Over the past decade, no other market species comes close to the interest, enthusiasm and growth experienced by the wether goat shows. Admittedly, meat goat shows are relatively new and this "explosion" will level off with time.

The evaluation of meat goats, both in the ring and on the rail, is a relatively new experience, for both exhibitors and judges alike. In contrast to the other major market species (steers, barrows, lambs, broilers and turkeys), goats do not enjoy well-defined and industry-accepted standards for carcass size, carcass fabrication, portion sizes or retail presentation. Consequently, many of the live animal and carcass evaluation techniques we use for goats have been adopted and adapted from lamb showing and evaluation.

Following are some of the more important points I choose to emphasize relative to wether goat shows.

• The purpose of any junior livestock show is to facilitate and further the development of the character and life skills of the exhibitors involved – PERIOD. Too often, we (especially the adults involved) loose sight of this purpose. As a parent of two teenagers who show meat goats, I must include myself in this group who can sometimes “lose focus”.

  The financial premiums associated with junior shows are a tangible recognition of the effort to develop young people. Hopefully, these monies are used to offset: a) the expenses of the project(s) and, b) the cost of preparing exhibitors to become a contributor in the workplace and competitive in tomorrow’s society.

  Four showmanship buckles and three grand champion trophies do not look very impressive on the resume of a 23-year-old prospective employee. However, now more than ever before, the workplace is in desperate need of the integrity, responsibility, honesty and leadership cultivated by an accurately focused junior livestock show program.

• For the above reasons, showmanship is perhaps the most important aspect of the show. Quality of the animal being exhibited is most often a reflection of the purchase price and the expertise available to care for and fit the animal. As I evaluate showmanship, the playing field is level - quality of the animal has little impact. Good showmen, young men and women alike, are smooth and confident in their presentation. They have watched a previous class and know what to do and where to go. They do not call undue attention to themselves. The animal is on display, not the exhibitor. Courtesy, good manners, sportsmanship, alertness, and a neat, clean appearance are positive attributes as I evaluate showmanship.

  As important as it is, I despise having to judge showmanship. Why? Because the abilities of the young people showing meat goats has escalated to a level such that minor details (that might otherwise be trivial or go unnoticed during a show) are often used to sort “the” winner from what is often a large group of winners.

• We inherited the issue of bracing/pushing/driving from the lamb shows. Ever thought about bracing a steer or a barrow? Because wethers (goat or lamb) are shown in similar manner, the practice of bracing was inevitable in the goat show.

  Is it right or wrong? Appropriate or out of place? I don’t have the answer to these questions. But it is alive and well, so here is my thought. If a judge attempts to preclude bracing, he/she is only penalizing the smaller/younger exhibitors. As long as we allow any physical contact between exhibitor and goat, the older exhibitors can and will attain muscle flex in their goat. And without question, a goat with muscles flexed “expresses” more muscle than a goat at rest.

  I allow body contact between goat and exhibitor, hoping to level the field as much as possible relative to size of the exhibitor. I do my best to prevent the lifting of the goat's front feet off the ground. Lifting the front feet off the ground is not the natural posture for the animal. Also, my perception is that when front feet are off the ground and the rear legs are set too far back, the loin-hip junction is often made to look rough or weak. When showing to me, leave the front feet on the ground!

• The important characteristics I look for in wethers include:
  • Structural correctness – Structure is of little importance when the carcass is hanging on the rail. However, this is a live animal show, not a carcass evaluation (that comes after the show). Therefore, I look for goats that are straight and correct on their feet and legs, strong down their top and square about their hip. Profile or eye appeal is a function of skeletal structure as well. Some goats have it while others do not. I like to watch wethers as their exhibitors lead them into the ring. Most of the time, especially in small classes of 30 head or less, I have a good idea who the blue ribbon competitors are as soon as the last wether enters the ring. Those wethers with the desirable profile and a presence are hard to get around.
    
  • Muscle – The meat goat industry is all about producing lean red meat. Wether producers have made tremendous advances in the shape and quantity of muscle we find in wethers today. So, it is not all about thickness. It is about proportion, balance and distribution of muscle. The exceptional wethers today have tremendous development of the loineye, from where it originates between the shoulder blades, across the rack. Many wethers exhibit width and thickness of loin from the last rib to the hip, but those truly exceptional ones are expressive from the last rib forward as well.
    
  • Condition – For the late winter/early spring county fairs and major shows, wethers in competitive programs are selected and on feed by mid to late summer the previous year. Therefore, these wethers have been on feed for 150+ days come show time. In my opinion, it is absurd to expect them to be as devoid of fat as a feral goat coming off droughty, dormant, coyote infested winter pasture. On the other hand, there is no place in the goat meat industry for excessive fat. I attempt to consider both ends and strike a balance. I will tolerate some condition, but once a wether begins to take on the shape of a football or canoe and is spongy in their elbow pocket, that's too much condition for me. Of equal concern to me is fill or abdomen shape. Excessive fill will negatively impact dressing percent and that has real world implications. In contrast to quality and yield grades used in beef, and to a lesser extent in lamb and pork, dressing percentage is a major consideration in determining the value of a live goat being considered for harvest. Consequently, I am not very tolerant of wethers that are widest across their abdomen.
    
  • Live weight – Traditionally, goats above 80 pounds have a more difficult time finding a final resting place than those in the 30-80 pound weight range. I am ever conscious of the "real world" side of the goat business as well. So, several years ago, I decided that 108-110 lbs was "big enough" for me in the show ring. I'll use bigger goats to win the heavyweight class, but very seldom will I use a goat over 110 lbs as the grand champion. It is purely a personal preference.

Finally, as a parent, I caution the reader about being raucously critical of any judge. All I ask of myself (or any other judge) is consistency. If the goats in the grand drive are similar except for their variation in weight, the judge has done what was asked of him or her. If we took the wrong type of goat and my children didn't do well, that's our fault. We need to pay closer attention and do our homework.

As a breeder, I encourage others to continue improving the quality of the wethers. Breed good ones, get them in the hands of good feeders and help any young person who might come your way. You never know who might be renewing your operating note or doing your triple bypass some day…

As a judge, I close by saying thank you to all the parents, older siblings, agents and ag teachers who unselfishly give of your time and talents as we cultivate the leaders of tomorrow for this great nation. I am privileged to experience the fruits of your late night and long weekend labors every time I step into the ring and work with our kids.

God Bless America.