Meat Goat Program
The Kerr Center Meat Goat Program began in 2007 with the establishment of the Oklahoma Commercial Meat Goat Forage Performance Test. On the Kerr Ranch near Poteau, project manager Mary Penick established a herd of Kiko and Kiko-cross meat goats on ten acres of native grass, and
expanded to include a commercial doe herd later that year.
Oklahoma Forage-Based Buck Test
Nominations for the 2010 buck test are due June 11
Each year, the Kerr Center teams up with the OSU Cooperative Extension
Service to conduct the Oklahoma Forage-Based Buck Test (formerly the Oklahoma Meat Goat Forage Performance Test).
Meat goats are booming in Oklahoma agriculture, and it’s important
to know which lines perform best on pasture. The forage performance test
helps answer that question.
“The rationale behind the Oklahoma Forage-Based Buck Test is to begin to identify individual bucks, as well as their sires
and dams, that carry genetics expressing strong traits important in commercial
meat goat production,” says test manager Mary Penick
“Additionally, this test will allow breeders to compare genetics
within their herd to make better management decisions as to herd lines
that will produce profitable progeny for future herds. This test will
also provide valuable information for all goat producers and
the public.”
Goat producers wishing to test their bucks' performance on forage are
invited to enter bucks in the test, which will runs from mid-July until
the end of October.
Entry rules and regulations
Commercial Doe Operation
The commercial doe operation is used to educate and inform producers
of sustainable meat goat management. Penick uses FAMACHA testing and
fecal egg counts to monitor parasite loads, while also demonstrating
grazing techniques for goat management.
In summer 2008, the does were moved to an 8-acre plot named “Native
Grass Plot” to monitor how forages change in response to the does’ grazing
behavior. Using transects and photo monitoring, we can see the plant
species change over time and the effect this has on the goats.
Resources
For more information about meat goats we recommend these external links:
In addition, see the Kerr Center’s resources related to meat goats.
Kerr Center Field Day:
multi-species Grazing (Cattle and Goat) Field Day 2010
Forty people from Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas and Kansas attended the Kerr Center’s multi-species grazing field day, hosted by Dr. Dave Sparks and his wife Linda, on Saturday, May 8, 2010 at their farm near Porum, OK.
Information and resources »
Contacts
Mary Penick
Pineywoods Cattle & Goat
Projects Manager
mpenick@kerrcenter.com
Andy Makovy
Ranch Herdsman & Technician
amakovy@kerrcenter.com
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