18/09/2024
I was speaking to an individual about NSIP and EBVs. We were discussing the general lack of participation amongst goat breeders in submitting data. They mentioned that one of the common roadblocks they hear for goat breeders seems to be the associated cost. I decided to throw together a cost/benefit spreadsheet using NSIP's current fee structure.
The short and dirty summary of it is, even in very small operations, you only need to get about 3 lbs per kid more to pay for itself or be able to charge an additional $9/goat. If you have more animals, that can cut in half. Considering many registered animals are selling for over $1,000 (some much more), I don't think buyers would baulk at $1,010 if you said that animal had performance data to back it up. And if they do, they're probably not the buyers you want.
Consider that beef producers have been using EPDs for over 30 years, and sheep producers for over 20 years, that tells you how far behind the other meat producing industries goat producers are. I find it fascinating that we're baulking at these fees when sheep ranchers, who often get less per pound than goat producers, have no qualms with it, and are even paying higher fees so they can get additional genomic enhanced data, over and above the EBV data.
Consider taking the step today to become an NSIP member and submit your animals data so you can receive valuable performance data on your herd. Help propel the goat industry forward!
NSIP recently hired a new director, David Scales. Don't hesitate to reach out to him and get any of your questions answered. The www.nsip.org website also has lots of resources to learn more about EBVs, how they're calculated, and why they're helpful.
National Sheep Improvement Program
We also have a Q&A page on our website, specifically addressing questions around EBVs at https://www.rafterplivestock.com/ebvs-faq
