Search

Internal parasitism is a significant problem in meat goat production systems. Reproductive output is a primary factor in determining the profitability and sustainability of a meat goat enterprise. This study investigated the relationships between internal parasite burdens and reproductive performance in fall-bred meat goat does. Doe records (n = 1,134) across 7 yr from the Tennessee State University research herd were processed which included 488 purebred and crossbred does sired by over 100 bucks representing Boer, Kiko, Myotonic, Savanna, and Spanish breeds. Does ranged from 2 to 12 yr of age. Doe records included fecal egg counts (FEC) measured at breeding, kidding and weaning and litter sizes at kidding and weaning. Doe reproductive values were set at '1' if kids were produced and '0' if no kids were produced at the kidding and weaning recording periods. For FEC at breeding, does were classified as low (LOWB) if FEC < 500 epg and high (HIGHB) if FEC ≥ 500 epg. Kidding and weaning rates per doe exposed were greater (P < 0.01) for LOWB does (66.6 ± 8.7%, 51.6 ± 6.6%) compared with HIGHB does (46.1 ± 9.9%, 35.3 ± 6.3%). Litter size born and weaned were greater (P < 0.01) for LOWB does (1.01 ± 0.14 kids; 0.70 ± 0.09 kids) compared with HIGHB does (0.75 ± 0.11 kids; 0.50 ± 0.07 kids). For FEC at kidding, lactating does were classified as low (LOWK) if FEC < 1,000 epg and high (HIGHK) if FEC ≥ 1,000 epg. Litter size born and weaned were smaller (P < 0.05) for LOWK does (1.53 ± 0.07 kids; 1.04 ± 0.08 kids) compared with HIGHK (1.65 ± 0.06 kids; 1.15 ± 0.08 kids). No difference (P = 0.98) was found for weaning rates between LOWK and HIGHK does (79.9 ± 5.6 vs. 79.8 ± 5.2%). Lactating does with low weaning FEC ( < 1,000 epg) had smaller weaning litter sizes (P < 0.01) than high FEC (≥ 1000 epg) does (1.31 ± 0.06 vs.1.44 ± 0.06 kids). Preliminary findings of this study suggested that does with high internal parasite burdens during fall breeding, as indicated by elevated FEC, would have reduced reproductive performance measurements at kidding and weaning. However, lactating does with higher FEC at kidding or weaning had larger litter sizes, demonstrating the potentially adverse relationship of increased litter size with increased internal parasite loads in meat goat dams. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this three year study was to observe the effects of creep feeding on the growth, survivability, conformation score, market value and FAMACHA scores for 509 spring born kids. Straightbred Savanna (n = 10), Kiko (n = 8), Spanish (n = 8) and Myotonic (n = 3) bucks were bred to straight-bred and crossbred does (n = 168). At 30 d, kids were split into two contemporary groups (creep and non-creep). Their 30-d and 90-d (weaning) weights were recorded and the ADG was calculated from 30 d to 90 d. Conformation scores were assigned by USDA graders, and market values were calculated using local market prices around the date of weaning. FAMACHA was recorded at weaning. The effects of treatment, sire breed, doe breed, doe age, kid sex, and litter size were analyzed as sources of variation. Sire breed, doe breed, doe age, litter size, and kid sex affected (P < 0.05) 30-d weights. Creep and non-creep fed kids had similar (P > 0.05) 30-d weights. Doe breed, doe age, litter size and kid sex affected (P < 0.05) weaning weight and ADG. The creep fed kids were heavier (P < 0.05) at weaning (16.11 ± 0.6 vs. 15.28 ± 0.6 kg) and had higher ADG (0.13 ± 0.01 vs. 0.12 ± 0.01 kg) when compared with the non-creep kids. Sire breed, treatment x sire breed, doe breed, and treatment x doe breed had an effect (P < 0.05) on kid survival rate from birth to weaning. Creep feed did not affect (P > 0.05) kid survival rate. Sire breed, litter size and kid sex affected (P < 0.05) conformation score. Creep feed did not affect (P > 0.05) conformation score. Doe breed, doe age, litter size, and kid sex affected (P < 0.05) the market value. Creep kids had higher values (P < 0.05) than non-creep kids at market ($58.12 ± 2.35 vs. $54.92 ± 2.31). The weighted average cost of creep feed per kid was $2.00. Sire breed, litter size, and treatment x litter size affected (P < 0.05) the FAMACHA score. FAMACHA scores of creep fed kids were lower (better; P < 0.05) than non-creep kids (1.16 ± 0.08 vs. 1.24 ± 0.08). Creep feeding was shown to be beneficial for kid performance under the prevailing study conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Internal parasitism is a significant problem in meat goat production systems. Reproductive output is a primary factor in determining the profitability and sustainability of a meat goat enterprise. This study investigated the relationships between internal parasite burdens and reproductive performance in fall-bred meat goat does. Doe records (n = 1,134) across 7 yr from the Tennessee State University research herd were processed which included 488 purebred and crossbred does sired by over 100 bucks representing Boer, Kiko, Myotonic, Savanna, and Spanish breeds. Does ranged from 2 to 12 yr of age. Doe records included fecal egg counts (FEC) measured at breeding, kidding and weaning and litter sizes at kidding and weaning. Doe reproductive values were set at '1' if kids were produced and '0' if no kids were produced at the kidding and weaning recording periods. For FEC at breeding, does were classified as low (LOWB) if FEC < 500 epg and high (HIGHB) if FEC ≥ 500 epg. Kidding and weaning rates per doe exposed were greater (P < 0.01) for LOWB does (66.6 ± 8.7%, 51.6 ± 6.6%) compared with HIGHB does (46.1 ± 9.9%, 35.3 ± 6.3%). Litter size born and weaned were greater (P < 0.01) for LOWB does (1.01 ± 0.14 kids; 0.70 ± 0.09 kids) compared with HIGHB does (0.75 ± 0.11 kids; 0.50 ± 0.07 kids). For FEC at kidding, lactating does were classified as low (LOWK) if FEC < 1,000 epg and high (HIGHK) if FEC ≥ 1,000 epg. Litter size born and weaned were smaller (P < 0.05) for LOWK does (1.53 ± 0.07 kids; 1.04 ± 0.08 kids) compared with HIGHK (1.65 ± 0.06 kids; 1.15 ± 0.08 kids). No difference (P = 0.98) was found for weaning rates between LOWK and HIGHK does (79.9 ± 5.6 vs. 79.8 ± 5.2%). Lactating does with low weaning FEC ( < 1,000 epg) had smaller weaning litter sizes (P < 0.01) than high FEC (≥ 1000 epg) does (1.31 ± 0.06 vs.1.44 ± 0.06 kids). Preliminary findings of this study suggested that does with high internal parasite burdens during fall breeding, as indicated by elevated FEC, would have reduced reproductive performance measurements at kidding and weaning. However, lactating does with higher FEC at kidding or weaning had larger litter sizes, demonstrating the potentially adverse relationship of increased litter size with increased internal parasite loads in meat goat dams. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this three year study was to observe the effects of creep feeding on the growth, survivability, conformation score, market value and FAMACHA scores for 509 spring born kids. Straightbred Savanna (n = 10), Kiko (n = 8), Spanish (n = 8) and Myotonic (n = 3) bucks were bred to straight-bred and crossbred does (n = 168). At 30 d, kids were split into two contemporary groups (creep and non-creep). Their 30-d and 90-d (weaning) weights were recorded and the ADG was calculated from 30 d to 90 d. Conformation scores were assigned by USDA graders, and market values were calculated using local market prices around the date of weaning. FAMACHA was recorded at weaning. The effects of treatment, sire breed, doe breed, doe age, kid sex, and litter size were analyzed as sources of variation. Sire breed, doe breed, doe age, litter size, and kid sex affected (P < 0.05) 30-d weights. Creep and non-creep fed kids had similar (P > 0.05) 30-d weights. Doe breed, doe age, litter size and kid sex affected (P < 0.05) weaning weight and ADG. The creep fed kids were heavier (P < 0.05) at weaning (16.11 ± 0.6 vs. 15.28 ± 0.6 kg) and had higher ADG (0.13 ± 0.01 vs. 0.12 ± 0.01 kg) when compared with the non-creep kids. Sire breed, treatment x sire breed, doe breed, and treatment x doe breed had an effect (P < 0.05) on kid survival rate from birth to weaning. Creep feed did not affect (P > 0.05) kid survival rate. Sire breed, litter size and kid sex affected (P < 0.05) conformation score. Creep feed did not affect (P > 0.05) conformation score. Doe breed, doe age, litter size, and kid sex affected (P < 0.05) the market value. Creep kids had higher values (P < 0.05) than non-creep kids at market ($58.12 ± 2.35 vs. $54.92 ± 2.31). The weighted average cost of creep feed per kid was $2.00. Sire breed, litter size, and treatment x litter size affected (P < 0.05) the FAMACHA score. FAMACHA scores of creep fed kids were lower (better; P < 0.05) than non-creep kids (1.16 ± 0.08 vs. 1.24 ± 0.08). Creep feeding was shown to be beneficial for kid performance under the prevailing study conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]