SAN ANGELO – Until now, the old adage, "beauty is only skin-deep" has been woefully true for meat goat producers trying to pick breeding animals on something other than looks.

To help breeders find animals with the right genetics, the American Boer Goat Association and the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station initiated the Boer Goat Improvement Network or "BGIN" (pronounced "begin") a year ago.

Dr. Dan Waldron, Texas Agricultural Experiment Station geneticist at San Angelo, is the lead scientist on the project. He worked closely with the association to adapt the testing procedures used in other species to meat goats. He said BGIN is the first program of its kind within the U.S. meat goat industry.

"The goal of BGIN is to provide breeders with the information needed to select breeding stock that will lead to an improvement in economically important traits," said Waldron. "The procedures were adapted from the National Sheep Improvement Program through a $35,000 grant from the National Sheep Industry Improvement Center.

Expected Progeny Differences or EPDs have been available within several cattle breeds for years, Waldron explained. They give prospective buyers measurable estimates of the genetic value of an animal as a parent.

"With some modifications, we are now conducting similar work with meat goats."

Waldron said the Boer goat association's initial evaluation resulted in Expected Progeny Differences on more than 1,300 animals for the seven traits evaluated. The traits are: direct genetic effects for birth weight, 90-day weaning weight, 150-day post-weaning weight, and number of kids born. Also, predicted were maternal genetic effects for birth weight, weaning weight, and a combined maternal plus growth evaluation for weaning weight.

"The BGIN has the potential to impact the entire meat goat industry," said Waldron. "I expect that we will soon see buyers of breeding stock asking for documentation of the genetic merit of animals before making an investment. Buyers will be drawn to those breeders that have documented evidence of superior performance.

"The breeders that initiated this program are making U.S. meat goat industry history. They are to be commended for leading the way." Robert Swize, the association's executive director, several cooperating breeders, and Texas Cooperative Extension personnel, recently reviewed the BGIN program's first genetic evaluations.

"We were very pleased with what we saw and how smoothly the program is going," Waldron said. "The program proves that there are truly many top animals in this country; both in looks as well as genetics.

Waldron said BGIN-tested breeding animals and their offspring are already on the market, and it will be only a matter of time before they start making a positive impact on the meat goat industry. Commercial producers will also benefit from the program, he said, because they can now buy bucks that will produce predictable results in the coming year's kid crop.

The breeders involved in the first BGIN evaluation were T4 Ranch and Texas Goat Flock, Sonora; Double-M Boer Goats, San Angelo; Sisters II, Carlsbad; Trueheart Meat Goats, Eldorado and 4D Ranch, Utopia.

To participate in the next BGIN evaluation, contact Waldron at (325) 653-4576 or Swize through the American Boer Goat Association office in San Angelo at (325) 486-2242.