MEAT GOAT 101 Market Goat Production

1. MEAT GOAT 101Market Goat Production Kipp Brown - Area Agent 4-H Livestock/Meat Goats Mississippi State University Extension Service

2. MEAT GOATS 101 What is a Meat Goat? Any breed or cross breed of goat that is used in the production of goat meat!

3. THE RULES!!Identify and Secure a MarketDo Not Borrow Money to Start a Goat EnterpriseCover Your Backside

4. Identify and secure a market!Who?Where?What?When?

5. Don’t borrow money to start a goat enterprise!

6. Always Cover Your Backside!Have a backup planKnow your limitsRefer back to rules 1 and 2

7. The U.S. Goat Industry Show Wethers Showingseedstock Land management MEAT PRODUCTION large and small producerscommercial and hobby Dairy Fiber Pets Know where you fit.

8. So…What does a meat goat look like?

9. Types of Meat Goats • Boer is most widely known and popular • Kiko is gaining in popularity

10. Types of Meat Goats This is a 100% full blood Boer yearling doe

11. Types of Meat Goats This older doe is 75% Boer and 25% Spanish breeding

12. Types of Meat Goats This young doe is 75% Boer and 25% Pygmy

13. Types of Meat Goats This young doe is 75% Boer and 25% Nubian

14. Types of Meat Goats This older doe is 50% Boer and 50% Nubian

15. Types of Meat Goats This old doe is a typical “meat type” Spanish goat

16. Full Blood Boer Buck

17. Full Blood Buck X Commercial Doe =

18. Market Meat Goats!

19. MEAT GOATS 101 What factors are important to insure a successful enterprise? Nutrition Reproduction Health Marketing Facilities

20. Nutrition.. Is the Highest Cost Associated with Production!

21. Nutrition.. • Doe Nutrition • Divide into feeding groups • Dry, Lactating, BCS, • Buck Nutrition • Ca:P ratio – Clean water • Kid Nutrition • Creep feed until marketed - Pelleted feed

22. Doe Nutrition.. Define the stage of production and feed accordingly • Dry • Breeding • Early Gestation • Late gestation • Lactation

23. Dry Period.. • Period between weaning and breeding • Lowest nutrient requirements • Good quality pasture should meet most requirement needs • Regain weight lost during lactation • Need 2% of body weight • Need minerals free choice - salt, Ca, P • No pasture? Grass Hay and .5-1.5# 16% CP pelleted (preferred) ration

24. Breeding Period.. • Increase feed intake 2 - 3 weeks prior to breeding – Known as “Flushing” • Increase ovulation rate 5 - 10% • Flushing • 1#/Hd/Day of Corn • Monitor body condition score to avoid under or over conditioned goats • Too fat or too thin • Best at BCS 2 - Greater response

25. Early Gestation.. • First 100 days (gestation 150 days) • Similar to dry feeding • Very little fetal growth • Take advantage of forage • Monitor body condition score

26. Late Gestation.. • Last 50 days (gestation time 150 days) • Most critical time – 70% of fetal growth • Poor nutrition costs production • Low birth weights, mothering ability, low milk production, ketosis • Utilize pasture and supplement feeding • Need 4 - 4.5% of body weight • 2# - 4# good quality hay + 2# corn

27. Lactation.. • Doe nutrition is the key to early kid growth • Lactation peaks at 2 - 4 weeks • Utilize pasture • Feed at 4 - 5% body weight • 3# - 4# good hay + 3# - 4# grain

28. Buck Nutrition • Utilize pasture when available • Monitor body condition 3-4 weeks prior to breeding • 4# of hay + 2# of grain • Monitor body condition during breeding

29. What to Feed.. • 14 - 16% CP ration • 50 - 60% TDN • .75 - 1% ammonium chloride • Coccidiastat • Salt and mineral • Ca:P @ 2:1 ratio

30. Kid Nutrition.. • Start kids on creep as soon as possible • Feed a 16% CP pelleted ration • Contains a coccidiastat • Maintains a 2:1 Ca to P ratio Keep fresh water available in smaller containers that kids can reach at all times!

31. Reproduction..Economic Success! • Estrous cycle is 18 - 21 days • Short day breeders (Oct. - Dec.) • Flushing • ½ - 1# per head per day of corn • Deworm prior • Turn on to new pasture • Monitor BCS (1 - 5) • BCS of 2 for best results

32. Reproduction.. • The Buck effect • Synchronizing • Controlled breeding season • Efficient management of facilities • Puberty • 6-10 months • Breed doe kids – weight (80#) • Separate buck kids

33. Reproduction.. • Accelerated Kidding • 3 crops in 2 years • High input • BSE on Bucks • Semen, libido, testicles, health • Trim feet • Good body condition

34. Health.. • Diseases and Problems • Ketosis • Overeating • Parasites (worms) • Coccidia • Foot rot or scald • Pinkeye • General sickness

35. Health..Last Trimester • Ketosis • Feeding management • Vaccinate for Clostridial organisms, tetanus (CD/T) 2-4 weeks prior • Gives immunity to the kids • Vitamin E and Selenium (if needed) • Deworm – periparturient rise (check dewormer for abortion possibility)

36. Health.. Deworming • Establish a program • Check fecal samples • Use FAMACHA • Deworm only when needed • Rotate wormers yearly or when there is no response • “Families” or classes of products • Give orally

37. Health.. Deworming • Hold feed - leave in pen (12-48 hrs) • Rotate to clean pastures • Do not under dose • Metabolism is 3.5 times that of larger species • Rule of thumb – Use at 2.5 X cattle rate • Calculate rate based on the heaviest doe • Select animals with resistance

38. HealthKidding Time • Kid in clean areas • Dip – Snip – Strip • Iodine navel • Trim navel • Inspect udder • Give 1ml BoSe • See that kid gets colostrum

39. Health..Kids1 to 4 weeks of age • Disbud (7 - 10 days) • Castrate (club goats after 8 weeks) • Vaccinate with CD/T (14 – 28 days) • Watch for scours • E-coli • Coccidia

40. Health..Kids at Weaning • Give booster vaccinations • Deworm • Treat for Coccidia (corid or other preventative) • Get on full feed as quickly as possible (medicated if feasible) • Reduce feed and water to does • Trim does feet

41. Other Diseases of Concern • Caseous Lymphadenitis (CL) • Internal and lymph node abscesses • Chronic, contagious

42. Other Diseases of Concern • Caprine Arthritic Encephalitis (CAE) • Arthritis, encephalitis • Colostrum is primary mode of transmission

43. Marketing..Identify your market • Club Goat or Meat Goat? • Time of year to market • Type and size of animal • Weights and sex • Ethnic demand • Commercial market • 50 - 60# carcass = 100# goat

44. Goat and Goat Meat Marketing • Marketing of goats and goat meat is not well characterized • Purchasers of goat meat are generally ethnic consumers • Different ethnic groups prefer different types of goat meat (animal age, cut, preparation)

45. Marketing Options LiveMeat - direct to consumer - licensed plant - market channel - inspected facility, * trader animal, & product * auction * market coop * local slaughter plant Marketing channels and meat inspection provide utility or they would not exist

46. Local Producers Traders Local Auctions Marketing Cooperatives Individual Consumers Regional Auctions Processors Retailers Wholesalers Restaurants General Consumers Goat Market Channels

47. Marketing Strategies • Use an existing marketing channel • Integrate market channels into your enterprise • retained ownership through processing • special markets (direct sales) • Partner with other segments of the marketing channel A specific marketing channel provides utility or it would not exist !!

48. Facilities.. • Corrals should be 5-6 feet tall • Net wire or 4 X 4 welded wire • Chutes • 12” wide, smooth sides, slightly curved • Well lighted • Movement uphill

49. Fencing.. • Net Wire • 12” vs 6” wire; 48” tall • Barbed wire on top and bottom • Electric Fencing • High maintenance • Good for temporary or rotation systems • Combination of net and electric • Goat proof?

50. Facilities.. • Sheds • 5 sq. ft. per animal • Two sides minimum with one side movable • Kidding area • Jugs or hutches