FAMACHA© scores (1-5)

1.3

1.5

1.7

1.9

2.1

2.3

2.5

2.7

Tx = 11

2012

Live and carcass weights (kg)

Live weight Hot carcass weight Cold carcass weight

Pasture 27.3 11.5 10.5

Pen 26.5 11.4 10.3

2.5

7.5

12.5

17.5

22.5

27.5

2012

Carcass percentages

KH fat Fat Yield Bone Lean Dressing

Pasture 0.015 0.0204 0.188 0.441 0.486 0.422

Pen 0.017 0.0244 0.187 0.442 0.483 0.429

2.5%

7.5%

12.5%

17.5%

22.5%

27.5%

32.5%

37.5%

42.5%

47.5%

2012

22.0

24.0

26.0

28.0

30.0

32.0

34.0

Body weights (kg)

ADG: 141 vs. 29 g/d

2013

Fecal egg counts (EPG)(pastures were pre-infected by sheep)

100

300

500

700

900

1100

1300

1500

1700Tx = 8

Tx = 12

Tx = 3 Tx = 1

Tx = 3

2013

FAMACHA© scores (1-5)

1.8

2.3

2.8

3.3

3.8 Tx = 8

Tx = 12

Tx = 3

Tx = 1

Tx = 3

Tx = all

2013

Live and carcass weights

Start weight End weight Hot carcass weight Cold carcass weight

Pen 48.3 74.5 32.4 29.9

Pasture 49.8 55.2 22.4 20

5.0

15.0

25.0

35.0

45.0

55.0

65.0

75.0

2013

Carcass percentages2013

KH fat Total fat Bone Lean Dressing Yield

Pen 0.011 0.023 0.351 0.555 0.435 0.223

Pasture 0.003 0.004 0.442 0.485 0.403 0.175

5.0%

15.0%

25.0%

35.0%

45.0%

55.0%

Economics of pen-feeding• Will vary by year and farm.• Will depend upon feed costs.• Will depend upon genetic potential of goats.• Will depend upon market prices.

• Pen-feeding was more profitable.

2011 2012 2013

• Pasture-rearing was more profitable.

• Pen-feeding was more profitable.

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

When pen feeding is most likely to be more profitable than pasture-rearing.

• Feedstuffs are competitively priced.• Pasture costs are high, due to high land values or rental rates.• Predator risk is high for pastured animals.• Internal parasite challenge is high for pastured animals.• Market prices are high and market pays a premium for higher

quality goats.• Goats have the genetic potential to perform on a moderate to

high plane of nutrition.

Tips for pen feeding goats

• Limit feed • If self-feeding, grind or

pellet feed to prevent sorting

• Feed plenty of forage (hay or pasture)

• Feed proper ratio of calcium to phosphorus/

• Vaccinate for overeating disease type D

• Feed goats that have good potential for growth.

Thank you for your attention. Questions?