MEAT GOAT
Department G
Superintendents: Kendra Brown, Buffy Hourt-Allred, & Dina Connell
Junior Superintendents: Amelia Betson & Alexandra Rasmussen
MEAT GOAT RULES AND GUIDELINES:
A. General Animal Science Rules apply to this Department.
B. Number of Entries per Exhibitor: A 4-H Member may enter, weigh, and show no more than 3 meat goats.
- All Goats must have official 4-H ownership affidavits on file for the current year.
- USDA requires that all goats over 18 months of age as well as all breeding stock including market and dairy does have official USDA identification. All goats under the age of 18 months that are shown at fairs and expositions must also be identified with a USDA scrapies tag. This identification system will allow animals found to have scrapies at slaughter to be traced to the flock of origin. 4-H tags are no longer available.
- Youth for the Quality Care of Animals (YQCA) – Nebraska 4-H requires all youth enrolled in livestock projects to complete annual quality assurance training through Youth for the Quality Care of Animals (YQCA). Refer to the Nebraska State Fair General Rules and Regulations for additional information.
- Exhibitors furnish their own feed and bedding.
- Minimum/Maximum Weights: Market goats must weigh a minimum of 50 lbs. at check-in to be eligible to sell. Goats under 50 lbs. will show in the feeder class. No Re-Weighs. Feeder and Market Goats must be weighed in at fair, as feeder weight is needed for the shows. ADAPTED 2017: There will be a maximum weight of 120 lbs. for selling purposes only with youth only being paid up to the maximum weight.
- Pygmy Goats are considered a “meat breed” and will show during the Meat Goat Show. Pygmy goats, which meet the minimum 50 lbs. may be considered a Meat Market Goat and be allowed to sell.
- Rate of Gain: Rate of Gain requirements are no longer valid for placing. However, there is a special ROG award.
- Showing and Handling practices: The use of showing and/or handling practices that may be considered objectionable or abusive, such as striking or slapping goats and exhibiting the goat with its feet off the ground, are not acceptable. The use of such practices may result in the lowering of a ribbon placing. Goats may be braced but must have all four feet on the ground. (Lifting the goat in a fluid motion to set the front legs prior to quickly setting the feet back on the ground is acceptable.)
- Neck Chains and Halters: Goats may be shown with either a halter, smooth neck chain, smooth or pronged collars only
- Age: All market goats are required to be born on or after December 1, 2025. Market Goats are to have milk teeth and there shall be no evidence of breaking of the skin or eruption of the two permanent front teeth.
- Hair: Market Goats must be uniformly slick shorn with 1/4 inch of hair or less from the knee and hock up. Breeding Goats will be allowed to be unshorn.
- Horns: Blunting, tipping, and dehorning is permitted.
- Show Class and Sex: Market goats may be doe or wether kids. Short scrotum, cryptorchid, and buck kids are not eligible. All market goats will be weighed and divided into classes based on total numbers and weight range. It takes a minimum of 4 Market Goats to have a separate class.
- All breeding does will be mouthed for age. All doe kids must have all milk or temporary teeth present; yearling does can have yearling teeth but cannot have two-year old teeth up. Classes may be divided at discretion of show management.
- Check-In and Show: Goats will weigh in on Tuesday, July 28, 2:30-4:00 p.m. The Dairy Goat Show will be at 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday, July 29, followed by the Meat Goat Show at 10:00 a.m. There will be separate showmanship classes for dairy goat and meat goat.
DIVISION 059: MEAT GOAT
G058001. Senior Showmanship.
G058002. Intermediate Showmanship.
G058003. Junior Showmanship.
G05800C. Clover Kid Showmanship.
Meat Breeding
G059015. Kids under 5 months.
G059016. 5 – 8 months.
G059017. 8 – 12 months.
G059018. Yearling does 13 – 24 months.
G059019. Aged does 24 months & up.
Market
G059020. Feeder Goat 49 lbs. and down.
G059021. Market Goat 50 lbs. and up.