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Texas Agriculture Archive

January 16, 2004

Expected Progeny Differences or EPDs have been available within several cattle breeds for years. Boer goat breeders will soon have the same tool, thanks to the Boer Goat Improvement Network or "B-GIN" (pronounced "begin"), a genetic improvement program being developed by the American Boer Goat Association (AGBA) with assistance from the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station.

"This new program is the first of its kind within the U.S. meat goat industry," said Dr. Dan Waldron, Experiment Station geneticist. "EPDs provide measurable estimates of the genetic value of an animal as a parent. This program will make a real difference for U.S. goat producers in terms of selecting breeding stock for specific measurable traits."

The ABGA was recently awarded $35,000 by the National Sheep Industry Improvement Center to fund the program.

Robert Swize, ABGA's executive director, said the program has the potential to change the U.S. meat goat industry by making use of the same genetic improvement methods that have been so successful in other species.

"Breeders will soon be able to get EPDs on their animals to use as an aid in selecting breeding stock," he said. "ABGA members will collect the performance information needed to help breeders make genetic improvement. This will result in animals that are documented to be genetically superior for growth and reproduction being available to all goat producers."

"Through the combination of performance and pedigree records, we will have a valid comparison of animals in Texas, Kentucky, California, or any other state. The ABGA is fortunate to have the Texas A&M faculty help us develop this very valuable resource."

"Selecting more productive animals will lead to increased efficiency of production," said Waldron. "Using EPDs to select breeding stock gives producers the ability to predict how next year's kid crop will perform."

"The ABGA breeders came to me for help in developing this program last winter," he said. "This grant will help the ABGA to make faster progress toward the availability of EPDs."

Waldron said commercial goat producers will benefit from the B-GIN program because they will be able to buy bucks that will produce predictable results.

Thirty years after its passage into law, the Endangered Species Act (ESA) is under attack by everyone from biologists to politicians to environmental groups.

Although considered the most powerful environmental law in the United States, critics charge that the ESA is not living up to its name.

Only seven animal species have been taken off the endangered species list in 30 years. In addition, few species have been added to the list in recent years—only 25 since President Bush was elected in 2001. Most of the programs operated under the act are millions of dollars in debt. Decisions made by Fish and Wildlife Services officials under the authority of the ESA frequently result in lengthy lawsuits.

The American Farm Bureau Federation believes that the current federal ESA must be amended and updated to accommodate the needs of both endangered and threatened species and humans with complete respect for private property rights within the framework of the United States Constitution.

"Know Your Grasses," the field guide from Texas Cooperative Extension, is back by popular demand.

The revised and updated guide is a reference to both native and introduced grasses of Texas. There are helpful descriptions and detailed illustrations of 81 different grass species.

The compact guide is a perfect size to carry into the field or place in the glove compartment.

During the several years the book was out of print, there were hundreds of requests to bring it back.

Cost is $14.95. For orders of 25 or more copies, cost is $10.95 each. To place an order, visit TCE Bookstore at http://tcebookstore.org. Or, call (888) 900-2577. Refer to publication number B-182.

"Quarantine and recall measures were implemented at once. This incident appears to be isolated. It's important to note that BSE has never been found in milk or muscle cuts of meat. It affects only brain and spinal tissue, which was removed for testing, and did not enter the human food chain.

"Years of planning for this contingency have produced the world's best system for early detection and containment of BSE. The American beef supply remains safe."