Richard Browning, Jr., Ph.D. - Tennessee State University

Richard Browning, Jr., Ph.D.

Meat Goat Performance Testing

"He helps others most, who shows them how to help themselves."
-A. P. Gouthey

Meat goat producers interested in herd performance evaluation and genetic improvement are invited to participate in a new USDA-funded project at TSU with the objective of stimulating record-keeping for economically important production traits in meat goat doe herds.

Animal performance records will help herd managers make informed animal selection/culling decisions to enhance overall doe herd productivity and better understand the economics of their operations. This project is open to any management scheme (seedstock or commercial), any breed (Boer, Kiko, Myotonic, Savanna, Spanish, etc.), and any genetic type (straightbred or crossbred). Under this project, the genetic evaluation protocol used in the TSU research herd over the last few years will be applied to participating herds for birth-to-weaning performance.

Participation is presently at no cost. Forms used for electronic data submission are provided below. Fill in the data sheets and submit via e-mail attachment. You will receive summary reports on herd performance based on adjusted kid weaning weights and doe reproductive output.

For more information about participating in the on-farm doe herd test project, contact:

Richard Browning, Jr., PhD

Institute of Agricultural & Environmental Research

Tennessee State University

615-963-5867

rbrowning@tnstate.edu

Meat goat producers in Alabama should contact:

Maria L. Leite-Browning, DVM

Alabama Cooperative Extension System

Alabama A&M University

256-372-4954

mll0002@auburn.edu