BREEDING GOATS WITH AN EMPHASIS ON FUNCTIONAL EFFICIENCY

"GROWTH RATE IS IMPORTANT BUT NOT AT THE COST OF LOSING MOTHERING ABILITY OR OTHER ASPECTS OF BIOLOGICAL FITNESS."                   R. GILBERT, Sheep Canada, 2009.

BLOODLINES THAT FOSTER PERFORMANCE

IN THE 2017 SUMMER ISSUE OF THE CANADIAN MEAT GOAT ASSOCIATION JOURNAL IS A SUMMARY OF THE DATA COLLECTED FOR 2016 AND 4 PREVIOUS YEARS OF THE GOAT HERD IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM.  WHILE PARTICIPATION IS STILL LOW ONE CAN SEE HOW THIS INFORMATION MAY BE USED AS A BENCHMARKING TOOL.  THE 2016 EFFICIENCY RATIO  OF THE 280 DOES WHO WERE ENROLLED IS 71.91
OVER HALF OF OUR DOES HAD SCORES  WELL ABOVE THIS.  THE HIGHEST BEING, 117.77  NOT SURPRISINGLY, THEY ARE THE DOES WHO PRODUCE THE MOST MILK.  IT HAS BEEN AN INDICATION TO ME THAT THESE DOES REQUIRE AND WOULD DO WELL TO RECEIVE A HIGHER PLANE OF NUTRITION BEFORE PARTURITION AND AT LEAST THROUGH THE FIRST SIX WEEKS OF LACTATION SO THAT THEY DO NOT "MILK OFF THEIR BACKS." 

"Yes, we want to have good production but we need to be looking at what is optimal rather than what is maximum."  
 Dr. Temple Grandin addressing the attendees at the American Farm Bureau Federation's annual  convention in San Diego.                   

This is our foundation doe;  Naquabi  Schneehopli  (Irish Winds Pepsi X Stonemoore Winona)