A comparison of pen vs. pasture feeding of meat goats.

1. Using grain to improve goat carcass
quality and value: Year 2
Susan Schoenian and Jeff Semler - University of Maryland Extension

2. Thank you for your support of the
2012 and 2013 pen vs. pasture studies.
We love
barley!

3. Pen-fed (n=15) Pasture-fed (n=15)
• Maintained on pasture
– Pasture-only diet
– No supplemental feed
• Maintained in dry lot
• Fed hay and grain
– Free choice mixed hay
– Whole barley once per day

4. Growth rate - average daily gain (ADG)
0.311 ± 0.071 lb./d
0.064 ± 0.036 lb./d

5. Fecal egg counts (eggs per gram of feces)
Fecal egg counts are a measure of parasite infection (# worms)
Pastures were pre-infected
by sheep. All goats were
dewormed on May 31 with
three anthelmintics.
8
12
3
1 3

6. FAMACHA© scores (1-5)
FAMACHA© scores estimate packed cell volume (PCV),
which is a measure of the anemia caused by the worms
8
12
3
1
3

7. Live and carcass weights

8. Percent carcass yields

9. Carcass fat

10. Carcass muscling
Rib eye area (REA) - in2
+28%
+37%

11. Meat Quality (2012 data)
0.0
20.0
40.0
60.0
80.0
100.0
120.0
Caproic Palmitic Stearic Oleic
Mg fatty acid per gram of dry meat
Top 4 (>90%) fatty acids in goat meat
Pasture Pen
+8.7 mg
+10.5 mg +3.4 mg
+50 mg
SFA (neutral) Bad SFA Neutral SFA MUFA (good)

12. Economics of pen vs. pasture feeding
Group USDA grade Price per cwt Avg. weight Value per head
Pasture 2.5 $159 55.2 $88
Pen 1.1 $207 74.5 $154
Difference 1.4 $48 19.3 $66
Group Lbs. lean Price per lb. Value per head
Pasture 9.70 $10 $97
Pen 16.65 $10 $166.50
Difference 6.95 0 $69.50
Feed cost for pen goats
Barley: 1.1 x 84 x $13/cwt = $12.01
Hay: 2.4 x 84 x $12/cwt = $24.34
Total: $36.40/head
Profit: $154-$36.40 = $117.60/head
Cost for pasture goats
$100/acre x 12.5 acres x 96 goats ÷ 15 = $13.02
Death loss (FAMACHA 5 ): 4 x $88 ÷ 15 = $23.47
Total: $36.49/head
Profit: $88-$36.49 = $51.51/head

13. Goat Twilight Tour (open house)
August 1, 2013

14. We’d like to repeat the study
for a third and final time.
• Results in 2011 and 2013
differed from results in 2012
• 2013 was the first year in which
a uniform set of goats was
utilized in study (a similar source
of goats has confirmed for 2014).
• Repeat study feeding whole
barley instead of a more
expensive ration.
• Pasture, weather, and economic
conditions vary each year.

15. Thank you Maryland Grain Producers!