2010 Kentucky Buck Performance Test information coming soon
Last year test was a great success. Plans are currently underway for the 2010 Kentucky buck test. Information will be posted here as soon as it is available.
A Buck Performance Test allows producers to select bucks not only on their phenotypic traits, but also on their genetic potential for growth. Since a buck is 50% of the herd, choosing a herd sire with proven growth will allow meat goat producers to rapidly increase the average daily gain of their future kid crops. Increasing the gain of your market kids by a mere .2 lbs. per day will increase 90 day weaning weights by 18 pounds. On today’s market that 18 pounds equates to over $30 per kid.
The 2009 Kentucky buck test was an 84-day performance trial that was conducted at the renovated facility at Western Kentucky University’s research farm. The 2009 test was followed by another successful sale. All goat breeders in Kentucky and surrounding states are invited and encouraged to enter a buck or bucks into the 2010 test.
Once the sale plans are finalized, complete information and entry forms will be made available.
2009 Kentucky Buck Performance Test Guidelines
I. Eligibility
1. The test is open to purebred and crossbred buck kids born after November 1, 2008 and weighing between 40 and 100 lbs at check-in (underweight goats will not be accepted). Copies of registration papers or applications with copies of sire and dam papers are required at entry for registered kids (hard copies of papers must be available at the sale or the buck will be sold as non-registered). Date of birth must be provided for non-registered kids and additional production information is encouraged. A single producer may enter a maximum of 5 bucks. Additional entries may be allowed if the test is not full. II. Test Procedures 1. Upon arrival, bucks will be subjected to an entry exam for health and breeding soundness. Bucks passing the initial exam will receive a CDT booster, be vaccinated for Soremouth (if the vaccine is available), and be de-wormed and deloused. Fecal exams may be performed on each animal at entry and approximately 4 to 7 days following entry. Additional foot trimming, de-worming, and delousing will be performed as needed. III. Fees 1. Entry fees for the 2009 Kentucky Buck Performance Test are $100 per buck. If there are not 35 bucks entered the 2009 test will be cancelled and entry fees will be returned. In the event unscheduled veterinary care is needed, producers will be consulted and will be responsible for any additional charges. IV. Sale Information
2. Bucks must have been weaned at least 2 weeks at the time of check-in, have had their feet trimmed, and have had at least their initial CDT vaccine more than three weeks prior to the entry date.
3. Bucks must arrive at the test station on Thursday, July 2, 2009 between 4:00 and 8:00 p.m. CST.
4. Test bucks will be given new ear tags at admission to the test. All buck kids must arrive at the test station with Scrapie tags.
2. At check-in, buck kids will be assigned pens according to their weight.
3. Following a 12 day adjustment period, bucks will begin an 84-day performance test. On-test weights will be recorded on July 14, 2009 and weights will be taken approximately at 28-day intervals with the final weigh-in recorded on October 6, 2009. The initial weight at check-in will also be published but will not figure into average daily gain calculations. In addition to total pounds gained, the percentage increase in body weight will also be published. All goats will be scored according to the attached conformation scorecard and this scorecard will be published.
4. Scrotal circumference will be measured and recorded at the last weigh date. Loin eye area will also be measured by ultrasound.
5. Producers will be allowed to view the bucks on Tuesday, August 11th beginning at 6:30 p.m. CST in conjunction with the Mammoth Cave Goat Association meeting.
2. A $50 deposit on the entry fee and copies of registration papers should be sent to Tess Caudill (Kentucky Department of Agriculture, 100 Fair Oaks Lane, 5th Floor, Frankfort, KY 40601) and must be postmarked no later than June 8, 2009. Checks should be made payable to Mammoth Cave Area Goat Producers Association (MCAGPA). This deposit will be refunded on bucks denied entry after the entrance exam (minus the exam fee). The test can only accommodate 50 head and these spaces will be filled in the order of which their deposits are received. The remainder of the entry fee will be due at the time of check-in.
1. The 2009 Kentucky Buck Performance Test Sale will be held on Saturday, October 17, 2009 at 5:00 p.m. EST following the Kentucky Goat Producers Association Annual meeting at the Franklin County Extension Office/Fairgrounds. V. Special Doe Sale 1. Producers with bucks making the sale may also consign up to 2 full or paternal half sisters to the tested buck kid. Only open doe kids are eligible and producers may consign up to 2 doe kids per buck. Producers wishing to sell doe kids must submit copies of their registration papers (if registered) along with the attached Doe Kid Entry Form no later than September 11, 2009. Hard copies of papers must be present at the sale for a doe to sell as registered. Doe kids should be delivered to the Franklin County Fairgrounds by Noon on Saturday, October 17, 2009. At this time doe kids may be subjected to a screening for health and breeding soundness before they are allowed to sell. A 10% commission will be collected on doe kid sales.
2. Bucks performing at or near the average during the test period for average daily gain will be offered for sale. Arrangements for pick up or marketing of bucks not eligible for the sale must be made following the last weigh-in.
3. Sale order will be determined by multiplying average daily gain by an adjustment factor calculated from the conformation scorecard (a copy can be found on the back of the buck entry form). Each buck will be graded on conformation at or near the last weigh date by a committee consisting of qualified individuals not previously involved with the 2009 test. A buck receiving an A in all five areas would have an adjustment factor of 1.2, thus his average daily gain would be multiplied by 1.2 to determine his final adjusted score. A buck with a B average would have his ADG multiplied by 1.1. A buck with a C average would have an adjustment factor of 1.0 and a buck with a D average would have an adjustment factor of .9. Any buck scoring an F in any area will be disqualified from the sale regardless of gain.
4. All bucks will sell with a breeder’s guarantee that will be printed in the sale catalogue.
2009 Kentucky Buck Performance Test Confirmation Scorecard
Mouth Soundness
A - (Perfect Mouth) Top of bottom teeth contact upper plate at correct angle and placement.
B - (Near Perfect Mouth) Top of bottom teeth touch upper plate, but rough in fit.
C - Plate is in contact at some location with lower teeth.
D - Plate is no more that ¼ inch from teeth at any point in front of mouth.
E - (Off in Mouth) Plate is more than ¼ inch from teeth. (Parrot Mouthed or Monkey Mouthed)
Teat Structure
A - 2, 3, or 4 clean teats (No more than 2 functional teats per side.)
B - 2, 3, or 4 teats (Can have non-functional spurs, can be clustered, but no more than 2 functional teats per side.)
C - 2, 3, or 4 teats (Can be clustered, no more than 2 functional teats per side, presence of fish teats must be 50% split or more.)
D - 2,3, or 4 teats (Presence of fish teats split less than 50%, more than 2 functional teats per side.)
Scrotum/Testicle Structure
A - Yearling adjusted measurement of 28 cm or larger. Uniform, hang square to body. No split in scrotum.
B - Yearling adjusted measurement of 28 cm or larger. Uniform, hang square to body. ½ inch or less split in scrotum.
C - Yearling adjusted measurement of 28 cm or larger. Uniform, can have slight twist in scrotum. 1 inch or less split in scrotum.
D - Yearling adjusted measurement of 28 cm or larger. Slight variation in uniformity. No more than ¼ twist in scrotum. No more than two inch split in scrotum.
E - Yearling adjusted measurement less than 28 cm. Considerable variation in uniformity. More that a ¼ twist in scrotum and more than a 2 inch split in scrotum. Any evidence of cryptorchidism.
Structural Soundness
A - Sound structured, correct in movement
B - Sound structured, slight variation in correctness of design
- Topline
- Levelness/straightness of top from shoulders to hip
- Open shoulders, wing shouldersRump
- Levelness of rump
- Length of rumpFeet and Legs
- Pigeon footed, splay footed
- Weak pasterns
- Buck knees, calf knees, knock knees, bandy legs
- Post legged, sickle hocked, bow legged, cow hocked
- Overall movementC - Sound structured, some variation in correctness of design
D - Marginal on soundness in structure. Considerable variation in correctness of design.
E - Structurally unsound. Extreme variation in design that could potentially limit the breeding capacity of the animal or his potential longevity in the herd.
Muscling
A - (Extremely heavy muscled) Wide base, thick stifle, wide rump, expressive forearm, thick top and wide chest. (150 grade or better)
B - (Heavy muscled) (100 to 150 grade)
C - (Average muscled) (250 to 100 grade)
D - (Below average muscled) (200 to 250 grade)
E - (Inferior muscled) Narrow based, flat stifle, narrow rump, flat forearm, narrow or sharp top and narrow chested. (390 grade or lower)
