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Distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) produced in US are predominately low fat, as the economics favor separating as much oil as possible for sale as renewable diesel feedstock and also for use in swine and poultry feed. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of feeding different amounts of low-fat DDGS (LF-DDGS) on growth performance, growth efficiency, rumen fermentation, blood metabolites, and carcass characteristics of Kiko crossbred wether goats. Twenty-four goats, 5–6 months of age, were randomly assigned to one of the four experimental diets (n = 6/diet), 0%, 10%, 20%, and 30% LF-DDGS on an as-fed basis, and fed for 84 days. Data collected were analyzed using an orthogonal contrast test for equally spaced treatments. Average total gains, average daily gains, and gain-to-feed ratios were similar among the treatments (p > 0.05). Rumen acetate, propionate, and butyrate concentrations and acetate: propionate ratios were similar (p > 0.05) among treatments. There were no differences (p > 0.05) among treatments for dressing percentage, rib eye area, and backfat thickness. Findings suggest that at least up to 30% LF-DDGS can be included in diets of castrated male goats without affecting production performance and carcass characteristics.

Hempseed meal (HSM) is the byproduct of hemp seeds and is rich in crude protein and fiber, making it an ideal candidate as a feedstuff for ruminants. The objective of the present study is to evaluate the effects of feeding different levels of HSM on the carcass traits of crossbred Boer goats. Forty castrated goat kids (approximately six months, 25.63 ± 0.33 kg) were assigned to one of four treatments (n = 10) in a completely randomized design. Goats were fed pelleted diets (50% forage and 50% concentrate) with additional supplementation of HSM: control with 0%, 10%, 20%, and 30% of the total diets. Goats were harvested and processed after a 60-day feeding trial. There were no significant differences (p > 0.05) in the mean values of dressing percentages, carcass weights, body wall thickness, and ribeye area among treatments. Marbling scores and percentages of moisture, fats, proteins, and collagen in the muscles showed no significant differences (p > 0.05) among the treatments. Results suggest that including up to 30% of HSM in the diet of growing meat goats does not affect their carcass traits.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of varying levels of hempseed meal supplementation on antibody and cell-mediated immune responses, as well as the expression of some of the important immunoregulatory cytokines. Treatments consisted of hempseed meal supplementation at 0 (control), 10, 20, and 30% of the total diet. Goats were randomly assigned to one of the four treatments n = 10. Cell-mediated immune response was evaluated on day 59 of the feeding period by measuring skinfold thickness at 24 h following intradermal injection of phytohemagglutinin. A significant increase in skinfold thickness was observed with increasing levels of supplementation as compared to that of the control group. Serum antibody titers to chicken ovalbumin were not significantly different between treatment groups. Cytokine concentrations of IL-6 increased linearly with increasing level of supplementation (p < 0.05), contrarily to the linear decrease that was observed for TNF-α (p < 0.05). Although IL-2 tended to increase with the 10 and 30% levels of supplementation (p < 0.07), the result was not significant, and no significant differences were obtained with respect to IL-4 concentrations. Cytokine gene expression values measured by RT-PCR, however, demonstrated some significant differences. HSM supplementation had no significant effect on the expression of IL-2 or IL-6. However, significant differences were observed with the 30% supplementation for IL-4 and TNF-α as compared to that of the control group (p < 0.05). IL-4 was down regulated for the 10 and 20% treatment groups but was upregulated for the 30% treatment group. TNF-α was downregulated in the 10% but upregulated for the 20 and 30% treatment groups. No significant differences were observed for the serum cortisol concentration or white blood cell counts. These results suggested that hempseed meal supplementation may improve cell-mediated immune response while having no effect on antibody-mediated immune response. However, more research needs to be conducted to determine the most efficacious inclusion rate.

Abstract Cost-effective and feasible production system of meat goats requires that grazed forages are converted to profitable goat meat product. However, there are studies as how altering forage type influences ruminal fermentation parameters and animal growth performance, and interact with microbiota in meat goats. Our objective for current study was to examine whether the comparative abundance of the Bacteroidetes (B) and Firmicutes (F) bacterial phyla in meat goats fed simple and mixed forages influenced average daily gain (ADG) and rumen fermentation parameters. In the present study, a molecular approach, bacterial tag-encoded FLX amplicon pyrosequencing (bTEFAP) was applied to accomplish diversity analyses of rumen bacterial populations. Thirty-six Kiko-cross growing meat goats (body weight (BW) = 27.7 ± 2.83 kg) at approximately 7 mo of age were used in this study. Animals were randomly allocated to 3 pasture treatment groups (n = 12) as follows: 1) bermudagrass pasture (BG; Cynodon dactylon), 2) sunn hemp forage (SH; Crotalaria juncea), and 3) BG + SH forage combinations. There were 2 replicates per treatment and animals grazed these pastures for 45 d. Results indicated that treatments had similar initial BW, but final BW and ADG were higher (P < 0.01) for SH and BG + SH combinations than for BG alone. Animal ADG and rumen fermentation (acetate to propionate; A/P ratios) were highly correlated with the abundance of various bacterial populations within the rumen microbiome. There were linear decreases in percentage of Bacteroidetes (R2 = −0.84; P < 0.05) associated with decreasing ADG. In contrast, increased ADG was linearly associated with higher percentages of Firmicutes (R2 = 0.79; P < 0.05), F/B ratios (R2 = 0.88; P = 0.07), total VFA (R2 = 0.45; P < 0.05), and lower A/P ratio (R2 = −0.72; P < 0.01). This suggests that the substrates (diets) and bacterial community have the role in adapting host biological parameters in meat goats. The abundance examination of both Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes will be useful for exploring the structure of gut microbiota as an estimate of animal performance.

Abstract Hempseed meal (HSM) is a potential alternative feedstuff for livestock due to its high protein content, but it has not been approved for animal feed in the United States due to safety concerns. This study was conducted to determine the effects of HSM on feed intake, growth performance, serum biochemistry, ruminal papillae morphology, ruminal fermentation profiles, and carcass characteristics of intact male goats. Thirty-six Boer × Spanish intact male goats were randomly assigned to one of four experimental diets (n = 9 goats/diet): 0%, 10%, 20%, and 30% HSM on as-fed basis. Diets were formulated to be isonitrogenous and fed free-choice for ad libitum consumption in the 60-day experiment. Linear and quadratic effects of different concentrations of HSM were determined. Total feed intake, crude protein intake, ruminal papillae morphology (papillae density, length, width, absorptive surface area, stratum corneum, and stratum granulosum thickness), carcass traits (longissimus muscle area, body wall thickness, backfat thickness, shrink percentage), and serum concentrations of most metabolites were similar among treatments (P > 0.05). Intake of acid detergent fiber (ADF) and nitrogen detergent fiber (NDF) increased linearly (P < 0.05) with increasing inclusion of HSM in the diet. Average daily gain (ADG), gain-to-feed ratio, and dressing percentage decreased linearly (P < 0.05) with an increasing percentage of HSM in the diet. Similarly, concentrations of propionic, butyric, iso-butyric, valeric, and isovaleric acids in ruminal fluid decreased linearly (P < 0.05) with an increasing percentage of HSM in diet, whereas concentration of acetic acid and total volatile fatty acids in ruminal fluid tended to decrease linearly (P-value nearly 0.10) with an increasing percentage of HSM in diet. The level of blood urea nitrogen increased linearly (P < 0.05) with increasing concentration of HSM, but values were within the normal range for goats. Findings from the serum metabolite analysis and ruminal papillae morphometrics suggest that goats can be fed HSM at a concentration of up to 30% in their diet. However, growth performance results indicate that further cost-benefit analysis is required to compare HSM with other commonly used protein sources such as soybean meal. These findings will be useful for legal bodies to review during the approval process of HSM as a feed ingredient for goats in the United States. Food and Drug Administration-Center of Veterinary Medicine requires data on the effect of hempseed meal on each animal species and in each of their life stages before approval of hempseed meal (a potential alternative protein source) as an animal feed ingredient. Outcomes of this study will be helpful for the review during the approval process of hempseed meal as a feed ingredient for goats. Lay Summary Hempseed meal (HSM) is a protein-rich residue from the oil extraction process from hemp seeds. As it is not approved for use in animal feed in the United States due to safety concerns over the health of animals and consumers of animal-derived products, we studied the effect of including HSM up to 30% in the diet of male goats on feed intake, growth performance, serum biochemistry, ruminal papillae morphology, ruminal fermentation profiles, and carcass characteristics. Results showed that feed intake, ruminal papillae morphology, carcass traits (except dressing percentage), and serum metabolites (except blood urea nitrogen) were not affected by the inclusion of HSM up to 30%. However, total live weight gain, average daily gain, gain-to-feed ratio, dressing percentage, and concentration of volatile fatty acids in ruminal fluid were decreased. Based on these findings, goats can be fed HSM at a concentration of up to 30% in the diet without adversely affecting health. However, as growth performance decreased, further cost-benefit analysis is required to compare HSM to other commonly used protein sources. These findings will be useful for legal authorities to review during the approval process of HSM as a feed ingredient for goats.

The objective of this study was to determine the influence of hempseed meal (HSM) on goat meat characteristics. Goats (N = 10/treatment) were allocated to a diet concentration (0, 10, 20, or 30%) of HSM, fed for 60 days, and harvested. Carcass measurements were collected after chilling, and subsequently fabricated into wholesale subprimals. From the subprimals of the shoulder and leg, steaks were cut 2.54 cm thick, vacuum packaged, and assigned to laboratory methods: cook yield, instrumental color, lipid oxidation, microbial spoilage, and instrumental tenderness. HSM did not alter (p > 0.05) carcass characteristics, microbial spoilage, cook loss, or the thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS). However, a decrease in objective tenderness measurements (p < 0.05) was observed with greater concentrations of HSM supplementation in the diet. Instrumental surface color values for lightness (L*) indicated that steaks became lighter and less red (a*) as storage time increased (p < 0.05). Results suggest that HSM and storage time do not alter some goat meat traits, but HSM or storage time separately may influence goat meat quality. HSM may be an effective feed ingredient that does not alter carcass quality or meat yield.

Cost-effective and feasible production system of meat goats requires that grazed forages are converted to profitable goat meat product. However, there are studies as how altering forage type influences ruminal fermentation parameters and animal growth performance, and interact with microbiota in meat goats. Our objective for current study was to examine whether the comparative abundance of the Bacteroidetes (B) and Firmicutes (F) bacterial phyla in meat goats fed simple and mixed forages influenced average daily gain (ADG) and rumen fermentation parameters. In the present study, a molecular approach, bacterial tag-encoded FLX amplicon pyrosequencing (bTEFAP) was applied to accomplish diversity analyses of rumen bacterial populations. Thirty-six Kiko-cross growing meat goats (body weight (BW) = 27.7 ± 2.83 kg) at approximately 7 mo of age were used in this study. Animals were randomly allocated to 3 pasture treatment groups (n = 12) as follows: 1) bermudagrass pasture (BG; Cynodon dactylon), 2) sunn hemp forage (SH; Crotalaria juncea), and 3) BG + SH forage combinations. There were 2 replicates per treatment and animals grazed these pastures for 45 d. Results indicated that treatments had similar initial BW, but final BW and ADG were higher (P < 0.01) for SH and BG + SH combinations than for BG alone. Animal ADG and rumen fermentation (acetate to propionate; A/P ratios) were highly correlated with the abundance of various bacterial populations within the rumen microbiome. There were linear decreases in percentage of Bacteroidetes (R2 = -0.84; P < 0.05) associated with decreasing ADG. In contrast, increased ADG was linearly associated with higher percentages of Firmicutes (R2 = 0.79; P < 0.05), F/B ratios (R2 = 0.88; P = 0.07), total VFA (R2 = 0.45; P < 0.05), and lower A/P ratio (R2 = -0.72; P < 0.01). This suggests that the substrates (diets) and bacterial community have the role in adapting host biological parameters in meat goats. The abundance examination of both Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes will be useful for exploring the structure of gut microbiota as an estimate of animal performance.

The use of goats for clearing longleaf pine ( Pinus palustris Mill.) stand undergrowths has potential as an alternative tool to prescribed burning. Objectives of the experiment were to determine the effects of using different stocking rates of meat goats on understory plant biomass height and quantity, understory crown cover density, animal productivity, soil characteristics and damage to pine trees. A 4.86 ha of 8–9 years old longleaf pine stands with 1112 trees/ha was divided into twelve 0.40 ha at Tuskegee, AL. The understudy vegetation contained many volunteer tree species with Broomsedge ( Andropogon virginicus L.) being the predominant grass cover. Fifty-four mature Kiko wether goats (initial BW = 48.5 ± 2.5 kg) were allocated randomly to four treatments (0, 3, 6, 9 goats/0.4 ha) with three replications per treatment for 83 days in 2013 according to a completely randomized block design. The data was analyzed using the GLM procedure of SAS. The tree damage was monitored. Results showed that both initial and the final soil bulk density and soil compaction, plant biomass heights and quantity were not significantly different ( P  > 0.05) among treatments. Average daily BW gains were not significantly different ( P  = 0.76) but daily gains were close to zero. The combined final crown cover density percent at 2.0 m decreased linearly ( P  < 0.05) with increasing stocking rates. The tree damage was minimal even at the highest stocking rates. The results suggest that goats have potential to manage understory vegetation under longleaf pines.

Small-ruminant production is important farm enterprise in Alabama and other states of the Southeast, especially for small and limited-resource farmers. Poor health of animals caused by various diseases and parasites, resulting in a low performance is a major problem faced by most farmers. There are various strategies that can be adopted to minimize the prevalence of diseases and parasites and improve animal health. However, the majority of farmers are lacking the needed knowledge to adopt such strategies. The objective of this program was to educate farmers and extension educators on the integrated approach for controlling diseases and parasites in small ruminants. The program was initiated in 2010 and has been continued with training sessions (n = 7) conducted at the state level. County-level based programming (n = 22) has also been delivered in the form of hands-on training sessions and field days. Moreover, educational materials in the form of workshop proceedings (n = 1) and handouts, flyers, and fact sheets (n = 11) were developed and disseminated to the target audience and public through different outlets (county extension offices, training sessions, field days, farm visits, emails, blog, social media, web pages). Because of this program, numerous small-ruminant farmers and extension professionals are being trained every year (n = 40–51/yr.), and many more have access to educational materials (n = 1,100–1,700/yr.). Short-term impact evaluation of the program shows that knowledge and skills of the trainees have increased significantly (21–62%; P < 0.05). Trainees rated the presented topics useful (94%), they were very likely to implement what they learned (96%), and mentioned that such implementation would improve their farm situation (88%). Several trained farmers were found adopting the integrated approach and educators training their clientele on using the integrated approach to minimize health problems in small ruminants.

Livestock shows allow youth to get firsthand experience in handling and taking care of animals, and other life skills such as responsibility, time management, hard work, and leadership. However, the relationship between participation in livestock shows and future career choices has not been clearly established. A questionnaire survey was developed to gather information from students, agriculturists, and agricultural professionals in an attempt to answer the above question. The questionnaire reached 14 land-grant universities, five animal agriculture-related companies, and over 27,000 people on social media. 516 respondents competed the 19-question survey. Respondents were divided into four regions (Southern 1; Northeast, 2; Mid-west, 3 and West, 4). Data collected on binomial variables were analyzed using Probit analysis to determine regional and gender differences. Chi square tests of independence were used to test the association of selected categorical variables. All analyses were conducted using SAS (SAS Inst., Inc., Cary, NC). Significantly, more females (48.2%) considered community outreach as a benefit out of participating in youth livestock shows compared to males (31.9%). Fewer individuals in the southern region (24.1%) viewed financial management as a strength of participation compared to other regions (≈ 38%). Males were much more frequently members of Future Farmers of America (70.1%) compared to females (53.3%). The regions 2, 3, and 4 showed significantly (P < 0.05) higher levels of participation in 4-H (90%) compared to region 1 (69%). The results provided much useful information related to youth livestock shows but did not demonstrate a clear relationship between participation in livestock shows and future career choices.