When we decided to start a farm we had one goal in mind: To produce high quality goats grown to a set of standards that will thrive in the natural Southeastern Ky area. We think that a complete policy of growth, nutrition, and health is the only sure way to grow a quality low maintenance animal. We hope that you find our standards unique in the industry, and we would love to hear ideas on how to improve them even further!.
The Standards of Red Brush Farm
We evaluate our animals with weighted consideration of positive traits to be retained and negative traits to be eliminated when assessed within a specific animal, as recommended by Dr. Terry Gipson. Dr. Gipson is an academic leader in goat research at College of Agricultural Studies , E. (Kika) del a Garza Institute for Goat Research Extension, Langston University , Langston , Oklahoma . The use of a selection index allows a ranking of desirable traits to be retained in the animal and thus in the herd on a “best fit” basis.
Weighted Target Selection Criteria (in order of priority)
A buck must:
- consistently produce kids with high width to depth conformation and good muscling with 90% proficiency
- consistently produce kids of 60-70 lbs. at 7 months of age without deformity with 90% proficiency
- require one hoof trimming or less per year
- require two or less parasite control treatments per year
A doe must:
- consistently produce fast growing kids of 40-45 lbs. at weaning
- demonstrate excellent mothering skills and adequate lactation at every kidding season
- successfully birth kids without assistance at every kidding opportunity
- require one hoof trimming or less per year
- require three or fewer parasite control treatments per year
- produce one kid at initial kidding and two healthy kids at every kidding opportunity after initial kidding
- produce 3 successful kiddings every 2 years
All bucks are evaluated for performance biannually and does evaluated at every kidding opportunity. The ultimate goal of this assessment is to determine and retain the lowest body weight does that produce the largest kids at the lowest cost. The does whose efficiency index falls in the lowest 10 percentile of the herd are culled.