Performance Testing | Richard Browning, PhD | Faculty & Staff

Performance Testing

Herd Performance Evaluation & Genetic Improvement

IMPORTANCE OF PERFORMANCE RECORDING

Meat goat producers should be interested in herd performance evaluation and genetic improvement. However, too many goat managers are still reluctant to adequately document performance for economically important production traits in meat goat herds. If raising and selling meat goats as a business, seedstock or commercial, recording animal weights should be a common part of the management program. This is important for genetic improvement, the readiness of market kids, and the general assessment of management protocols.

DOE HERD PERFORMANCE EVALUATION RESOURCES

• Fact Sheet: On-Farm Performance Testing for Meat Goat Doe Herds (pdf)
• 2006 Slide Show: On-Farm Meat Goat Performance Testing: An Industry Deficiency

IMPORTANCE OF USING A SCALE IN A MEAT GOAT HERD

• Australia Fact Sheet: Use of Scales in Meat Goat Herds

CAUTIONARY NOTE

A note about buck performance testing relative to doe herd performance.

• Central Testing

Similar relationships have been documented for beef cattle performance. Buck testing alone is insufficient to improve overall herd performance. Doe evaluation is equally important, perhaps more so relative to herd economics.