Just Kidding Goat Farm KEVIN & HEIDI

GRENIGER MAPLE LAKE, MN

Showing a Dairy Type Wether

Wethers

Wethers, castrated males, must be disbudded. Born after 1-1-16

Dairy or meat breed DAIRY WETHERS are always

100% dairy breed Any goat with ANY

percentage boer or other meat breed mixed in MUST BE SHOWN in the meat breed classes

Types of Goats shown in the market goat class:

KIKO GOATS

MYOTONIC GOAT

SAVANNA GOATS

SPANISH

BOER

DAIRY & DAIRY CROSS BREED

PYGMY

How to choose a winner

IS CUTENESS A FACTOR ?

It’s all about the meat Whats the best piece of meat?

LONGER ~ THICKER ~ WIDER ~ DEEPER

Length

Both goats are champions- Although, Look at difference in length. This would be a great breeding pair.

Wider – Deeper- Thicker-

STITCH AND TWIST

Which wethers have the best stitch ?

Who’s Your Daddy ?

* Consider who the parents are * Consider bloodlines * Fast growing kids * muscle tone & bone structure *** Please note: Do not choose solely on bloodlines or parents, Just a consideration

Don’t pick just one…….

Things happen, make sure you have a “PLAN B “

Marking for Identification

When do we need to tattoo ?

Try To Avoid using these metal tags for ID

4-H tag and Unique ID#

By May 15th

So I picked my wether, what’s next ? Within your first 2 weeks the wether should be

disbudded vaccinated

and

Sometime within the next month : Band for castration

After weaning- Your wethers should be separated and fed differently

Complete feed fed free choice clean water Mineral Small Slice of hay

FIND A COMPLETE FEED

Meat Goat Complete Feeds

•Medicated with Deccox®*-Prevents coccidiosis.

•Choice of protein levels-Match protein needs to growth or production stage.

•2:1 calcium to phosphorus ratio-Helps lessen the likelihood urinary calculi in male goats.

•Provides diatomaceous earth-Believed by some goat producers to have an effect on reducing internal parasite load.

•Complete grain mixes-No mixing required; provides energy, protein, vitamins, and minerals.

•Pellet form-Reduces ingredient segregation and feed waste; convenient to feed.

• Non-medicated formulations are also available.

18% PROTEIN

DECCOX : an ingredient helping to reduce the chance of coccidia

RUMENSIN: an ingredient that will help fight coccidia *will kill horses

Importance of minerals & water

Make sure there is enough copper

FIGURING RATE OF GAIN

• Example: Your wether was born weighing 8 lbs 30 days later he weighs 21 lbs He has gained 13 lbs in 30 days

Divide 13 by 30 days to find out what he has gained (average) each day • Answer: .43 lbs

• Shoot for .5 lbs gain per day

Exercise

WETHERS: SPEND TIME WITH THEM, PRACTICE SETTING THEM UP, GET THEM USED TO BEING LED.

EXERCISE- EXERCISE-EXERCISE !!!

Fitting for show

• OK to leave hair from knees down to hoof

• Eyelashes, hair inside the ears, whiskers, should all be clipped off

• Don’t forget the underbelly!

• Tail? Paintbrush style is acceptable

Full body clip 2-7 days before show day

Supplies needed

So You’ve made it to State Fair

Scurs are horns growing back after disbudding

Scurs longer than 1 inch should not be shown

DO NOT bring a wether with scurs to State Fair

(can be shown, but will not get higher than a red)

Goat Superintendents should NOT send

wethers with scurs to state fair- should not be in state fair line-up

At Check in for State Fair your wether will be weighed Those receiving a purple ribbon will have their wether weighed again after leaving the ring

RULE: A wethers weight can only vary by 5 %

Let’s do an example: You bring in your wether and he weighs 100 lbs at check- in You show the wether and he receives a purple ribbon , he is weighed again and now weighs 103 lbs.

Another example: Your wether comes to the fair at 100 lbs , upon leaving the ring he weighs 105.1 He is over the 5% difference, your ribbon will be taken away (down-graded)

Feet MUST touch the ground

CORRECT BRACING (4H RULES )

WHERE DO I STAND ?

Remember the judge is trying to see the goat, if he is leaning up against your leg the judge is not able to see the entire goat

Showmanship • Always smile and look at the judge

• Hold the goats head up high

• Be dressed appropriately

• Have control of your goat

• Be knowledgeable about your goat

• Never stand between the judge & your goat

What should I wear? • Dark jeans & white shirt • Boots (not tennis shoes or

sandals) • No jewelry • Belt

CONFUSED???? * If you are showing a market goat, no matter if it is dairy or meat breed, you should dress with dark jeans & white shirt

*4H rules

Good luck picking your 2016 WINNER