Sheep, goat sale grosses nearly $65,000

PENNSYLVANIA FURNACE, Pa. — Pennsylvania sheep and goat producers received nearly $65,000 for 115 animals during the Livestock Evaluation Center’s 34th annual Performance Tested Ram Lamb and Meat Goat Buck Sale.

Performance tests

Top males selected after 77-day ram and 70-day buck performance tests sold Aug. 4 at the center in Pennsylvania Furnace, Centre Co.

The tests evaluated growth, average daily gain, muscling and fat deposition. The higher-quality genetics will help improve sheep flocks and goat herds across Pennsylvania and throughout the northeast.

Thirty-nine performance tested rams averaged $656, while 31 tested bucks averaged $523. Select females also sold, with 14 consignment ewes averaging $668 and 31 does averaging $421.

Buck

The top-selling buck was consigned by Sherrie Losch of Port Royal, Juniata Co., and sold for $2,000 to Prosperity Acres of Sunderland, Md.

The second-highest seller was consigned by William and Jody Weist of Middleburg, Union Co., and sold for $925.

The top-selling ram, a Suffolk from MacCauley Suffolks of Atglen, Chester Co., brought $1,100, selling to Deborah Boyd of Ephrata, Lancaster Co.

Two Dorpers from Nix Besser Farm in Narvon, Lancaster Co. sold for $1,000 each to Anna Frumina of Sweet Valley, Luzerne Co.

Dorpers were the highest-averaging rams, selling six animals for $750 average.

Exams. All rams and bucks passed a breeding soundness exam and sold with growth and feed efficiency data as well as loin measurements and fat thicknesses obtained through ultrasound scan.

Sale averages by breed are:

Ram Lambs: eight Dorsets averaged $544; eight Suffolks averaged $728; seven Texels averaged $668; six Dorpers averaged $746; four Katahdins averaged $663; three Polypays averaged $617; a White Dorper brought $750; a Shropshire $700 and a Merino $300.

Meat Goat Bucks: 17 full-blood senior Boers averaged $606; seven full-blood junior Boers averaged $321; six purebred/percentage senior Boers averaged $558 and a purebred/percentage junior Boer brought $300.

For more information, contact the Livestock Evaluation Center at 814-238-2527 or ghubbard@pa.gov or visit www.livestockevaluationcenter.com.

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