2009 Oklahoma Meat Goat Forage Buck Performance Test

56 Day Weights & Information

Download 2008_56day_rank.pdf

Above you will find the PDF for the 56 day weights and ADG so far. Please do not be alarmed if your buck has not gained much or has a negative number. I compared this years scores with last year and they are very close to one another. Also Gustav or "Gus" as I affectionately call the him, did cause quite a bit of weight loss in the last week. We do not have the fecal scores completed but hope to have them by the end of the week.

Mary

August 22, 2008

Update on the bucks:

I moved the bucks yesterday into the new pasture where there is a strong mix of grass and browse. The bucks are really enjoying themselves. However, with the weather we have been experiencing it has been tough on the little guys. Please click here 

Download 200808WIST.pdf

 to look at the weather conditions your animals have been facing. One of our producers described the Oklahoma test as the "Test from Hell". Those who make the top 20percent are truly able to handle any conditions and do well.

Needless to say, with the weather we have some snotty noses and are watching closely that everyone recovers well.

I know several producers are awaiting results but we will not be taking any measurements until the 56th day on September 8. We will do a full work up.

Please look at the new pictures I put up yesterday. These are taken in the new pasture.

Mary

Brutal Heat

The bucks are faring better than I expected in this heat. Tomorrow we are forecasted to hit 105- air temp followed by 107 on Monday and back down to 103 for Tuesday. We are not working them, just keeping a close eye on everything. 

Below I have posted our mesonet weather data for July. We are going to fecal test and FAMACHA score the bucks the week of the 11. Hopefully, temperatures will moderate some and we will see some rain.

The forages are faring as well as can be expected and are holding out but without rain in the near future we will see how it fairs.

Please look at the photos in the photo album entitled July 2008 and I will post again next Saturday.

Mary

Download 200807WIST.pdf

Heat

Just an update on weather here in southeast Oklahoma- We are hot! Not to mention high humidity values and the weather doesn't look to break anytime soon.

The Oklahoma Mesonet has a site here on the ranch so you can see up to date conditions. Click the link here- http://www.mesonet.org/cgi-bin/public/mcdshow.cgi?stid=WIST&year=2008&month=7&FORMAT=html

We have discovered that we have some heavy coccidiosis in a few of the bucks and so are treating the whole herd. I can say that myself and our herdsman Andy are wathcing this very closely. We are treating the bucks by medicating the water with Corid.

I do hope to have some pictures today so check back in a few days.

Just wanted to let everyone know!

Mary

Beginning Weights

The 2008 buck test began on Monday, July 14th. This year we had a two week warm up period before we took any weights or fecals so that the bucks could acclimate themselves to their new home.

On Monday, we weighed bucks, took FAMACHA scores, and trimmed hooves. Click the link below for buck rankings. No foot scald was present at this time but will be checked everytime we work goats.

Fecals will be taken and run in two weeks along with FAMACHA scores. Weights will be taken at 56 days on September 8.

The weather has been hot with heat indexes well over 100 degrees. The humidity stayed low over most of the week but has increased today.  I am watching for signs of heat stress.

The forages are still growing with most of the grasses being 8 -10 inches in height. This is keeping the bucks from grazing at the level where worms are most prevalent.

I don't have pictures yet but hope to have them soon. Our camera is not working properly and is being worked on.

Mary Download 2008_buck_results.xlsx Download 2008_buck_results.pdf

Top Herdsman & Fourth Place

Sky & Deborah Shivers are pictured with their pen of bucks, including the 4th place buck #47. The Shivers also won for Grand Champion Herdsman for the best overall ADG for the top 2 bucks in their pen. Breed: Kiko

State: Oklahoma

Third Place

Sam and Carol Stafford are pictured with their 3rd place buck #36. Breed: Texas Genemaster

State: Texas

Reserve Grand Champion

DeWayne Maloy is pictured with his Reserve Grand buck #27. Breed: Boer

State: Oklahoma

Grand Champion

  Terry Hankins is pictured with his pen of bucks, including the Grand Champion buck # 42.  Breed: Kiko

State: Mississippi

Final Results

The buck test has ended for this year. We loaded up the last bucks on Sunday and are already looking forward to next years test. Below I have posted the results of the test along with the forage samples, weather, etc. that were passed out to the participants at the field day on Saturday.

Click on the images to enlarge them. In a following post I will put up pictures of the winners and their owners. As well as images from the last few days of the test.

Information about next years test will be posted on this blog, along with the Kerr Center website, the OSU Oklahoma Meat Goat website, listed in the Kerr Newsletter and advertised in the Goat Rancher.

I expect that the age requirements will be much the same for next year, so plan for your bucks to be born in early spring if you would like to compete.

Thank you to everyone for participating and can't wait to see you again next year.

Mary

Download goat_test_forages.pdf