Media contact: Blair Fannin, 979-845-2259, b-fannin@tamu.edu
Contact: Dr. Reid Redden, 325-653-4576, reid.redden@ag.tamu.edu
SAN ANGELO – Texas A&M AgriLife will soon be conducting an Angora goat test at the Texas A&M AgriLife Research Sonora Station with delivery set for Dec. 4.
The performance test is for billy kids born in 2018. The test has been an annual event for nearly a quarter century, said Dr. Reid Redden, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service state sheep and goat specialist in San Angelo.
“However, for the past five years, the performance test has been conducted on rangelands compared to a confined-feeding scenario,” Redden said. “Some of the very best Angora goat bre
eders in Texas participate in the test. The purpose of this program is to aid in the selection of goats that can thrive in a range environment and produce high-value fleeces. The test will be conducted on pasture so that performance is measured in an environment where fitness is important.”
The tentative test schedule is:
– Dec. 4, delivery.
– Feb. 20, initial weigh day and shearing.
– July 17, final weigh day and shearing.
“Because the goats are managed on pastures, we are able to test for parasite resistance and juniper (cedar) consumption. These are very important traits that are not measured in confinement performance tests,” Redden said.
He said periodically fecal samples are tested for parasite fecal egg counts.
“When parasitism occurs we can identify animals that are more resistant, then deworm all the goats before animal health concerns occur,” Redden said. “Also, a fecal sample will be collected and tested via NIRS to predict juniper (cedar) intake on the pasture.”
Angora goat breeders interested in participating in this test need to contact Redden by Dec. 1 at 325-657-7324 or reid.redden@ag.tamu.edu. More information about this test and past performance results can be found at: https://sanangelo.tamu.edu/performance-tests/angora/.
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