Forage systems for the sustainable production of uniform goat carcasses

Forage systems for the sustainable production of uniform goat carcasses

Summary

During spring 2006 we successfully established four pastures each of four species including chicory, white clover, sericea lespedeza, and striate lespedeza. There was little difference in gain or parasite loads for the goats grazing the four different legume species. Twelve goat producers took part in a workshop focusing on goat herd health and parasite control August 6, 2005. The workshop that included lectures on goat parasites, their control, FAMACHA evaluations, and proper methods for performing fecal egg counts. We have just sent out 1,974 copies of a survey instrument to determine the structure of the goat industry in the region.

Objectives/Performance Targets

1. To determine the characteristics of the structure of the goat production industry in the
Mid-South.

2. To establish the requirements of slaughter goat quantity, seasonal distribution and
carcass characteristics to support a dedicated slaughter processing facility.

3. To develop forage systems that provide for the rapid production of finished meat goats.

4. To evaluate goat carcass development in response to forage system in order to produce
uniform goat carcasses to support dedicated slaughter/processing facilities.

5. To provide goat producers with information regarding forage systems for efficient goat production, optimal characteristics of desired goat carcasses, and marketing techniques to take advantage of available demand for goat meat.

Accomplishments/Milestones

All 24 half-acre pastures have been established and the fencing and water systems have been put in place. Due to poor growing conditions during spring and summer 2005 the birdsfoot trefoil did not establish and we have had to reseed these eight pastures in spring 2006. We also decided to eliminate Norcen birdsfoot trefoil from the trial and add Illinois bundleflower to expand our evaluation to six species of legume.

A single-sided, two-page survey designed to characterize the structure of the goat industry in Tennessee and surrounding states has been developed and mailed to a database of 1,974 goat producers. We will evaluate this data and use it to determine shortfalls in meat goat production to support a dedicated goat slaughter facility. We will be developing transportation models to determine the supply radius for a slaughter facility and evaluate whether the current goat population will support such a facility.

Since the pastures were not established until late in the season and we only had four species to evaluate we conducted the initial grazing trial in the fall of 2005 to evaluate our grazing and data collection techniques. Plans are to run two sets of weanling goats through the grazing system in 2006 and use ultrasound analysis to evaluate carcass development for the first time in 2006.

We conducted a workshop focusing on goat herd health and parasite control on Saturday, August 6, 2005. Twelve goat producers took part in the workshop that included lectures on goat parasites, their control, FAMACHA evaluations, and proper methods for performing fecal egg counts. Each participant received a booklet that outlined the material covered along with a copy of FAMACHA charts. Plans are in place to conduct another workshop during 2006 focusing on goat breeding and conformation to fit market demands.

Impacts and Contributions/Outcomes

This research is designed to demonstrate to goat producers how to grow goats to fit market demands to improve the marketability of their product. Our goal is to identify pasture systems that will work to rapidly develop desirable goat carcasses to meet the market demands. We are using forages that contain high levels of condensed tannins with the goal of improving parasites control in the goat pasture systems. Our evaluation of the goat industry in the Mid-South along with the development of a transportation model will be used to support the development of a dedicated goat slaughter facility somewhere in West Tennessee to support the further development of the goat industry.

Collaborators: