Semester

Spring

Date of Graduation

2025

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Type

MS

College

Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Design

Department

Animal and Nutritional Sciences

Committee Chair

Scott Bowdridge

Committee Co-Chair

Scott Greiner

Committee Member

Scott Greiner

Committee Member

Eugene Felton

Abstract

Five-year analysis of Kiko buck growth rate, carcass muscling and parasite resistance in a feedlot environment

Garrett T. Vaughan

From 2018 to 2023, Kiko bucks born from January 1st to March 15th were performance tested at West Virginia University to evaluate growth rate, ultrasound carcass characteristics and parasite resistance under an artificial infection. Kiko bucks were submitted by producers from 17 different states and over 5 performance tests, 830 Kiko bucks were evaluated. Bucks were group housed and fed ad libitum with a 16% CP pellet containing soyhulls, serving as the dietary fiber component. Upon arrival, bucks were required to meet the minimum weight requirement of 40 lbs. Out-of-state goats were subject to a 2 lb shrink allowance. Goats were vaccinated for Enterotoxemia, Tetanus, and Sore Mouth and given a color-coded RFID tag coordinating which pen they will remain in for the test. Fecal samples were collected, and goats were administered anthelmintic dewormers; Cydectin, Prohibit, and Valbazen. After a 2-wk transition period, a 63-day test period began. On-test weights were taken 12 hours apart and averaged to account for rumen fill. Then weights were taken weekly until the off-test weight, where final weights were taken 12 hours apart and averaged. Fecal sampling occurred at on-test, 21d, 42d and off-test. Ultrasonic measurement of REA at the 12th and 13th rib interface was conducted 1 week prior to test completion. Arrival weight, on-test weight and off-test weight did vary by year (P > 0.05). Five-year average delivery weight was 24.07 kg (± 4.09 kg), average on-test weight was 27.21 kg (± 4.19 kg), average off-test weight was 39.22 kg (± 6.36 kg) and ADG was 0.19 kg/d (± 0.07 kg/d). Analysis of adjusted REA revealed a 5-year average of 10.74 cm2/cwt (±2.16 cm2/cwt). To evaluate parasite resistance all bucks were orally administered 5,000 H. contortus larvae at test initiation. Average 5-year test fecal egg count (AFEC) was 210.48 eggs/g (±282.57 eggs/g). To normalize FEC data, a log transformation was performed. Average 5-year test Log fecal egg count data (ALFEC) for on-test was 1.78 eggs/g (±0.53 eggs/g), mid-test was 2.08 eggs/g (±0.62 eggs/g), and off-test was 1.91 eggs/g (±0.52 eggs/g). Across these 5 years, most bucks did not develop a large FEC making evaluation of parasite resistance difficult in this setting. Nonetheless, these data provide a robust summary of Kiko buck feedlot performance, pertaining to growth and carcass metrics. These data will be useful to producers in efforts to improve their herds and for other performance test stations across the US as a benchmark for performance.

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