Meat Goat Project Update

Below are the past month of weights for the goats on the project.  The grass only group averages about 60 lbs and the grass + grain group is averaging about 67 lbs.

			10/30	11/13	11/27
CSC ID	Gender	Trt	WT 10	WT 11	WT 12	Total ADG
1	W	Grass	43	42	44	-0.007
2	W	Grass + Grain	62	65	64	0.122
3	W	Grass	63	69	72	0.136
5	W	Grass	53	53	58	0.075
6	W	Grass + Grain	60	68	62	0.048
7	W	Grass	63	62	49	-0.122
8	W	Grass + Grain	68	73	73	0.156
9	W	Grass	62	66	71	0.143
10	W	Grass + Grain	64	66	72	0.204
11	W	Grass	44	44	48	0.088
12	W	Grass + Grain	68	74	73	0.088
13	W	Grass	55	65	67	0.027
14	D	Grass + Grain	62	63	65	0.122
15	D	Grass	51	52	55	0.048
17	W	Grass	42	46	50	0.020
18	W	Grass + Grain	69	70	80	0.170
19	W	Grass	64	70	74	0.184
20	W	Grass + Grain	65	67	69	0.163
21	W	Grass	51	56	61	0.041
23	D	Grass	52	56	63	0.109
24	D	Grass + Grain	64	64	61	0.054
25	W	Grass	59	60	61	0.041
26	W	Grass + Grain	56	63	65	0.129
27	W	Grass	48	49	50	0.000
28	W	Grass + Grain	61	65	71	0.156
29	W	Grass	44	44	44	-0.027
30	W	Grass + Grain	75	78	78	0.170
31	W	Grass	51	50	46	-0.007
32	W	Grass + Grain	66	68	69	0.116
33	W	Grass	64	67	65	0.027
34	W	Grass + Grain	71	74	79	0.163
35	W	Grass	68	72	79	0.170
37	W	Grass	59	61	64	0.088
38	D	Grass + Grain	69	71	70	0.129
39	D	Grass	60	59	66	0.150
40	W	Grass + Grain	51	57	55	0.082
42	W	Grass + Grain	53	52	57	0.027
43	W	Grass	60	59	58	0.054
44	W	Grass + Grain	55	56	62	0.088
45	W	Grass	62	70	74	0.122
46	D	Grass + Grain	64	63	63	0.129
47	W	Grass	67	67	65	0.020
49	W	Grass	54	58	58	0.088
50	W	Grass + Grain	559	66	68	0.163
51	D	Grass	56	57	56	0.034
52	D	Grass + Grain	63	69	64	0.088
54	D	Grass + Grain	61	65	63	0.116
56	W	Grass + Grain	58	60	62	0.136

Meat Goat Project Update

We have several of the goats from the research project approaching market weight!  We will be harvesting about 5-6 head per week, starting in the next couple of weeks!  I will be mailing all data out to the producers who have consigned animals, this week.  Check back next week for a project summary to date on this blog site!

We have fall lambs!

It is exciting – we have about 70 fall lambs on the ground now and lambing is almost done (only 4-5 ewes are left to lamb).  Looking at the lambs – this is our best lamb crop we have had!  We look forward to offering the top end of the lambs at our annual Chico State Sheep and Goat Educational Day and Sale on February 13, 2010!  Remaining lambs will be available for private treaty sales after that event!  Hopefully we will be able to get some pictures posted over the next couple of weeks.

Catching up!

Wow – the past couple of months have been busy and I haven’t had a chance to update our blog space.  We have lots of things going on – so we will get back into some regular posts from here on out!  The Chico State Sheep and Goat Unit hopes that everyone had a great Thanksgiving holiday season!

Meat Goat Finishing Study Update

We will be moving the goats to our Sheep Management Center to continue the trial.  This is an elevated feeding facility that promotes animal health by limiting parasite problems.  This will allow us to finish the trial in a timely manner!  The goats will still be on the same dietary treatments, forage only and the forage + grain treatment.  Pictures will be posted once the goats are moved into the other facility!

NCMGA Quarterly Membership Meeting at Chico State

On September 12, 2009, over 60 participants attended the quarterly meeting for the Northern California Meat Goat Association membership.  It was an outstanding meeting!  The membership explored marketing options and educational opportunities and learned a bit about goat meat and grading carcasses.   The day wrapped up with a tour of the Chico State Sheep and Goat Unit.

For more information about this group – visit their website at http://www.northerncaliforniameatgoatassociation.com/

Having fun at the quarterly NCMGA meeting

Producers touring the unit

NDMGA members touring the Chico State Sheep and Goat Unit

More discussion on meat goat grading!

Meat goat producers learning about goat carcass grading

Photos from Weigh Day 8/28

Students from the Animal Nutrition class are helping weigh today!

More students helping!

Had a couple that needed some treatment - Chico State students helping out.

Student moving electric fence

Weigh Day – 8/28/09

Goats were weighed today.  Currently the goats have officially been on test for 56 days.  We are getting closer to harvest on some and will keep you notified as to when animals will be ready.  The ADG reported is for the entire 56 days.

CSC ID	Gender	Trt	WT 1	WT 5	ADG
1	W	1	45	45	0.00
2	W	2	46	59	0.23
3	W	1	52	60	0.14
4	W	2	60	71	0.20
5	W	1	47	55	0.14
6	W	2	55	57	0.04
7	W	1	67	70	0.05
8	W	2	50	65	0.27
9	W	1	50	59	0.16
10	W	2	42	60	0.32
11	W	1	35	44	0.16
12	W	2	60	65	0.09
13	W	1	63	64	0.02
14	D	2	47	58	0.20
15	D	1	48	60	0.21
16	W	2	56	72	0.29
17	W	1	47	44	-0.05
18	W	2	55	61	0.11
19	W	1	47	65	0.32
20	W	2	45	62	0.30
21	W	1	55	58	0.05
22	D	2	56	72	0.29
23	D	1	47	51	0.07
24	D	2	53	62	0.16
25	W	1	55	59	0.07
26	W	2	46	55	0.16
27	W	1	50	50	0.00
28	W	2	48	59	0.20
29	W	1	48	47	-0.02
30	W	2	53	67	0.25
31	W	1	47	52	0.09
32	W	2	52	62	0.18
33	W	1	61	66	0.09
34	W	2	55	64	0.16
35	W	1	54	64	0.18
36	W	2	57	75	0.32
37	W	1	51	56	0.09
38	D	2	51	60	0.16
39	D	1	44	50	0.11
40	W	2	43	46	0.05
41	W	1	44	.	.
42	W	2	53	53	0.00
43	W	1	50	57	0.13
44	W	2	49	56	0.13
45	W	1	56	65	0.16
46	D	2	44	54	0.18
47	W	1	62	63	0.02
48	W	2	64	76	0.21
49	W	1	45	55	0.18
50	W	2	44	57	0.23
51	D	1	51	57	0.11
52	D	2	51	62	0.20
53	D	1	42	46	0.07
54	D	2	46	56	0.18
56	W	2	42	52	0.18
58	W	1	37	38	0.02

Pictures from 8/14/09 – Meat Goat Study

Here are some pictures of the treatment groups.

Just an overview of some of the goats at the CSUC Farm

Some of the goats from the forage + grain group exploring the field.

Forage only group out on their new pasture

An example of the pasture the goats are grazing

42 Day Meat Goat Finishing Study Update

The goats are doing well!  Gains are up and animals are looking great.  Feel free to scroll down our posts and take a look at how these compare to the last weigh periods.

	Avg Wt 8/14	ADG Past 14 Days	Total Gain (42 Days)	Total ADG (42 Days)
Forage Only	56.41	0.20	6.19	0.15
Forage + Grain	60.46	0.36	9.64	0.23

Below is all the individual performance data for all animals.   This includes the last period (WT 4 and ADG 3) as well as total trial gains.  Today is day 42 of the project.  Animals will begin reaching the target ending weight of about 80-85 lbs within the next month.

CSC ID	Trt	WT 4	ADG 3	Period Gain	Total Gain	Total ADG
1	Forage	45	0	0	0	0.00
2	For + Grain	55	0.21	3	9	0.21
3	Forage	60	0.14	2	8	0.19
4	For + Grain	70	0.43	6	10	0.24
5	Forage	54	0.14	2	7	0.17
6	For + Grain	59	0.43	6	4	0.10
7	Forage	72	0.07	1	5	0.12
8	For + Grain	64	0.29	4	14	0.33
9	Forage	61	0.36	5	11	0.26
10	For + Grain	57	0.29	4	15	0.36
11	Forage	42	0.14	2	7	0.17
12	For + Grain	70	0.29	4	10	0.24
13	Forage	64	0	0	1	0.02
14	For + Grain	59	0.36	5	12	0.29
15	Forage	57	0.21	3	9	0.21
16	For + Grain	69	0.5	7	13	0.31
17	Forage	45	0.21	3	-2	-0.05
18	For + Grain	60	0.21	3	5	0.12
19	Forage	67	0.5	7	20	0.48
20	For + Grain	60	0.43	6	15	0.36
21	Forage	61	0.36	5	6	0.14
22	For + Grain	70	0.43	6	14	0.33
23	Forage	56	0.29	4	9	0.21
24	For + Grain	61	0.21	3	8	0.19
25	Forage	61	0.14	2	6	0.14
26	For + Grain	51	0	0	5	0.12
27	Forage	51	0	0	1	0.02
28	For + Grain	59	0.29	4	11	0.26
29	Forage	50	0.07	1	2	0.05
30	For + Grain	66	0.43	6	13	0.31
31	Forage	55	0.21	3	8	0.19
32	For + Grain	61	0.64	9	9	0.21
33	Forage	68	0.36	5	7	0.17
34	For + Grain	59	0.14	2	4	0.10
35	Forage	67	0.29	4	13	0.31
36	For + Grain	75	0.57	8	18	0.43
37	Forage	55	0.14	2	4	0.10
38	For + Grain	59	0.57	8	8	0.19
39	Forage	49	0.29	4	5	0.12
40	For + Grain	46	0.21	3	3	0.07
41	Forage	.	.	.	.	.
42	For + Grain	54	0.36	5	1	0.02
43	Forage	59	0.21	3	9	0.21
44	For + Grain	55	0.21	3	6	0.14
45	Forage	64	0.36	5	8	0.19
46	For + Grain	56	0.43	6	12	0.29
47	Forage	64	0.29	4	2	0.05
48	For + Grain	76	0.5	7	12	0.29
49	Forage	52	0.14	2	7	0.17
50	For + Grain	52	0.36	5	8	0.19
51	Forage	58	0.14	2	7	0.17
52	For + Grain	60	0.29	4	9	0.21
53	Forage	46	0.21	3	4	0.10
54	For + Grain	56	0.43	6	10	0.24
56	For + Grain	54	0.43	6	12	0.29
58	Forage	40	0.07	1	3	0.07