MEAT GOAT PRODUCTION HANDBOOK

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Development of Grade Standards for Slaughterkids, Yearlings, and Adult Goats

Much of this information is taken from a Research Grant Proposal being submitted by the authors to the Agricultural Marketing Service of the USDA for funding in 1994. The agencies involved are the State Departments of Agriculture in North Carolina and Virginia and Virginia State University. Should this proposal be funded, successfully executed, and its findings adopted and implemented by goat marketers, it is anticipated that marked improvements in marketing efficiency and more equitable pricing margins would ensue, thus benefiting primary producers and consumers of goat meat.

The increasing number of goats going into the meat trade over the past few years is thought to be primarily a function of increasing numbers and purchasing power of diverse and widely scattered ethnic populations. Per capita consumption of goat meat within these groups is demonstrably higher than among the more traditional consumers of beef, pork, and poultry. Goat industry leaders report that demand for goat meat pushes prices significantly higher at certain seasons. Indeed, major players in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Florida, and California are actively seeking to generate a larger, more timely supply of goats of more desirable quality. It is estimated that the northeastern seaboard markets are currently absorbing over 150,000 head annually with the Florida peninsula taking about 150,000 head. California is thought by suppliers to take some 200,000 head yearly while the Texas Department of Agriculture had recorded sales to Mexico of 85,000 and 54,000 head in 1990 and 1991. Major packers in Texas (2), New Jersey and Connecticut each kill over 30,000 head annually and lesser packers in Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, California and Florida are said to match these numbers in the aggregate. Smaller but significant numbers are killed on-farm or sold at private treaty or custom slaughtered. In point of fact, no reliable, comprehensive figures are available concerning the production, marketing or utilization of meat goats.

In pursuit of USDA/AMS objective, "Studies to improve efficiency of the marketing system to enhance combativeness and profitability", we propose the following objectives:

(1) To determine the correlations between visual appraisal, empirical body measurements and carcass characteristics of slaughter goats.

(2) To develop a preliminary set of grade standards for slaughter goats for USDA/AMS review and possible adoption and implementation.

The production and marketing of goats and goat meat has been reported to be unorganized, unobserved and unrecorded and is, accordingly, erratic over time and place as to price, availability and consistency of quality (Pinkerton, et al, 1993). Apparently, equitable distribution of marketing margins across goat producers, intermediate exchange points, processors, wholesalers and retailers is only imprecisely achieved.

Producers, prospective producers, processors, and merchandisers, being virtually without goat market information and knowledge of grading standards, are seriously disadvantaged in basic decision making concerning production needs and marketing options. This impairment contributes to very cautious enterprise entry and/or expansion and to delayed response time by those in the trade.

A current marketing study has found buyers, processors, wholesalers and consumers of goat meat to be concerned with both lack of quality and consistency of animals and carcasses (Pinkerton, et al, 1993). Brokers, traders, auction owners and packers identify erratic quality and seasonality of supply/demand ratios as constraints to more rapid industry expansion. Contrarily, many packers and on-farm slaughterers seem to exhibit little enthusiasm for the creation and implementation of a nationally recognized grading system. Perhaps they are content to exploit the prevailing system to private advantage. On the other hand, it is the contention of many goat producers and extension goat specialists that the existence of grade standards could contribute materially to a more equitable distribution of consumer dollars to primary producers and, consequently, encourage more orderly production, marketing, and pricing.

A further rationale for development of grade standards is the recent trend from marketing whole carcasses to retailing primal and retail cuts via supermarket sales. Moreover, with the advent of the NAFTA policy, there will likely be considerable market expansion for goat meat in Mexico and Canada. Poultry processors now in, or considering, Mid-East markets have also expressed interest in merchandising goat meat. They also express concern for consistent quality as well as steady supply; grading would likely be particularly beneficial in this context.

Using as a guide the USDA/AMS publication, "Official United States Standards for Grades of Slaughter Lambs, Yearlings, and Sheep", project personnel will develop a working set of grade standards for market goats. Thereafter, personnel will use these standards to visually appraise and categorize a sufficient goat data set. Live goats will be weighted and measured for heart girth, wither height, hip width, left forearm circumference, shoulder/hip length and point of shoulder width. A portion of these goats will be slaughtered and carcass measurements taken to determine: (1) hot carcass weight; (2) dressing percent; (3) fat over the rib; loin, leg, and brisket; (4) ribeye area; (5) maximum circumference of rear leg, and (6) others as may become necessary.

The classes of slaughter goats to be sampled are buck, doe and wether; the age groups are kids, yearlings, and adult goats. (Following industry practices, kids may be sub-categorized as under, and over 40 pounds live weight).

Since grades of slaughter goats are intended to be directly related to the grades of carcass they produce, we will base our working grade standards on factors which are directly related to the quality grades and the yield grades of the carcasses. These working grade standards will be written to show quality and yield grade standards separately.

The quality grade standards will be divided into three categories, kids, yearlings, and adult goats. Initially there will be four quality grades within each category: Choice, Good, and Standard, and Utility; since there may not be a Choice adult goat quality grade, a further designation for cull goats may be employed. These grade designations are for preliminary use; final nomenclature may differ.

Quality grades of slaughter goats will be determined by conformation and quality (fatness and maturity, etc.). However, it will be necessary to recognize the physiological fact that goats typically exhibit very little fat cover and less marbling; fat is deposited intramuscularly, however, and goats do exhibit considerable kidney, heart and pelvic fat.

There will be four (and perhaps five) yield grades denoted by number (1 highest) reflecting cutability and muscling. Because of the typical lack of finish on goats, we speculate that muscle mass or thickness may well be the decision criterion in assigning yield grade.

Before taking to the field to evaluate goats, project personnel will confer with USDA/AMS personnel experienced in sheep grading who will review our working descriptions of market classes and groups of goats. Thereafter, project personnel will identify cooperating producers, "middlemen", and packers who will permit us to evaluate their goats and carcasses. We also expect to purchase a number of goats (as well as some carcasses) for detailed carcass measurements including fat/lean/bone ratios and moisture/protein/fat determinations. We will contract with University or other abattoirs for certain aspects of this work.

Resident or invited USDA/AMS Inspectors and Graders will assist project personnel in collecting a portion of both live and carcass data. The actual number of animals/Caracas to be evaluated will be at AMS discretion and will depend to evaluate animals in Virginia, North Carolina, Texas, and New Jersey. We will sample among breed types insofar as possible. Currently, buyers and packers generally discriminate against Angora and favor dairy goat kids. However, the bulk of the trade is in meat type goats ("Spanish, Texas brush, Virginia hill, Carolina briar and Midwestern scrub"). All very widely in conformation, condition, price and availability and cause unresolved confusion across time and place.

The preliminary working descriptions of grades of slaughter goats, as developed by William Drinkwater, Livestock Marketing Specialist, VDACS, Richmond, VA, are presented below. Ms. Becky Sauder, Livestock Market Reporter, USDA Livestock Market News, San Angelo, TX is currently evaluating these descriptions for possible improvements in accuracy of reporting goat sales.

Dressing percent not used because of lack of data correlating live and carcass weights. Choice is suggested as the top grade rather than Prime because prime connotes a high degree of finish (fatness); this is inappropriate for goats. To be eligible for grades as slaughter kids animals shall still retain their kid teeth and the first yearling teeth shall not be visible. Kids shall weigh at least 20 lb.

Choice - Choice slaughter kids will exhibit superior meat type conformation and possess a high degree of finish. Choice slaughter kids are smooth over the top and the backbone is well covered and smooth when the hand is pressed down on the back. Choice kids will also possess prominent briskets. The hair coat of Choice kids will be smooth and lustrous indicating a high level of nutrition and freedom from sickness and parasites.

Good - Good slaughter kids will exhibit average meat type conformation and possess a moderate amount of finish in the brisket and over the back. The hair coat of Good kids is smooth and clean in appearance. The backbone will be moderately prominent to the touch when pressed down on.

Standard - Standard slaughter kids will exhibit at least average meat type conformation, but will possess only moderately thin to thin finish in the brisket and over the backbone. The backbone will be very prominent when pressed down on and feel "knobby" to the touch. Standard grade kids will be healthy in appearance and have the potential to reach the choice grade.

Utility - Utility kids exhibit symptoms of poor management including nutrition, parasite control or genetic deficiencies. Utility kids are very thin fleshed with a hair coat that is rough and dull in appearance.

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