Live Animal Selection

The USDA Agriculture Marketing Service Grading & Standardization Branch has adopted Institutional Meat Purchase Specifications for goat. The live animal classification criteria is as follows: The IMPS Selection Criteria for live goats and carcasses are based on consideration of conformation (muscling). Selection No. 1 goats or carcasses have a high proportion (by weight) of meat to bone. Selection No. 3 goats and carcasses have a low ration of meat to bone.

Selection No. 1

Selection No. 1 live goats and/or carcasses have a superior meat type conformation without regard to the presence of fat cover. They shall be thickly muscled throughout the body as indicated by a pronounced (bulging) outside leg (biceps femoris and semitendinosus), a full (rounded) back strip (longissimus dorsi), and a moderately thick outside shoulder (triceps brachii group).

Selection No. 2

Selection No. 2 live goats and/or carcasses have an average meat type conformation without regard to the presence of fat cover. They shall be moderately muscled throughout the body as indicated by a slightly thick and slightly pronounced outside leg (biceps femoris and semitendinosus), a slightly full (flat or slightly shallow) back strip (longissimus dorsi), and a slightly thick to slightly thin outside shoulder (triceps brachii group).

Selection No. 3

Selection No. 3 live goats and/or carcasses have an inferior meat type conformation without regard to the presence of fat cover. The legs, back and shoulders are narrow in relation with its length and they have a very angular and sunken appearance.