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The breed standard for the meat goat is primarily designed to enhance
structural correctness of the breeding meat goat, with an emphasis on
muscle volume, function, and survivability of the commercial animal.
General Appearance: A long body is desirable, with leg and cannon bone
length in proportion to the animal. Extremely long legs are no more
desirable than extremely short legs. A strong level back is desirable,
extending from the neck to the hook bones, keeping in mind that heavier,
older animals are more likely to have a weaker top line than young
animals. The back should be long, wide, and strong. Width and length of
loin are important to volume of meat in the carcass. The back should be
wide from the withers to the rump, with smooth shoulders, that blend
smoothly into the neck. The rump should be long and wide also, with the
same width between hooks as pins, if not wider between the pin bones.
The rump should have a slight slope from hook bones to pin bones, but
should not be overly steep. Some angle is necessary for easy kidding.
The front end should be wide and smooth. Well spaced front legs
representing a wide chest floor, and the legs perpendicular to the
ground. Muscling should be visible in the forearm. Feet should be
pointing straight ahead. Knock-knees, buck knees, pigeon toed, or splay
footed animals are not desirable. The barrel needs adequate spring of
rib indicating capacity for foraging, pregnancy, and maintenance of body
condition.
Rear legs should be wide apart and straight when viewed from the rear.
Muscling should be evident as demonstrated by a thick thigh, and the
depth of the twist. A side view should show a straight line from pin
bone to hock and pastern to touch just behind the hoof. These angles
are most desirable for correct free movement of the legs. The pasterns
should be strong and straight. The feet should have tight toes, and a
level sole. Frame size indicates growth potential. Adequate to
moderate bone is acceptable. Sickle hocked, post legged and cow hocked
animals are unacceptable.
Mouth: The dental pad: Length of the upper and lower jaw should be
equal. Teeth should touch the dental pad in young goats. In older
goats, some leaning of teeth is acceptable, as long as the length of the
jaw and dental pad, as viewed from the side is equal. No over or
undershot jaw is acceptable. No allowances will be made for bad bites.
Does: The doe should have a feminine head, and a feminine wedge
appearance of the body, with a long elegant neck blending smoothly into
wide smooth shoulders and back. The body should be of adequate size for
age of the animal. Does should exhibit good spring of rib and depth of
body; these are good indicators of volume. There should be adequate
muscling in the rear leg without loosing femininity. The body should
have volume and capacity, which demonstrates productivity to breed,
carry, and rear young in a pasture situation.
The udder should ideally be round, with good suspension (not pendulous),
and teats that are easily nursed by a newborn kid. Both sides of the
udder must be functional. Breeding age females should show evidence of
having kidded by the age of two years. Evidence of reproductive
activity, as demonstrated by a well-developed mammary system, and vulva
is very important. Large well-developed does, with infantile,
reproductive systems are not acceptable.
Bucks: Bucks should exhibit masculinity, and adequate muscling. The
head should be masculine, with a broad strong muzzle and horns set far
apart enough to not trap and break legs of other goats. The neck should
smoothly flow into wide smooth shoulders. The body should demonstrate
the Masculine profile with the heavier chest and forebody.
Masculinaztion of older bucks, as demonstrated by higher, heavier,
coarser shoulders is acceptable, as this is a manifestation of
testosterone. Testicles should be of equal size, and large for day of
age. No split is allowed in the scrotum. Mature bucks should have a
minimum scrotum circumference of 25cm or 10 inches in circumference. Overly
pendulous testicles are undesirable. Testicles should be smooth, and
free of bumps or lumps.
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