Hitting Seasonal Market Highs by breeding Meat Goats during the Summer months

Hitting Seasonal Market Highs by breeding Meat Goats during the Summer months

Summary

Project Summary

This project titled “Hitting Seasonal Market Highs by Breeding Meat Goats During Summer Months” looked at using three different heat synchronization protocols to get female goats (does) to come into a standing heat and breed during the summer months when typically goats do not breed. By doing this offspring (kids) that these does would produce would be able to be marketed in February and March the seasonal high for the meat goat markets. This project would measure the success of the breeding process, price difference in marketing periods and the costs of performing the breeding process.

First Years Summary

Results from the first year are mixed. There was success in getting the does to breed during the summer months. Although the success rate was not as high as one would have hoped. Extreme heat may have played a role in the disappointing outcome. Next year’s results will need to show some improvement for this production practice to be viable.

The marketing goal of selling goats in the during the seasonal high price levels was a success. Goats sold in March 2012 were $0.33/lbs higher than those sold in the traditional time period of October 2011.

The marketing goal of selling goats in the during the seasonal high price levels was a success. Goats sold in March 2012 were $0.33/lbs higher than those sold in the traditional time period of October 2011.

Objectives/Performance Targets

Two groups of does were used. Each group had 15 does. Each group was then divided into sub groups of 5 and each sub group had a different synchronization process performed. The three synchronization techniques were 1) Insert a CIDR, remove in 14 days and then breed by live cover, 2) Give each doe a shot of Lutalyse, insert a CIDR, remove in 14 days and breed by live cover, 3) Give a shot of Lutalyse, insert a CIDR, remove in 14 days and give a shot of PG600 and then breed by live cover. Each group was then pregnancy checked by ultrasound 60 days after breeding.

Accomplishments/Milestones

Breeding Process
Results of ultrasound showed that 20/30 does were bred. The individual group results are listed below.

Group 1 – Late May breeding
Treatment 1 – 5/5 Bred
Treatment 2 – 2/5 Bred
Treatment 3 – 4/5 Bred
Total 11/15 bred

Group 2 – July breeding
Treatment 1 – 5/5 Bred
Treatment 2 – 2/5 Bred
Treatment 3 – 2/5 Bred
Total 9/15 bred

Unfortunately we think that the ultrasound process was flawed or inaccurate because only 9/30 does produced kids in September and October. Of those 9 does that produced kids all of them were from the Group 1. (8 Kids from Treatment 1, Group 1, 3 Kids for Treatment 2, Group 1 and 3 kids from Treatment 3, Group 1)

One possible explanation of the poor results could be the hotter than normal temperatures during the breeding time period. Data from the Oklahoma Climatological Survey shows that the average high temperatures for May, June and July 2011 were 78, 95, and 103. The normal high temperatures for the same time period are 80, 88, and 94. It is believed that the unusually high temperatures affected the quality of the buck’s semen and therefore caused the low pregnancy rates. Hopefully when this demonstration is done in 2012 temperatures won’t be as hot.

Impacts and Contributions/Outcomes

Marketing

The goal of selling the kids during a time when the market typically is at it’s seasonal high was achieved. There were 14 kids born in October and sold in March. March 2012 prices for these kids averaged $2.21/lbs. This is an increase of $0.33/lbs. when compared to prices for comparable sized kids in October 2011. With an average weight of 56 lbs./kid that represents an increase in sale revenue of $18.48/kid.

Costs

The costs for the heat synchronization procedures are as follows:

Treatment 1 - $7.28/doe X 10 Does = $72.80
Treatment 2 - $9.28/doe X 10 Does = $92.80
Treatment 3 – $19.28/doe X 10 Does = $192.80

Returns

Group 1, Treatment 1 = $147.84 - $72.80 = +$75.04
Group 1, Treatment 2 = $55.44 - $92.80 = -$37.36
Group 1, Treatment 3 = $55.44 – $192.80 = -$137.36

Group 2, Treatment 1 = $0 - $72.80 = $-72.80
Group 2, Treatment 2 = $0 -$92.80 = -$92.80
Group 2, Treatment 3 = $0 – $192.80= $192.80

Total, Treatment 1 = +$2.24
Total, Treatment 2 = -$130.16
Total, Treatment 3 = -$329.96