Goat Selection

Animal selection is a skill that meat goat producers needs to master. Animal selection
relies on the ability of the producer to identify parent animals that possess desirable
traits to contribute to their offspring. These characteristic are economic important traits
which should allow the producer to achieve defined production goals. Commercial
producers may place greater emphasis on growth measurements. Seed stock
producers or purebred producers may place more importance on reproduction and
carcass traits to meet their production goals.

The animals selected or not selected fall into two general categories or methods of
selection.

Breeding and(or) herd replacements

Cull animals
Breeding or herd replacements can be defined as animals selected to produce
offspring. These animals are selected for their desirable characteristics or traits.
Selection by culling, on the other hand, is the process by which a producer removes
animals from the herd. Animals are culled for not meeting the goals of the producer.
Despite the different needs within the meat goat industry, a balanced approach is the
key to sound animal selection.

Next
Module Home
Certification Table of Contents
Browsing Table of Contents