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?