Selecting Your Market Goat

It is our favorite time of season! Time to select market goats for jackpots and shows, which also means we have kids on the ground as well! With this exciting time of year upon us its easy to get overwhelmed when looking at a large pen of goats, here is our advice on selecting your ideal market goat so you can be successful at any shows you compete at.

First thing we start with when going to buy any show goat is to look at the buck and doe that the kid came from. Many times you can tell a lot about what he will look like in the future from his parents. This is why here at BTCB we put emphasis on having the highest quality does bred to bucks that complement them well! Although genetics play a major role, it is also important to remember that how you feed out your animal will also play a major role. Don't be discouraged if you see a goat without bulging muscle or the ideal cover, you can typically feed them to help them develop this as they mature throughout the summer. But it is important to remember genetics contribute to many important features you can not change such as structural correctness, width, depth of body, ect. Here are some important traits a goat needs to have to be successful in the ring.

* Structural Correctness: -The goat should stand square where his/her legs should be straight underneath the body, not cow hocked or pigeon toed. He/she should be level over the top, not sway backed or weak behind the withers. (If you were to lay a yard stick flat over the back, ideally you should see little to no space between the back and the stick)

*Width Throughout:

-When you watch he/she walk away you should notice a good amount of width, as well as over the top and throughout the front.

*Depth of Body:

-This is the distance vertically from the animals top to the bottom of their stomach. This is a characteristic that is very important in your breeding shows; however I like to see ample depth of body in the wethers as well.

*Muscle Volume:

-This should be definite and easy to identify. You should see muscle extend down through the stifle, down the forearms, as well as an overall muscling to the animal. (Remember muscle can be changed though through feeding!)

*Large Frame:

-He/she should have some size and scale, having a large size of frame will give you a clue as to the growth potential of the offspring.

We hope this was helpful as you approach one of the most exciting seasons of the year! We wish you the best of luck selecting your next champion.