SAE Visit #2

Dairy Goat Growth Curves - Research-Based SAE project

Since one of my 10th grade students showed particular interest in the goats, but did not have an SAE project, I suggested that he try a research project at the school on the growth of the dairy goat kids that would soon be born. While we waited their arrival, I instructed him to research information on this topic as well as look at the research I have done on dairy goat growth. During this time he also started his record keeping in the AET, and outlined his project plans and methods. Once the baby goats (kids) arrived, I showed him how to properly measure and weigh the kids. He plans to record this information on all 4 of the kids until the end of the school year at which time he should be able to create a simple growth curve to analyze their growth. Through this project he helps to care for the goats throughout the week, so he is gaining hands-on experience outside to the classroom working with animals. These kids were also used for a disbudding and tattooing lab, which provided an additional connection between his project and the classroom instruction. Additionally, he is gaining record keeping skills which will be transferable to nearly any vocation. Through this SAE project he is gaining hours of experience which can be also applied towards degrees and awards through the FFA.

To evaluate his SAE project, I would look at his AET records (which I have done) to make sure that he is recording the height and weight of each kid on a weekly basis.

I have done a few follow-ups since the kids have been born, and I have been working with him to make sure that he is taking the measurements as accurately as possible with the measuring devices available so that he will get relatively accurate results. Should he ever decide to raise goats in the future, he now knows how to measure their rate of growth which is important when managing animals and managing their nutrition.