Goat Rancher Update

Texas predator workshop planned March 27

2012-03-01T11:55:00.000-08:00

KERRVILLE, Texas – A Texas AgriLife Extension Service Predator Awareness Workshop and M-44 training will be held from 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. March 27 at the Kerr Wildlife Management Area, 2625 Farm-to-Market Road1340 near Hunt.

“AgriLife Extension offices in Kerr, Edwards and Real counties have partnered to present this program,” said Roy Walston, AgriLife Extension agent for agriculture and natural resources, Kerr County. “This workshop is meant to help producers whose operations have been affected by livestock predators and the influx of feral hogs, which in some areas have reached epidemic proportions.”

Presentations will be made by experts from AgriLife Extension, including personnel from the agency’s Wildlife Services area.Topics for the morning program will include feral swine control, guard dog training and management, and snaring and trapping. Private, commercial and non-commercial pesticide applicators in attendance will be eligible for three Texas Department of Agriculture continuing education units for their respective licenses.

The afternoon program will be targeted at producers interested in M-44 certifications, Walston said. It will cover training on available management and monitoring techniques, and certifies applications for the use of M-44 sodium cyanide.

“Producers must first have their private pesticide license prior to receiving this additional certification,” Watson said. “Mr. Kyle Eckert with the TDA will be conducting the M-44 training, and testing for the certification will complete the training at about 4 p.m.”

The program registration fee is $25, which includes lunch, refreshments and educational materials. Preregistration by March 23 is required by contacting the AgriLife Extension office in Kerr County at 830-257-6568, Edwards County at 830-683-4310 or Real County at 830-232-6673.

April Goat Rancher to feature show wethers

2012-03-01T08:33:00.000-08:00

We need your input!

Goat Rancher will take a look at the spring round of sales foryouth market projects. We’ll let you know who’s having sales, what genetics arepopular this year and maybe even make a few predictions for the upcomingjackpot season.

If you raise show wethers,sponsor jackpot shows or know of some outstanding junior showmen, we want tohear about it.

Introducing our newWETHER BREEDER DIRECTORY

We’re also using the April GoatRancher to launch our new Wether breeder DIRECTORY. For a 5-linetext listing, the price will be only $100 for 12 issues. Boxed directorylistings will be available for only $160 for 12 issues.

Since this is a new featureof Goat Rancher, we are offeringan introductory discount to anyone booking their listing by Friday, MARCH9. Purchase a 5-line text listingfor only $75 for 12 issues or a boxed listing for only $125 for 12 issues. Toget this discount, contact us by 4 p.m. on March 9.

Your text listing shouldcontain this information:

Name/Ranch

City & State

Phone/Cell Phone

E-mail

Website

To submit photos andarticles or to reserve your ad space in this introductory SPECIAL WETHER ISSUE,call 888-562-9529 or e-mail goatrancher@hughes.net.

Download Display Advertising Sizes and Rates.

Goats on a tree

2012-03-01T08:15:00.001-08:00

You wander the Moroccan desert lost, dehydration and the scorching sun draining the life from your body more and more with each passing moment.

An oasis appears. A pool of water at the base of a lush tree promise relief from the heat and hope that you may yet find your way home.

You run towards the oasis but then stop suddenly. Did that tree just bleat at me?

You rub your eyes and, as the illusion evaporates into the unforgiving sun, you realize: that tree isn’t covered in foliage, it’s covered in goats. And that pool of water? That’s goats too.

You murmur to yourself: What the $!&#.

The argan tree is a drought-resistant tree endemic to the semi-desert region of southern Morocco known as Sous valley. The fruit of the argan tree is primarily used to create argan oil, which can be used in cooking or as a cosmetic product.

The argan tree is also frequently assaulted by hungry goats, who will climb the tree and strip it bear of leaves and fruit.

The goats are said to have learned how to climb trees out of necessity to survive in this harsh, infertile land. They certainly look like they know what they’re doing, as they appear to move as they please between the branches while whimsically supporting themselves on even the smallest space.

Click here to see more photos.

Eugene, Ore., bans plastic bags; may allow goats in yards

2012-03-01T08:05:00.000-08:00

Plastic bags in Eugene, Ore., may be discouraged. Small goats may be encouraged.

Those were the messages sent by the City Council on Monday night as it expressed support for a potential ban on plastic grocery bags and interest in making it easier for residents to have miniature goats inside city limits.

Councilors voted 7-0 directing city staff to draft an ordinance that would ban single- use plastic bags at all of the city’s retailers. City Councilor Mike Clark was absent.

A plastic bag ban proposal is to come back to councilors before they take their summer break in late July.

City Councilor Alan Zelenka, who presented the proposal, said many of the estimated 67 million plastic bags used in Eugene annually end up as litter and in the ocean, where they pollute the sea and kill marine life.

The council took up the topic of goats as part of the city’s look at modifying land use codes to encourage more backyard farming so residents can become more food self-sufficient.

The city’s present farm animal rules allow goats only on agriculturally zoned land or on residential lots of about a half-acre or larger. City Manager Jon Ruiz on Monday said he would prefer that proposals to accommodate more backyard farming be postponed until they can come out of Envision Eugene, the city’s ongoing long-range growth planning effort.

But Brown, eager to get something passed by the council as soon as possible, urged his colleagues to approve a proposal that would allow residents to have up to three miniature goats if they have at least 400 square feet of open space on their properties.

After some discussion, Ruiz said such a proposal could be presented for council consideration in late summer.

Councilor George Poling, contending that the issue was being rushed, was the sole councilor to vote against pursuing that timetable.

Poling said residents may have good reasons to have miniature goats, such as for their milk.

But he said the city would have to be prepared to handle complaints if it allows goat farming to be more widespread than it is today.

He noted that animal control officers can’t keep up with the complaints about barking dogs. “We’re having problems as it is right now,” he said.

Councilor Chris Pryor said some people would keep pygmy goats for pets, not necessarily as livestock.

City officials will have to be careful drafting new regulations so the addition of farm animals in residential neighborhoods do not create quality-of-life conflicts among residents, Pryor said.

“To what degree does the city want to facilitate full-scale farming in residential neighborhoods?” he asked.

Jennifer Aniston admits strange love for milk goat

2012-03-01T08:00:00.000-08:00

Jennifer Aniston has admitted that while on the set of ‘Wanderlust’ she fell in love with milking goats.

It might not be the obvious Hollywood past time, but the 43 year-old actress certainly enjoyed playing at being a milkmaid in her new movie. The star revealed on Daybreak this morning: “I fell in love with our goat!''

The Friends star went on to confess that being able to milk a goat was more important to the role than it seems and that she even had to meet the animal in a screen test to make sure she could do the role.

The gorgeous star said: “When we were doing our screen test, I met that goat because I had never milked a goat in my life.”

“I've never milked a goat, I grew up in New York City.” She added.

Jen was clearly popular on-set. As well as making friends with four-legged creatures she also bagged herself a boyfriend in the shape of co-star Justin Theroux.

Though she enjoyed getting her hands dirty on set Jen isn’t about to go and join a commune like her character in the film.

She revealed: “Getting away is always something I love to do, of course.”

"But the commune I think is a little extreme."

ETGRA Spring Open Sale on March 3

2012-02-22T07:29:00.000-08:00

Gleaned from Goat Gossip
By Fred Vandermartin

The East Texas Goat Raisers Association will hold its Spring Open Sale on March 3 at the Ike Carden Arena in Fairfield, Texas. Freestone County has a wonderful facility with covered pens, and a covered arena. This is an auction sale and is open to anyone who has goats for sale.
Check-in begins at 7:30 a.m. and ends at noon. Sale starts at 1 p.m. Consignees pay $7 for each meat goat and $10 a head for breeding stock, registered or not registered. Animals will be checked for signs of illness; registered animals must be tattooed.
Sales rules posted on the Internet at http://www.etgra.com/sales.htm.
The Elkhart 4-H will be providing concessions and Jake Cooper will be working his magic with the smoker to provide the BBQ brisket! We welcome anyone who would like to vend their products.
Visit www.etgra.com for more information on events and about our association or friend us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/groups/ETGRA/.

Barn fire kills 36 goats used as 4-H projects

2012-02-21T09:22:00.000-08:00

From the Journal-Courier

Written by

BOB SCOTT

HOW TO HELP

To help the 4-H kids who lost goats in the Clarks Hill fire, e-mail Leslie Summerfield at les19745@gmail.com

CLARKS HILL, Ind. -- Children and adults cried Saturday when they learned that a barn fire killed 36 goats used by 4-H members for the annual Tippecanoe County 4-H Fair.

But things are looking up. A Clinton County woman already has sold the 4-H'ers five pedigree goats -- at $50 each, instead of usual $125 to $175 -- plus, she donated seven bales of hay.

Fire quickly destroyed Mike Summerfield's barn and the goats shortly after 1 a.m. Saturday. The Clarks Hill volunteer fire department responded.

"My husband Mike is a member of the fire department," Leslie Summerfield said Monday. She is former 10-year 4-H member who showed goats. "His beeper went off at 1:10 a.m. and he found out it was our address.

"The barn is about 1.5 miles down the road. He could see the flames. Mike went straight to it, but within two minutes the barn collapsed. For his own safety, he didn't go in."

Firefighters believe the blaze was accidental. She said it's likely a goat knocked over a heating lamp used to keep baby goats warm.

Leslie Summerfield's mother, Kathy Monjon, is the 4-H leader of the Lauramie Township Willing Workers Club, which housed goats in the barn.

"This is so gut-wrenching," Monjon said. "When I was called, my first thought was, 'Did any of the goats get out?'"

None did.

"We are a close family. We have to learn from this experience and go on."

The Summerfields could not get insurance on the barn because they do not live on the property.

They let the 4-H members borrow the goats for their county fair projects. The 4-H members would visit the goats at the Summerfield barn to feed and care for them.

Monjon has one granddaugher and three grandsons who show goats. Nine of her club members and two from another club had goats in the barn. She said the challenge is to replace the goats and find a place to house them.

"I had an offer Sunday night from a relative with a construction company who said he if we get the materials, he will build a new barn," Monjon said.

Goats can develop accents, study shows

2012-02-18T04:55:00.000-08:00

LONDON -- Goats, like people, can develop accents based on their surroundings, a British university study indicates.

Until now, experts assumed most species' "voices" were dictated exclusively by genetics and not their surroundings. Exceptions were thought to be limited to humans, elephants, dolphins whales and bats.

A team from Queen Mary, University of London, recorded the bleats of four groups of pygmy goats that were siblings or half siblings at 1 week old and then at 5 weeks old, the study published in British journal Animal Behaviour said. At 5 weeks old the young goats, known as kids, form social groups with other goats of the same age, the researchers said.

The results indicated the goats' "accents" changed as the goats moved into different social settings, disproving claims their quality of voice and intonation were entirely genetic.

"This suggests that goat kids modify their calls according their social surroundings, developing similar 'accents,'" postdoctoral research assistant Elodie Briefer, who led the study, told the British newspaper The Daily Telegraph.
Asked whether the same could be true of other mammals, she said: "We don't know, because people are so sure there's no effect of the environment that no one has checked. But if goats can do it maybe all mammals' accents could be affected by their environment."

Petting zoo goats may have been slaughtered for meat

2012-02-14T05:40:00.000-08:00

Lesley Ciarula TaylorToronto Star Staff Reporter

Retired pygmy goats that once entertained children at a Stanley Park petting zoo appear to have been slaughtered for their meat.

Vancouver Park Board officials on Monday returned to a hobby farm in Langley, B.C., run byTrevor French, who adopted 17 goats and four sheep from the Children’s Farmyard in January, 2011.

“I was very distressed to learn of the alleged mistreatment of several goats and sheep adopted out to a local farm,” park board chairwoman Constance Barnes said at a news conferenceSunday.

“I have also directed our city solicitor to take aggressive legal action” against French.

Parks board spokeswoman Joyce Courtney told the Star on Monday that staff had believed there were four goats left at French’s farms when the SPCA inspected on Friday, but they’re no longer sure.

“All of the animals we saw were well cared for,” SPCA Vancouver spokeswoman Lorie Chortyk told the Star. Whether any were retired petting-zoo goats “would be very hard to discern.”

Vancouver Parks and Recreation set out stringent requirements for anyone adopting petting zoo animals after the city closed the attraction in 2011because of a $3 million budget shortfall. The chief requirement was that they not be sold and be allowed to “live out their natural lives.”

A Vancouver Sun investigation, however, found records from the Fraser Valley Auction house showing French brought in 15 pygmy or smaller goats last year for sale.

Auction house owner Ken Pearson told the Sun: “all the wether (castrated) goats are meat for sure” because they wouldn’t have been bought as pets. He identified the goats as former petting-zoo animals from photographs.

French told the newspaper that the horned goats were nasty and he had to get rid of them. He denied any had been sold at auction, and saying they were sold or given to friends. The four sheep died, he said.

Barnes also ordered an investigation of the well-being of all animals — cows, pigs, donkeys and a pony, as well as goats and sheep — that had been farmed out to B.C. families after the petting zoo closed.

Click here to read more.

SW Mo. Spring Forage Conference Feb. 28

2012-02-10T14:16:00.000-08:00

The28th Annual Southwest Missouri Spring Forage Conference will be

Tuesday, February 28, at the University Plaza Hotel,Springfield, Mo. The conference will cover issues and topics affecting today'sgraziers. Join other livestock producers for lunch, presentations and view thelatest in products and exhibits on forage related information. Theconference fee of $25 (NON-REFUNDABLE) is due by February 22 ($35 afterFebruary 22 or at the door). The fee covers registration, proceedings and meal. Severalof these sessions may count toward CEU credits for Certified Crop Advisors andAFGC Grassland Professionals. Formore information call 417-831-5246, ext. 3.

Deep in the Heart movie honors 4-H, FFA supporter

2012-02-10T09:10:00.000-08:00

Texas4-H families asked to support

featurefilm opening Feb. 17

By Paul Schattenberg

AgriLife Communications

Texas A&M University System

COLLEGESTATION – 4-H families are encouraged to support Deep in the Heart – afull-length feature film about the remarkable life of Richard “Dick” Wallrath,the top individual financial contributor to Texas 4-H and Texas FFA scholarshipprograms, said a Texas 4-H administrator.

Wallrath’soverall contributions to 4-H and FFA, including scholarship contributionsthrough his educational foundation, currently exceed $16 million.

“Wesincerely request that 4-H families see this film about Dick Wallrath’s lifefor two reasons,” said Dr. Chris Boleman, director of the 4-H and youthdevelopment program of the Texas AgriLife Extension Service. “First, we feelthis story of overcoming personal challenges, discovering what’s trulyimportant in life and second chances will resonate with many families. Second,because of Mr. Wallrath’s continued generosity, a portion of all ticket saleswill go to both Texas 4-H and Texas FFA.”

Themoney donated from ticket sales will go to further strengthen much-neededscholarship programs, Boleman said.

“Mr.Wallrath also has provided tremendous financial assistance to 4-H and FFAmembers through his participation in livestock show premium auctions, includingbuying show steers at junior auctions in major shows throughout Texas,” hesaid. “In addition, he established the Richard Wallrath Educational Foundation,which to date has funded almost $8 million in scholarships to high schoolstudents who’ve enrolled in Texas universities.”

Accordingto documentation, during Wallrath’s 13-year involvement with the HoustonLivestock Show and Rodeo, he has purchased 130 steers, including three reservechampion and three grand champions, one of which he bought for $601,000 – aworld record. He also has purchased six grand champions at the Star of Texasshow in Austin, and two grand champions, one reserve champion and 82 breedchampions at the San Antonio Livestock Show and Rodeo. Wallrath’s combinedpurchases at these shows totals more than $5 million. In addition, he recentlybought the grand champion steer at the 2012 Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo for$230,000, which was the most ever paid for a champion steer in the history ofthat event.

From2006 to the present, the Richard Wallrath Educational Foundation has awarded atotal of 780 $10,000 scholarships to 4-H and FFA members, with more than 500students who have received these scholarships currently attending Texasuniversities.

Deepin the Heart opens Feb. 17 at theaters throughout Texas. The 113-minute featurefilm stars Jon Gries (Napoleon Dynamite; Real Genius), Elaine Hendrix (TheParent Trap), DB Sweeney (Eight Men Out; Memphis Belle; Fire In The Sky) andVal Kilmer (Top Gun; Tombstone; Batman Forever) and was directed by ChristopherCain, who directed Young Guns, Pure Country and Pure Country 2.

“Thisfilm tracks Mr. Wallrath’s life story from losing everything to rediscoveringhis faith and finding redemption with the support of his family,” said JimReeves, executive director of the Texas 4-H Youth Development Foundation.“After struggling with alcoholism and the loss of a child, Wallrath once againfound his faith and was given a second chance, which he made the most of bybuilding a successful business with his sons. He has generously shared thefinancial fruits of that business with 4-H and FFA members, who he calls the‘future leaders’ of our country.”

Reevessaid the success of the film’s opening weekend will have a significant impacton plans for its nationwide release.

Moreinformation on Deep in the Heart can be found at: http://texas4hfoundation.org/deepintheheart. For information onTexas theater locations showing this film, go to http://texas4hfoundation.org/deepintheheart/locations/.

“WhileDick Wallrath’s story is a Texas and an American success story, it is also ahuman success story that speaks to the four H’s of our program – heart, head,hands and health – as well as to the importance of treating others withfairness and respect,” Boleman said. “4-H families and others will be inspiredby this movie and by the man who has lived by the concept that we make a livingby what we get, but we make a life by what we give.”

To view a 2:11 film trailer and movie poster, go to: http://agrilife.org/today/2012/02/08/deep-in-the-heart/

More details on Brian Payne's hay feeder

2012-02-09T16:49:00.000-08:00

Schematic of Brian Payne's hay feeder made from rebar.

Panels used for
fence-line feeder.

In the February Goat Rancher we published an articleabout Canadian goat producer Brian Payne's hay feeder design. Because of spacelimitations, we were not able to print Brian's schematic, which shows thedimensions for rebar panels used in the construction of the feeders.

Brian and Goat Rancher have received several requests formore information on building the feeders, so here is the schematic and someextra notes from Brian:

"My illustration shows 7 1/2 inch centers on theslanted bars with the panel dimensions being 58 inches wide by 45 inches high.The addition of 3/4" or 1" pipe adds some extra length so that 5panels will do a large round bale and 6 panels will do a large squarebale."

"Older nannies and bucks with longer horns can be aproblem. Our solution is to make the same panel with 9-inch center-to-centerspacings on the slanted rebar. Even one panel with the wider spacings in afeeder will allow the mature animals and bucks to eat. For doelings we reducethe center-to-center distance to 5 inches. Younger animals and shorter neckswill require some bale management. As the group eats into the bale we reducethe feeder from 5 panels to 4 and then to 3."

ETGRA Spring Open Sale on March 3

2012-02-09T05:33:00.000-08:00

The East Texas Goat Raisers Association invites all folks to
participate in their Spring Open Sale on Saturday, March 3rd. We will
start checking in animals at 7:30 a.m. until Noon.

Animals will be sifted for obvious health problems prior to sale. Knots, other than
those caused by recent injections, will exclude an animal from sale.
The ETGRA acts as an agent only. Soundness of the animal as well as
accuracy of information contained on the registration paper,
application to register and service memo are the responsibility of the
seller. Consignees pay $7 for ETGRA members and $10 a head for non-members.
Please see the sales rules at www.etgra.com.

The sale will start at 1 p.m. This will be an open sale with folks
with meat, dairy, and pet goats invited to participate. Our last sale
was a success with buyers leaving with good stock at fair prices and
sellers who were satisfied with the results of their transactions! We
would like to thank Mr. Nathan Lapp for calling our sale again.
Details will be added as I get them.

Fred VanderMartin
Purveyor of fine Goat Gossip
Rancho Volsa Basias
www.rvbboers.com
278 F.M. 489 East
Buffalo, Texas 75831
Call Anytime 903-388-8528

Wall Street Journal writes about goat meat

2012-02-08T09:13:00.000-08:00

By KATY MCLAUGHLIN
The Wall Street Journal

After years of celebrating boutique meats such as Berkshire pork and heritage turkey, chefs have fallen hard for another protein. Goat has been embraced everywhere from sustainability-focused restaurants like Chez Panisse in Berkeley, Calif., and Blue Hill in New York to "Top Chef" winner Stephanie Izard's Chicago spot Girl and the Goat. The meat has become so popular among chefs that many now complain about not being able to source enough of it.

A mainstay in Jamaican, Mexican and Arab cuisine, goat can seem like the ultimate mystery meat for American home cooks. For all our love of goat cheese and our growing interest in goat yogurt and butter, we still think of goats as cute little horned creatures with stubborn personalities. It's just not part of our food culture.

Katy McLaughlin on Lunch Break has a home cook's guide to buying, prepping and cooking goat, the meat of the moment.

Anyone who loves red meat but has become bored with beef and lamb would be remiss not to give goat a try. It is healthy, hearty meat, with a third fewer calories than beef and half the saturated fat of chicken.

Click here to read more.

Greek-style baby goat soup

2012-02-08T08:22:00.000-08:00

(Editor's Note: Ok, this article is too late for Super Bowl, but it's a great story!)

Chef Spiro Megalis holds a finished dish of goat soup Wednesday in Niles. (Abel Uribe, Chicago Tribune)

By John Kass

Chicago tribune

Most Super Bowl feasts are nothing but hate crimes against your taste buds. Those bland Buffalo wings, that bleh cheese dip, the boring little sliders. Do you really want a Betty Crocker empanada?

Of course not. What Super Bowl feasters really want is this:

A man-size bowlful of Greek-style baby goat soup (tasty with the head or without), a hunk of fresh crusty bread, some good feta cheese drizzled with virgin olive oil and dusted with fresh mountain oregano, and a glass of good red wine.

One spoonful is like a vacation to sunny Greece, to the village of Achladokambos, where the famous soup was born. And if you don't believe me, and you want to make some yourself, just click on the Tribune video at chicagotribune.com/goatsoup.

Goat broth, oregano, lemon, goat meat, salt and pepper are elemental. Eventually, they'll put it on the Food Network and fancy food writers will give it a fancy name. It will be all the rage. But I want my readers ahead of the foodie curve.

"How many heads? One or two?" asked Christ Dimitropoulos, legendary butcher at the Halsted Packing House. The two sisters who run the place, Kalle and Cookie Davos, told me to use a baby goat. Christ cut my goat into pieces, then chopped the head with the cleaver, then added another head. "Goat soup is the best!"

Years ago, you would have freaked if someone told you to insert an open can of beer into a chicken before roasting. Now you know how tasty Kass' Beer Can Chicken can be. So when I say it's time for Super Bowl Greek-style baby goat soup, it's time.

"Not in my kitchen," said Betty. "No heads."

Aw, honey, it's journalism.

"I don't want goat heads floating around," she said. "And I don't have a pot big enough for heads."

So I called Ari Megalis, a young barbecue master who is always ready for a food adventure. Ari's dad owns the Chateau Ritz Banquet Halls in Niles. And my brother married Ari's sister.

"Betty says the heads are the issue?" said Ari.

Yes. She doesn't want the heads.

"OK, we'll do it here," said Ari. "Bring the goat over. Let's do it."

In the immaculate kitchen of Chateau Ritz, Ari had assembled a worthy crew: His father, Nick Megalis, his Uncle Spiros and executive chef Argyris Panou, plus yours truly and my colleague Shooter. And an entire staff of kitchen workers. More than a dozen hungry people were eager for the soup.

Dimitrios Tziforos stopped by, the only one of us born in Achladokambos. The villagers' expertise in making goat soup is unquestioned. In Chicago, the Achladokambites host a great picnic each year and cook their soup outdoors. They use whole, older goats, and it takes much longer to cook.

Nick Megalis and all the guys said it was best that we use a baby goat for the mild flavor. Whenever I have a food question, I ask Nick. He knows where the best honey can be found on which mountain, the importance of using royal jelly to fight colds, the virtues of Irish steel cut oatmeal, the proper use of dill in a salad. And the cleanliness of goats.

"People don't know this, but the goat is the cleanest animal," said Nick. "The chicken eats from the ground. They're not the cleanest. The pigs eat from the ground also. The pigs put their face in the dirt when they eat. But the goat eats only the fresh clean leaves from the new growth of the bushes. And this one is perfect."

Argyris turned on the giant industrial stockpot, we put all the meat inside, he filled it with water to cover.

"Let's put the heads in there too," he said. Dimitrios nodded.

It simmered for more than three hours, until the meat all but fell off the bone. About halfway through, we added salt to taste. As it bubbled, we talked of goats and the old country, of olive trees, the sun, the taste of mulberries and fresh yogurt, and the old wars, the terrible journey of immigrants. I can imagine Italians doing the same, and Jamaicans, Poles, Mexicans, Indians, Chinese, Nigerians, Assyrians, Turks and Americans from the country, living in the city. Guys hanging around a kitchen, going old school, using ancient recipes to fly their souls home.

We used a large spoon to skim the fat as it bubbled, and later we added potatoes and carrots and celery. We could have left it as a broth, or made a separate pot of rice and added a serving spoon of rice in each bowl. You can do this easily at home and you don't need the heads. Just five or six pounds of baby goat meat in a stockpot, water, skim the surface during simmering, add salt and pepper to taste, and wait until the meat falls away.

To serve: Portion meat in a soup bowl, add vegetables, ladle the broth. Squeeze fresh lemon, pepper, salt to taste, press dry oregano in your palm to release the fragrance.

Ari set a table in the dining room. We all sat down, raised our glasses, picked up our spoons and smiled.

Greek-style baby goat soup. A taste of home.

Ah. Ah. Ah. Mmm.

That's a true Super Bowl.

jskass@tribune.com

Raging goats holds woman captive

2012-02-01T08:20:00.000-08:00

Police respond to call of one randy animal head-butting door

BY CHERYL CHAN, THE PROVINCE

Vancouver, B.C., Canada

FEBRUARY 1, 2012

Debra Giuliani holds her two dogs, Ardy (left) and Lisette, outside her Abbotsford home Tuesday.

Photograph by: Gerry Kahrmann - PNG, The Province

Call him a bully goat.

An Abbotsford woman was held hostage in her home by her neighbour's randy goat.

Debra Giuliani was heading out to run some errands with her dogs on Monday when she was confronted with the non-neutered billy goat outside her home in the 4500-block Lefeuvre Road.

Giuliani, 45, ran back inside and her two pooches scrambled to safety.

"I tried to shoo the goat away with the snow shovel but it just made it really mad," said Giuliani.

"He came up the stairs and was jumping all over the barbecue and head-butting the door trying to get in."

Giuliani lobbed a couple of empty Corona beer bottles at the marauding goat to scare it away, without much success.

She called animal control, but they were closed for the day, so she called police with the plea: "I'm being held hostage in my house by my neighbour's goat.'"

Abbotsford police Const. Ian MacDonald said two officers responded to the call - a senior officer with 30 years of experience and a junior officer who has only been on the job for four years.

"You can guess who dealt with the goat," deadpanned MacDonald.

The junior officer, who had "less than zero" experience with goats or livestock, picked up a stick and tried to prod the goat from the porch.

The animal was "equally unimpressed with the stick as it was with the beer bottles," said MacDonald.

Giuliani said the officer also tried to coax the goat with broccoli and carrots.

"But the goat was having no piece of that," MacDonald said.

The "hostage situation" came to a head after the senior officer, who got tired of the shenanigans, walked straight up to the smelly creature, grabbed it by its collar, dragged it back to the neighbour's property and retied it to a fence post.

No injuries were sustained by the woman, her dogs or either cop, said Mac-Donald, except the senior officer "might have hurt himself laughing."

Read

Fort Worth Dorper sale results announced

2012-01-30T08:27:00.000-08:00

Date:January 21, 2012

Location:Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo, Ft. Worth, TX

Judge:Brian Faris, Kansas State University

Auctioneer:Preston Faris, Sonora, TX

SaleManager: Doug Gillespie, American Dorper Sheep Society

SaleTop: $3,500.00

SaleGross: $18,850.00

15Dorpers & White Dorpers Averaged $1,256.67

The American Dorper SheepBreeders Society hosted their second National Ft. Worth Elite Sale inconjunction with the 2012 National Dorper Show in Ft. Worth Texas. The 15 head of rams and ewes sold at astrong $1,256.67 average.

Riverwood Farms of Ohio had thetop selling individual, as their Dorper Fall Ram Lamb sold at $3,500 to MariusMeintjes of Texas. Seth Gillespieof Texas sold a ram lamb at $800 to Judi Mault of Idaho. The top White Dorper ram was aRiverwood consignment at $1,500 selling to Maxie Jonas of Texas. Twin CountyDorpers of Texas sold a $1,000 lamb to Stuart C. Speck of Texas.

Wyatt Wertz of Ohio sold the topselling Dorper ewe at $2,000 to David Freds of Indiana. Riverwood’s baby Fall ewe lamb brought$1,900 from Judi Mault, and Johnny & Clair Powell of Texas sold a $900 eweto Wesley Glass of Texas. Riverwood had the top White Dorper ewe price of $1,500 on a baby Fallewe lamb going to Darla Schmidt of Texas. Hamilton Sheep Station of Texas sold a baby Fall lamb at $1,400 toHuntis Black of Texas, and Stuart C. Speck received $1,100 for a ewe lamb fromRocking RG Ranch of Texas.

East Texas Meat Goat Extravaganza Nov. 9-11 in Henderson

2012-01-27T12:38:00.000-08:00

A full weekend of goat-relatedactivities is planned for Nov. 9-11, 2012, at the Rusk County Youth ExpositionCenter, in Henderson, Texas. Billed as the East Texas Meat Goat Extravaganza,the East Texas Goat Raisers Association has expanded its annual SpectacularGoat Showdown to include events sponsored by the National Kiko Registry and theMyotonic Goat Registry.

Activities will begin on Friday with afull day of educational seminars and hands-on workshops sponsored by the NKR.The Piney Woods Meat Goat Conference will feature three of the nation’sbest-known goat experts: Dr. Frank Pinkerton “The Goat Man”; Ken McMillin,Ph.D., Professor of Meat and Animal Science, Louisiana State University; andDr. Dave Sparks, DVM, Oklahoma State University Extension. And for thebeginning goat producer, there will be hands-on demonstrations of meat goatbasics such as hoof trimming, injections, ear-tags, tattooing andmicro-chipping. All seminars are free and open to the public.

Also on Friday, theMyotonic Goat Registry will be hosting a judges clinic. If you areinterested in learning how to judge Myotonic goats, contact Tara Lawrence at 205-425-5954or myotonicgoatregistry@yahoo.com to reserve your spot. (Class size is limited.)

Saturday will feature theETGRA’s 3rd Annual Spectacular Goat Showdown. This event combines aninstructive open jackpot goat show for all ages, for all breeds of goats underone roof in just one day. The “Showdown” format offers the opportunity forhands-on help for the exhibitors and provides the opportunity to ask questionsduring and after the shows. Keep watching www.etgra.com for more details.

Running concurrently withthe Goat Showdown on Saturday will be a sanctioned show hosted by the600+member Myotonic Goat Registry. The sanctioned show will be followed bythe MGR’s National Show that afternoon. Myotonic goat fans will be treated toan additional sanctioned show on Sunday. Whether you call them fainting goats,stiff legs or myotonics, some of the best in the nation from New York toCalifornia and states in between will be on display at these events. Moredetails on these shows will be available in the near future at http://www.myotonicgoatregistry.net.

Also ongoing Saturday will be theNational Kiko Registry’s second all-breed regional pen sale. The first suchsale was held this past October in Kansas and was a huge success for localproducers. This sale will be an ideal opportunity for producers to market theirgoats in a well-publicized, well-attended sales event. This sale is open toregistered as well as commercial breeding stock. For more information on thegoat conference or the pen sale, contact Terry Hankins at 662-519-9697 ore-mail kikogoats@hughes.net. NKR plansto hold more of these regional sales in the future in other areas of thecountry. To learn more about NKR, visit www.nationalkikoregistry.com.

For those in the family who preferactivities not so “goaty”, make plans to attend the Heritage Syrup Festival,also going on that Saturday. This annual event includes cookingreal ribbon cane syrup, musical entertainment, antique cars and tractors, artsand crafts, and vendors of all types. The activities take place a short drivefrom the goat show in beautiful downtown Henderson.

If individuals or businesseswould like to help sponsor the East Texas Meat Goat Extravaganza or would liketo donate items for raffle, contact Rene’ McCracken 903-683-5416 or lrmccracken@ag.tamu.eduto reserve a booth today.

The second weekend of November promisesto be a fun-filled, educational and exciting weekend for the whole family. Makeyour plans now to attend.

Va. co-op hosts monthly goat & sheep sale

2012-01-26T06:24:00.000-08:00

: Goats are an ordinary sight at Mike Holland's farm in Drewryville. He is a volunteer vice president of a coop that holds goat and lamb sales once a month in Emporia. -- Submitted | Holland Farm

BY STEPHEN H. COWLES/CONTRIBUTING WRITER

tidewaternewsdotcom

EMPORIA—An average of 25 to 35 buyers and sellers and as many as 260 animals are part of the monthly goat and lamb auctions at the Greensville Ruritan Club grounds.

It’s been a year since the auctions, held the second Saturday of the month, were moved to Emporia from Victoria Livestock Market in Lunenburg County

Lower overhead costs contributed to the move, said Mike Holland, vice president and a founder of the Mid-Atlantic Meat and Lamb Marketing Co-op. The volunteer-led organization got its start in 1999.

“The sale (in Lunenburg) was costing us close to $1,000 for one day a month,” said Holland, who lives in Drewryville. “With the $650 rental plus utilities, we couldn’t make any money.”

The move to Greensville also allowed the co-op to attract buyers and sellers from northern North Carolina. In addition to Emporia, Holland said there are five or six other places in Virginia that sell goats and lambs.

The co-op receives a $6 commission for the sale of every animal.

“Money that the co-op gets goes back to the lamb, sheep and goat community,” he said.

Proceeds have gone toward a market goat obstacle course at the state fair and goat expo clinics.

Sale time is 1 p.m. The check-in for the animals is 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

To learn more, contact Holland at 373-3348, hollandfrm@aol.com or visit www.marketgoats.com.

Fund raising proceeds for Fort Worth champions sale

2012-01-26T06:18:00.000-08:00

BY SCOTT NISHIMURA

snishimura@star-telegram.com

FORT WORTH -- Groups raising the money to buy the 285 champion steers, pigs, goats, and lambs exhibited by youths at this year's Fort Worth Stock Show say they're right on top of the commitments they need going into next week's Sale of Champions, the annual auction that sponsors hope will top $3 million.

Larry Anfin, chairman of the Fort Worth Stock Show Syndicate, the largest of several nonprofits that recruit buyers for the sale, estimated that donors have agreed to buy 300 animals.

"There's only 285 animals in the auction," said Anfin, of Fort Worth's Coors Distributing Co., which has bought or teamed up to buy the grand champion steer six times since 1981. "We've got everything covered."

Last year's auction raised a record $2.89 million, which went back to the youth exhibitors. Anfin, in his first of two years as syndicate chairman, said his personal goal this year is $3 million.

"I know it's an auction, and people can bid what they want," he said. "But the way the commitments are going, I think we can do it."

Commitments came in slowly through the holidays, but jumped to 280 from 122 on Jan. 12, the program deadline, Anfin said.

Major benefactors signed up this year include: the Happy Davis Foundation, which has bought the grand champion steer in two of the last three years; Coors Distributing; H-E-B/Central Market; Howard Walsh III; Ross Perot; Del Frisco's Double Eagle Steak House; Ed Bass; Luther King Capital Management; O'Neal Oil Properties; and XTO Energy founder and Texas Rangers co-owner Bob Simpson.

For the first time this year, the syndicate and other fundraising groups are dangling membership in the new Chairman's Grand Slam Club for whoever buys a grand champion in every animal group over a lifetime, or the same year. The aim is to boost prices for animals other than the steers, which draw the highest bids, and give previous grand champion buyers a reason to buy high again.

"If you have a grand champion in Fort Worth, Texas, it ought to be worth some college education money," said Gary Ray, a Fort Worth oil and gas insurance company owner who is a Grand Slam Club spokesman and head of the Tallest Hog at the Trough, which finds buyers for the 12 barrow hogs in the auction.

The Tallest Hog, in its fourth year since taking over for the defunct Pig Club, rang up $187,000 in total sales at last year's auction. As of midweek, the group had secured eight of 12 commitments for this year's hogs and is expecting "a good hog sale this year," Ray said.

"Year before we started, the 12 pigs brought $42,000," Ray said. "We've moved that mark consistently."

The Grand Slam Club was formed after Aledo commercial real estate investor Larry White Jr. broke a string of records: $100,000 for the champion lamb and $100,000 for the champion hog in 2011; $210,000 (which still stands) for the champion steer in 2010; and $30,000 for the champion goat several years ago.

"I still have the steer, War Admiral," White, the lone member of the Grand Slam Club, said Wednesday, chuckling. "It's in my front yard, in Aledo."

White heads two groups -- the Fort Worth Businessmen and U' Ol Goat Committee -- that spent $360,000 and $33,000, respectively, at last year's auction, with the latter taking the lead on finding buyers for the six wether goats in the sale.

White says fundraising for this year's sale has been slow because of the economy.

"But we're getting there," he said.

He thinks the Grand Slam Club will pay off soon.

"Some year, when the economy gets going, somebody's going to do it [buy all four grand champions] in one day," he said.

Ladies on the Lamb, a group that finds buyers for the eight lambs in the auction, is expecting a strong lamb sale, said Rebecca Pearce, a real estate agent and yoga instructor who heads the group.

Ladies on the Lamb spent $56,000 at last year's auction, not including White's investment in the grand champion.

"We raised quite a bit of money before the show, and we always raise a lot during the show," Pearce said. "We raise money right up until the auction."

Read more here: http://www.star-telegram.com/2012/01/25/3688239/stock-show-benefactors-say-theyre.html#storylink=cpy

Missouri Jr. BGA Goat Camp on Feb. 25

2012-01-20T07:19:00.000-08:00

MissouriJr. Boer Goat Association Presents:

GoatCamp, featuring Brant Knotts

February25, 2012

GoodSamaritan Boys Ranch

5549Hwy. K Brighton, MO 65617

http://www.ranchlife.org/

Check-in starting at 8:30 am. Program starting at9:00 am.

Topics include:

Pre-purchase Considerations (morning)

Health Care for your project (morning)

Basic show equipment (morning)

Showmanship (morning)

Clipping and Fitting Boer Goats Brant Knotts(afternoon)

Admission: $25.00 per person; $10.00 for MJBGAmembers; $10.00 per parent accompanying a child;

MJBGA memberships available.

All adults and youth interested in showing Boer Goatsare invited to attend. Lunch will be provided.

Registration deadline: February 17, 2012.

For forms please contact:

Katie Stewart 417-839-3184 cstweart001@centurytel.net

Tracy Diefenbach 816-533-2563 (after 6 p.m.)

tldief@gmail.com

UC Davis Goat Day on Saturday, Jan. 21

2012-01-18T07:13:00.000-08:00

Goat owners, veterinarians, students, and 4-H and FFAgoat-project youths from throughout California will gather Saturday, in UCDavis' Freeborn Hall for UC Davis Goat Day 2012.

Morning speakers will address a variety of goat healthand management topics. They also will provide updates on current goat researchand other issues important to dairy, meat, fiber and companion-goat owners. Theafternoon will feature demonstrations and illustrated presentations oncheese-making, health examinations, artificial insemination, feeding andshowmanship, milk-tester training and ultrasound to detect pregnancy.

The event, which will run from 8:15 a.m. to 3 p.m., issponsored by the UC Davis Department of Animal Science, UC Davis School ofVeterinary Medicine and the California Dairy Herd Improvement Association. Acomplete agenda is available online at: http://animalscience.ucdavis.edu/events/goatday. For more information, contact JanCarlson, supervisor of the animal science department's Dairy Goat ResearchFacility, at 530-752-6792 or jlcarlson@ucdavis.edu.

ETGRA production seminars January 21

2012-01-14T10:19:00.000-08:00

Submitted by: Cooperative Extension Agent, Rene’ McCracken

Jacksonville, Texas-based East Texas Goat Raisers Association or ETGRA will host its annual free production seminar, Saturday, January 21, 2012 for the benefit of goat producers, 4-H members and leaders and other persons interested in learning the latest agricultural research and techniques to surviving the economy and raising goats in east Texas.

This year’s round robin seminar will be held at The ETGRA Center, 32186 Highway 69 North, Jacksonville, TX (mid-way between Rusk and Jacksonville) beginning at 10 a.m.

Hands on demonstrations will be presented on topics including: tattooing, nutrition and feeding, hoof trimming and other health management strategies, parasite control, working with the Kiko breed, and kidding ~ difficult births from several area goat producers, and no registration fees required! There will be a demonstration of the association’s sonogram equipment to detect pregnancy.

After the demonstrations, there will be a special presentation on Developing Healthy Soils in a Drought, presented by Willie Durham – State Conservation Agronomist for USDA. He will be leading the discussion on new techniques to build up the soils utilizing NRCS approved techniques. If you have been working with over-stressed soils with low fertility, don’t miss this opportunity to learn from an expert in the field of re-conditioning soils.

ETGRA members will have contact information available at the membership table for those looking to purchase goats. If you are a vendor or wish to sell goat related items, or just interested in sponsoring the event or donating an item for the door prizes, contact Rene’ McCracken at the number below.

Many area producers looking for tips on alternative feeds, forages and marketing that would help move their operations into a more profitable position will definitely find solutions at this round robin style seminar.

The ETGRA general membership meeting, nomination of 2012 officers and pot luck lunch will also be held directly after the demonstrations. Topics such as future production sales and shows, membership and fundraising drives, where to market goats, and nominations for leadership roles will be addressed. Members and non-members are encouraged to attend the meeting.

The ETGRA members would like to issue a special invitation to area cattle producers interested in improving their soils or in purchasing goats to supplement their cattle or timber operations during the drought projected for the coming year.

For more information on this and other goat events contact Cooperative Extension Agent, Rene’ McCracken at 903-683-5416 or lrmccracken@ag.tamu.edu. You may also find additional information on the website at www.etgra.com.

Ohio Extension utilizing the Web

2012-01-13T05:47:00.000-08:00

The Ohio Sheep Improvement Association and Ohio State University Extension are replacing the district Sheep and Goat Program series with a WebEx series. The four-part series will update farmers on sheep and goat health programs delivered through one live WebEx site and 13 remote ones. The live site will be the Knox County Career Center in Mount Vernon. To register or for details, call 740-397-0401.

Programs will be broadcast 7-9 p.m. Feb. 6, 13, 20 and 27. The WebEx series is a cost-efficient way to get more information to sheep and goat farmers, organizers say.

Session dates and topics are as follows:

Feb. 6 -- "Lambing and Kidding Management and Newborn Health Issues," presented by Dr. Bill Shulaw, OSU Preventive Veterinary Medicine.
Feb. 13 -- "Internal Parasites," presented by Rory Lewandowski and Jeff McCutcheon, OSU Extension educators with experience managing internal parasites in sheep and goats.
Feb. 20 -- "Udder Health and Mastitis," presented by Dr. Leo Timms, professor, Iowa State University, who specializes in the ruminant mammary health.
Feb. 27 -- "Recognizing, Treating, and Preventing Major Diseases of Sheep and Goats," presented by Dr. Eric Gordon, OSU Veterinary Medicine, Marysville.

Remote WebEx locations include:

Ada Community Health professional building, Ada. Contact: Gene McCluer, Hardin County Extension, 419-674-2297.
Holmes County Extension Office, Millersburg. Contact: Kate Shumaker, Holmes County Extension, 330-674-3015.
Huron County Administration Building, Norwalk. Contact: Mike Gastier, Huron County Extension, 419-668-8219.
Union County Extension Office, Marysville. Contact: Jon Rausch, Union County Extension, 937-644-8117. Preregistration required.
OARDC, Room 130 Research Services, Wooster. Contact: Rory Lewandowski, Wayne County Extension, 330-264-8722.

Agribition planned Feb. 3 in Alabama

2012-01-05T07:33:00.000-08:00

February 3 is the date to mark onyour calendar. The events for thisyear are much the same as in past years. We are always trying to improve the show and have events foreveryone without limitations. Thisshow is for all youth up to 18 or one year out of high school. Goats entered in the open show must beregistered in the ABGA, IBGA, USBGA or the Canadian Boer Goat Associations butnot in the child’s name. They mustbe properly tattooed and have papers or applied for papers if they are under 3months of age. Entry feesfor all classes are $10. Thisyear’s judge is Julie Brown from Tampa, Fla. She is an ABGA-certified judge. Meat goats (wethers and commercial does with baby teeth)will be shown by weight. The classbreak downs are under 35 lbs. prospect class; light, medium and heavy weightwethers or commercial does that still have their baby teeth. That would make most oldercommercial does that have lost their teeth competing together. You may choose how you want to showyour commercial young does.

The tentative schedule is asfollows: Registration and weigh inis between 11:00 A.M. and 2:00 P.M. The Dairy goat show will begin at 2:30 followed by Meat Goats and Commercial Does. Showmanship, goat parade, dinner, %does, FB does and Bucks willfollow. Please contact LeeAnne Hall at 205 965 1360 for more information on the Dairy Goat Show and entryform. Exhibits: displays,scrapbooks and photos must be in place by 4:00 P.M. Bring your own table,covering and display board. Pleasecontact me if you are interested in a Public Speaking contest.

The Photo Contest was a greatsuccess last year, therefore we will continue it this year. There will be threecategories you may choose from. You may entry one photograph in each of the categories or only onecategory, your choice. The categories are Goats on the Farm, Goats in theLandscape, and Goats with People. The photos should be made by the youth exhibitor. They can be of any size up to 8 X 10,color or black and white. Eitherframe your photos or attach them to a mat so they can be exhibited. Your name, age and category needs to belisted on the back of the photos.

Displays will be judged as up to 8, 9-14 and 15-19 years of age. Possible exhibit guidelines are herd advertisement,suitable for promotion of your own herd. Highlight the positive points for showing and raising goats. This could include but is not limitedto promotion of a certain breed, meat productions or products, qualities thatmake a show goat, winnings and awards and for the love of the goat. You will beasked questions by the judge so be available at judging time.

Scrapbook contest age groups areJunior up to 10 years of age and Senior 11-19 years of age. This could alsoinclude a middle group. It isaccording to how many entries we get. Guidelines are 1. Begin with a Cover. 2. Title pagefollowed by a contents page. Subsequent pages should be numbered. 3. Cover the activities, shows, displays, work sessions,newsletters, media related articles, honors won through work with goats. Include photographs, newspaper andmagazine clippings, programs from special events, or other officialdocuments. 4. Be neat andorganized! Have no loose pieces,caption all photos and type or write neatly. Parents are allowed to help provided there is evidence thechild has done the work too.

We aren’t yet sure how much moneywill be available for premiums. Our funds have been cut drastically due to the poor economy.

Sponsorship for classes is $50.00;however, any amount of money or raffle items are welcome and appreciated. Anyone who donates money or raffleitems will have their names or farm name on a banner. Please specify which you prefer to be put on the banner.

Write and bring a briefdescription of your and yourgoat’s costume. Name, age andwhere you are from. Make itinteresting. Age divisions for theparade and showmanship are 0-5, 6-8, 9-11, 12-15 and 16-19.

If you have your own pens they arewelcome and needed.

Hope to see you in Autaugaville onFebruary 3, 2012.

Sam and Mary Lou Abney (334 365 5146 Home) and Day of Show (334 399 6957 Sam’scell phone ( 334 312 5713 Mary Lou’s Cell Phone).

Ala. 2012 small ruminant health workshops

2012-01-05T07:28:00.000-08:00

The Alabama CooperativeExtension System at Alabama A&M University is offering a series ofworkshops on “Small Ruminant Health from A to Z,” including gastrointestinal parasitismmanagement and FAMACHA training. The workshops areconducted at the beginning of the grazing and kidding season in early springsince this is the season when many health problems are more prevalent.

The objective of the workshops is to educate farmers, veterinarianpractitioners, Extension agents, and other interested persons on:

· Besthealth management practices for small ruminants

· FDA-approvedand non-approved parasite deworming methods to treat GI parasitism among goatand sheep herds, including the FAMACHA test developed by South Africanscientists

· McMastertechnique of nematode fecal-egg identification and counting

· Lifecycle of gastrointestinal worms

· Consequencesof parasite-host interactions

In addition, FAMACHA cards will be available for purchasing.

The workshops are free; however, participants are encouraged topre-register by calling the appropriate county Extension office or Dr. MariaBrowning at (256) 372-4954.

Schedule of Workshops

February 4

9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Marshall County Extension Office

Suite G21, 424 Blount Avenue

Guntersville, AL 35976-1132

To register: Contact Eddie Wheeler at (256)582-2009 or willed@aces.edu.

Directions:Enter Guntersville on US-431 N (Blount Avenue). Courthouse is located betweenUS-431 N (Blount Avenue) and US-431 S (Gunter Avenue). Use Blount Avenueentrance to courthouse. Parking available around courthouse.

February 23

8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Landmark Park

430 Landmark Drive, Highway 431 North

Dothan, AL 36301

To register: Contact Willie Durr at (334)794-4108 or durwill@aces.edu.

Directions: From Dothan, travel cross RossClark Circle, turn onto US-431 North. Travel approximately 3 miles and turnonto Landmark Drive.

March 2

8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Baldwin County Extension Office

Gulf Coast Research & Extension Center

8300 State Highway 104

Fairhope, AL 36507

To register: Contact Anthony Wiggins at (251)575-3477 or wiggia1@aces.edu.

Directions:From I-65 turn south onto 287. Follow 287 to Bay Minette. Turn onto 59 south,then east onto 104. Gulf Coast Regional Research and Extension Center is on 104approximately 13 miles from 59.

March 24

8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Lawrence County Extension Office

13075 ALA-157, Suite 6

Moulton, AL 35650

To register: Contact Robert Spencer at (256)766-6223 or rds0002@aces.edu.

Directions: From I-65 travel west on ALA-157to Lawrence County Agricultural Center.

April 9

5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Hale County Agricultural Extension Center
701 Hall Street
Greensboro, AL 36744To register: Contact Tommie Teacher at (334) 624-8710 orteachto@aces.edu.

Directions: Enter Greensboro from ALA-69,ALA-61, ALA-14, or ALA-25. Travel to intersection of ALA-69 and ALA-14. Traveleast on ALA-14 approximately 300 yards to Centreville Street. Turn right onCentreville Street. Go 0.25 mile to Hall Street. Turn left onto Hall Street.Extension Office is located in the Hale County Agricultural Extension Center,clearly visible on the right by the baseball fields.

May 5

8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Tennessee State University

Meat Goat Research Facility

Ed Temple Blvd

Nashville TN 37228

Toregister: Contact Dr. Richard Browning at (615) 963-5837 orrbrowning@tnstate.edu.

Directions:Take I-40 West to 28th Avenue Exit #207. Turn right at end of exit ramp.Proceed north past Walter Davis Blvd (third traffic light). Farm entrance isthe first driveway on the left.

Meat — A booming business in the USA

2012-01-04T11:49:00.000-08:00

By Trent Loos

High Plains/Midwest Ag JOURNAL

This is the week each year when I tell you that I don't believe in New Year's resolutions but I will make a commitment to do better in one area. Today my commitment is to continue to improve lives for all mankind and the beauty of it is that what mankind really is what I enjoy most--producing more milk meat and eggs.

The United Nations, while I don't agree with their approach, says global consumption of meat is expected to rise nearly 73 percent by 2050. The Food and Agriculture Organisation released this information in December as a result of the World Livestock Report.

However, take note of how they put a negative slant on our productivity in the United States by including the statement that the world will need to produce "two-thirds more animal protein than it does today, bringing new strains to bear on the planet's natural resources." Our advantage is that we do produce more with less and improve the planet at the same time. They want to emphasize the need for more families that own a dozen goats in their backyard.

Figures from the FAO indicate that livestock products today supply about 12.9 percent of the calories consumed worldwide--20.3 percent in developed countries. Its contribution to protein consumption is estimated at 27.9 percent worldwide and 47.8 percent in developed countries.

Now for anybody that has recently sold hogs, goats, lambs, beef cattle or even milk, you clearly realize things are at historic levels but are things really that good. I am never a glass half empty guy but look at the facts.

We only produce 65 percent of the goat and lamb meat we eat domestically.

Beef cattle breeding herd numbers are at severely low numbers, low enough that we should all have great concern over the erosion of the infrastructure in place to ever again grow the size of the industry.

The dairy industry has fewer than 9 million cows in production compared to the 24 million in 1945. Those 9 million cows do produce three times as much total milk as the 24 million did 70 years ago but we are talking about the need for serious grow in production numbers.

Again looking at the FAO report which clearly states "Meat consumption is projected to rise nearly 73 percent by 2050; dairy consumption will grow 58 percent over current levels."

The high prices we received today are all due to a shortage of inventory and lack of animals to produce what we need to meet the growing demand. I am saying that we need to maintain this level of price for the animals produced but accomplish that by adding numbers in production.

The proposed need for a significant increase in milk, meat and eggs is not taxing to the planet at all if we continue to pave the road by concentrating animals, utilizing technologies and improving efficiencies.

In the same month that we get the UN's "We are destroying the planet" fear-mongering report, the following article comes out in the Journal of Animal Science.

"The Environmental Impact of Beef Production in the United States: 1977 compared with 2007" (Journal of Animal Science, Dec. 18, 2011) by Jude Capper, Ph.D., at Washington State University. Jude documents that each pound of beef raised in 2007 used 33 percent less land, 12 percent less water, 19 percent less feed and 9 percent less fossil fuel energy than equivalent beef production in 1977. Waste outputs were similarly reduced, shrinking the carbon footprint of beef by 16.3 percent in 30 years.

In addition, according to previous research conducted by Capper, each pound of grain-finished beef requires 45 percent less land, 76 percent less water and 49 percent less feed and at the same time generates 51 percent less manure and 42 percent fewer carbon emissions than grass-finished beef.

So you can see that my commitment to myself in this New Year is to be better at contributing to the overall method of feeding more people with less resources. The United States agricultural system, through research, science and the implementation of technology, has improved the opportunity for the highest quality of life known to mankind. Who would have ever guessed that "Where's the beef?" would be more than one company's marketing slogan but a mantra for consumers around the world. That is something that we, as American producers, can use to toot our own horns and also motivate us to continue increasing our productivity. Happy New Year!

(Trent Loos is a sixth generation United States farmer, host of the daily radio show, Loos Tales, and founder of Faces of Agriculture, a non-profit organization putting the human element back into the production of food. Get more information at www.FacesOfAg.com, or email Trent at trent@loostales.com.)

Cheese-making made easy

2012-01-03T05:58:00.000-08:00

Classes offer introduction to easy yet mysterious art of cheesemaking

9:18 PM, Jan. 2, 2012 |
Comments

Purchase Image

Trystan Sandvoss, left, of First Light Farm & Creamery in East Bethany, Genesee County, with students Kristie Miller of Darien, center, and Jennifer Slenker of Alexander, right, all in Genesee County, during the creamery's Home Cheesemaking Workshop last month. / ANNETTE LEIN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Written by

Karen Miltner

Staff writer

FILED UNDER

Purchase Image ZOOM

A piece of farmhouse cheddar is placed back into the cheese press at First Light Farm & Creamery to control moisture. The class taught students how to make three types of cheese. / ANNETTE LEIN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Cheesemaking classes

What: Learn how to make cheese at home at this all-day workshop.
Where: First Light Farm & Creamery, East Bethany, Genesee County.
When: 9 to 3:30 p.m. Jan. 14, 28 and Feb. 11, 12, 25 and 26.
Cost: $100, includes lunch, instruction booklet and home cheesemaking supplies.
To register: first-light-farm.com.

Cheesemaking demonstrations

First Light Farm & Creamery will be offering free ricotta-making demonstrations.
Saturday: 12:30 p.m. at Abundance Cooperative Market, 62 Marshall St.
Feb. 9: 6:30 p.m. at Fountain of Youth Organics, 46 Main St., Brockport.

Where to find First Light cheeses

Abundance Cooperative Market, 62 Marshall St.
Fountain of Youth Organics, 46 Main St., Brockport.
Red Bird Market, 130 Village Landing, Fairport.
Max Market, 2949 Monroe Ave., Brighton.
Highland Park Winter Farmers Market, 3 to 6 p.m. Wednesdays, 249 Highland Ave.
Flour City Bread Co., 52 Public Market (Thursdays and Saturdays).
Small World Bakery, smallworldfood.com.
Lento Restaurant, 274 N. Goodman St. (Village Gate Square).

Online

Read Karen Miltner's blog at herrochester.com, "What's On My Plate, for an interview with Ricki Carroll, founder of the New England Cheesemaking Supply Co.

Democrat and Chronicle, Rochester, New YorK

The local foods movement has not only been a plus for small, family-run farms, but also for home cooking in general.

More people are canning their tomatoes from farmers markets or backyard gardens, baking their own bread with local flours, and stocking their freezers with entire sides of beef, lamb or pork that will sustain their households throughout the year.

Now a new farmstead cheese operation in Genesee County is offering enthusiasts the same opportunity to bring artisanal cheesemaking to their home kitchens.

First Light Farm & Creamery in East Bethany made its debut at Rochester-area farmers markets this spring with its double-cream chèvre, squeaky cheese curds and feta made from a blend of goat's and cow's milk. The goat's milk is from First Light's herd of sustainably raised Nubians and French Alpines while the Jersey milk comes from a nearby organic dairy. Brothers Trystan and Max Sandvoss, the ruddy-cheeked dairy prince charmings who founded the venture, see these cheesemaking classes not as competition for their business, but as consumer enlightenment.

"Once people have a connection to cheesemaking, they are that much more loyal and connected to local producers with good practices," says Trystan Sandvoss, who taught the all-day workshop I signed up for in early December.

To read more, click here.

January 2012 Goat Rancher available online

2011-12-30T11:25:00.000-08:00

Click here to access the January 2012 Goat Rancher online edition.

Goat Rancher columnist authors book

2011-12-29T08:17:00.000-08:00

Click here to order!

Yvonne Zweede-Tucker

Whatever your reasons for wanting to raise meat goatsmight be, if you're curious about, thinking about, or planning to start a meatgoat enterprise, you probably have lots of questions:

What kind of goats should you choose? How do you buy themand care for them? How do they reproduce? How do you sell them? The Meat GoatHandbook has the answers to those questions and more.

Goat Rancher columnist Yvonne Zweede-Tuckerdraws on 20 years of hands-on experience to help you raise your own meat goats.Illustrated throughout with color photography, this instructive handbookincludes advice about breeds, feeding, housing, safety, health, kidding,butchering and selling product, as well as a glossary of goat terms.

Raising meat goats is increasingly popular andprofitable. This book emphasizes profitability and how to build a trulysuccessful meat goat operation. If you're bold and ready to take on a newchallenge, The Meat Goat Handbook will be an invaluable guide. Yvonne and her husband, Craig, raise meat goats atSmoke Ridge Ranch in Choteau, Mt. Her articles appear monthly in Goat Rancher.

$19.99 + $5.50 Shipping (Available in U.S. only) Click here to order!

Sheep & goat census reinstated

2011-12-28T11:28:00.000-08:00

The National AgriculturalStatistics Service NASS leadership recently concluded a deliberate review ofall programs against mission- and user-based criteria, aimed at finding costsavings and forward-thinking business efficiencies so that timely,accurate and useful data remains available in service to agriculture. In 2011,NASS made several enhancements within its programs and operations todeliver improved results for the American people, including opening a new nationaloperations center in St. Louis that will centralize data collection and service topeople who provide and use NASS products and services. These efforts and moreover the last year have allowed NASS leadership the flexibility within its budgetto retain and reinstate several key reports.

The reinstated programs are:

AnnualReports on Farm Numbers, Land in Farms Reports and Farm Income
Catfishand Trout Reports (data collection begins Dec. 9; report released Dec. 20)
AnnualFloriculture Report
JanuarySheep and Goat Report (data collection begins Dec. 23; report date is Jan. 27)
JulyCattle Report
AnnualBee and Honey Report (data collection begins Jan. 23; report date is
March 30)
AnnualHops Production Report (data collection begins Dec. 9; report date is
Dec. 21)
AnnualMink Report
Fruitand Vegetable in season forecast and estimates
RiceStocks June Report

More young people see opportunities in farming

2011-12-25T08:37:00.000-08:00

By Dinesh Ramde, Associated Press

Updated 2d 19h ago

Comments

MILWAUKEE – A Wisconsin factory worker worried about layoffs became a dairy farmer. An employee at a Minnesota nonprofit found an escape from her cubicle by buying a vegetable farm. A nuclear engineer tired of office bureaucracy decided to get into cattle ranching in Texas.

By Jim Mone, AP
Laura Frerichs, 31, on her organic farm outside Hutchinson, Minn. Frerichs discovered her passion for farming about a year after she graduated from college with an anthropology degree.

Enlarge

By Jim Mone, AP

Laura Frerichs, 31, on her organic farm outside Hutchinson, Minn. Frerichs discovered her passion for farming about a year after she graduated from college with an anthropology degree.

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While fresh demographic information on U.S. farmers won't be available until after a new agricultural census is done next year, there are signs more people in their 20s and 30s are going into farming: Enrollment in university agriculture programs has increased, as has interest in farmer-training programs.

Young people are turning up at farmers markets and are blogging, tweeting and promoting their agricultural endeavors through other social media.

The young entrepreneurs typically cite two reasons for going into farming: Many find the corporate world stifling and see no point in sticking it out when there's little job security; and demand for locally grown and organic foods has been strong enough that even in the downturn they feel confident they can sell their products.

Laura Frerichs, 31, of Hutchinson, Minn., discovered her passion for farming about a year after she graduated from college with an anthropology degree. She planned to work in economic development in Latin America and thought she ought to get some experience working on a farm.

She did stints on five farms, mostly vegetable farms, and fell in love with the work. Frerichs and her husband now have their own organic farm, and while she doesn't expect it to make them rich, she's confident they'll be able to earn a living.

"There's just this growing consciousness around locally grown foods, around organic foods," she said. "Where we are in the Twin Cities, there's been great demand for that."

Farming is inherently risky: Drought, flooding, wind and other weather extremes can all destroy a year's work. And with farmland averaging $2,140 per acre across the United States. but two to four times that much in the Midwest and California, start-up costs can be daunting.

Still, agriculture fared better than many parts of the economy during the recession, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture predicts record profits for farmers as a whole this year.

"People are looking at farm income, especially the increase in asset values, and seeing a really positive story about our economy," said USDA senior economist Mary Clare Ahearn, citing preliminary statistics. "Young people are viewing agriculture as a great opportunity and saying they want to be a part of it."

That's welcome news to the government. More than 60% of farmers are over the age of 55, and without young farmers to replace them when they retire the nation's food supply would depend on fewer and fewer people.

"We'd be vulnerable to local economic disruptions, tariffs, attacks on the food supply, really, any disaster you can think of," said Poppy Davis, who coordinates the USDA's programs for beginning farmers and ranchers.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has called for 100,000 new farmers within the next few years, and Congress has responded with proposals that would provide young farmers with improved access to USDA support and loan programs.

One beginning farmer is Gabrielle Rojas, 34, from the central Wisconsin town of Hewitt. As a rebellious teen all she wanted to do was leave her family's farm and find a career that didn't involve cows. But she changed her mind after spending years in dead-end jobs in a factory and restaurant.

"In those jobs I'm just a number, just a time-clock number," Rojas said. "But now I'm doing what I love to do. If I'm having a rough day or I'm a little sad because the sun's not shining or my tractor's broken, I can always go out and be by the cattle. That always makes me feel better."

Rojas got help in changing careers from an apprenticeship program paid for by the USDA, which began giving money in 2009 to universities and nonprofit groups that help train beginning farmers. The grants helped train about 5,000 people the first year. This year, the USDA estimates more than twice as many benefited.

One of the groups that received a grant is Midwest Organic and Sustainable Education Service, or MOSES. The Spring Valley, Wis., chapter teaches farming entrepreneurs how to cope with price swings and what to do in cases of catastrophic weather.

MOSES also organizes field days, where would-be farmers tour the operations of successful farms to learn and share tips. Attendance is up 20% this year, director Faye Jones said, and some outings that used to attract 30 or 40 people have drawn as many as 100, most between the ages of 18 and 30.

"I think for many people, farming has been a lifelong dream, and now the timing is right," she said. Among the reasons she cited: the lifestyle, working in the fresh air and being one's own boss.

If farming is beginning to sound like an appealing career, there are downsides. The work involves tough physical labor, and vacations create problems when there are crops to be harvested and cows to be milked.

In addition, many farmers need second jobs to get health insurance or make ends meet. As the USDA notes, three-fifths of farms have sales of less than $10,000 a year, although some may be growing fruit trees or other crops that take a few years to develop.

None of those factors dissuaded 27-year-old Paul Mews. He left a high-paying job as a nuclear engineer last year to become a cattle rancher in Menard, Tex. His wife's family has been ranching for generations, and Mews decided he'd much rather join his in-laws and be his own boss than continue shuffling paperwork at the plant.

"When you're self-employed, it's so much more fulfilling. You get paid what you're worth," he said. "It's really nice that what you put into it is what you're going to get back out."

Christmas goats called marketing bull

2011-12-24T08:15:00.000-08:00

By Claer Barrett, Retail Correspondent

The Financial Times of London

Thousands of people on Christmas day will open charity gift cards donating goats, sheep and other vital supplies to poverty-stricken African farmers. However, many will be unaware that their cash is not earmarked for a specific animal, but diverted into general fundraising activities.

Attacked as a “gross dishonesty” by the Charities Advisory Trust, which advises charities on how to raise money more effectively, the practice of “giving a goat” at Christmas has been a lucrative and increasingly popular fundraising tactic for charities.

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But recipients of these gift and e-cards will seldom read the small print, which admits the animals are little more than an emotive marketing technique used to solicit general donations.

Oxfam Unwrapped, which has sold £60m of ethical gifts since 2004, does not guarantee that the funds raised will ultimately be used for a defined purpose. Promising to “get your gift where it’s needed most”, the online small print states: “This kind of flexibility means that poor communities worldwide can get exactly what they need if and when their circumstances change.”

To read more, click here.

Plans for Maryland buck test announced

2011-12-20T07:33:00.000-08:00

Plans are under way for the 2012 Western Maryland Pasture-Based Meat Goat Performance Test.

The test is open to male goats of any breed or breed cross, with or without registration eligibility. Goat producers from any state may consign up to five goats to the test. It is recommended that producers consign at least two goats and that the goats be half-sibs (sired by the same buck).

Eligible goats must weigh between 35 and 70 lbs. upon delivery to the test site on June 2. They must have been born between December 20, 2011, and March 20, 2012, inclusive. The goats will need to have been weaned for at least 2 weeks and have received two inoculations for overeating diseases and tetanus (CD-T). The goats should be adjusted to a forage-based diet.

The nomination period will be from April 1 until May 15. A $20 deposit will be due at the time of nomination. After a short adjustment period, starting weights will be recorded on Thursday, June 7. The test will officially last for 98 days. The final data will be collected on Thursday, September 13.

The goats will be worked every two weeks to determine body weights, FAMACHA, body condition, coat condition, and dag scores. Towards the end of the test, the goats will be scanned (with ultrasound) to determine rib eye area and fat thickness.

They will be evaluated for reproductive soundness and structural correctness. In 2012, hooves will be more closely examined, as hoof growth and health is an important aspect of a goat's fitness.

Proposed changes to the goat test will be shared via future blog entries. Click here to follow the blog.

American Goat Federation Roundup

2011-12-19T09:20:00.000-08:00

Since establishment in mid-2010 the American Goat Federation has been gathering strength through numbers as various goat industry organizations and individuals have joined the ranks for a national and united voice. The list of members currently includes representation from all the major sectors and many regions of the USA.

The Federation will hold its 2012 annual meeting in Scottsdale, AZ on Saturday, January 28 at the Scottsdale Plaza Resort. At that time in addition to developing, discussing and accepting a Strategic Plan the election of new Board members will occur. Goat producers, goat organization representatives, and member agencies are encouraged to attend and provide input.

Over the past 18 months various Board members and taskforce chairs have been active representing the American goat sector in numerous policy development, planning, informational, and study events. A recently released summary of those accomplishments has been compiled and is available by request or through the AGF website. Among them were participation in three working groups associated with USDA Agriculture Research Service and the National Institute for Food and Agriculture programs in animal health and animal agriculture systems. Some of these deliberations were species-specific and if AGF had not stepped forward the goat sector would have been without an informed voice and representation.

The Federation has been a part of discussions held by the National Institute for Animal Agriculture which seeks collaborative efforts to keep the public informed and to highlight science-based information on various production systems. The AGF will have a major influence on matters related to the program development for the next national goat conference which will provide the latest information on the production, marketing, and societal elements of goat products and services.

A viable and dynamic website (www.americangoatfederation.org) has been developed and is functioning with regular updates on activities and issues. The rolling masthead is a reminder that the AGF is about many types of goats and many types of products produced across the country. The AGF logo resulted from the tireless efforts of a Board taskforce called on to be creative and results-oriented. Yet to come will be links to recommended informational resources providing science-based information that can provide positive impact on enterprise goals, including profitability.

The Federation has been represented at selected events where the purpose and goals have been shared with goat owners across the country. We recognize that there are many issues where our many voices will gain attention on issues such as minor species, minor-use provisions, goat husbandry and production research priorities, availability of market news, consumer options in product utilization, and global influences. We have much to do, including providing more targeted member services and broad participation. Those things will get a lot of attention during the next few months and especially at the Scottsdale meeting. We encourage all members to attend, participate in discussions, and be willing to become engaged in our future. Additional information will be forthcoming via the website and direct contact with member groups and individuals.

Aggieland Lamb and Goat camps July 2012

2011-12-19T05:29:00.000-08:00

What: Aggieland™ Lamb & Goat Camps - a 3-day program dedicated to teaching parents and students the fundamentals of feeding, nutrition, health, facilities, selection, and showmanship.

View ALGC Questions and Answers

When:
Lamb Camp - Friday, July 20, 2012 at 11a.m. - Sunday, July 22, 2012 at 3 p.m.
Goat Camp - Friday, July 27, 2012 at 11 a.m. - Sunday, July 29, 2012 at 3 p.m.
Where: College Station, TX - Pearce Pavilion

Cost: Campers: $150 - Adult/Sponser: $60
Who: Anyone ages eight years-old and older
Registration: Will be open March 21, 2012 by 12p.m.
Testimonials:
"I wanted to extend a great thanks on the success that attending lamb camp in July was for my son. His showmanship skills and knowledge of lambs has grown considerably."
-- Chris Stoeltje
"Goat camp is already paying off. Thanks for all the info at camp and we will see you at lamp camp next summer."
-- Stephen, Starla and Kristin Tucker
"Thank you for such a wonderful goat camp. A wonderful experience. Wyatt learned so much and didn't want to leave!"
-- Karen Koch
"Thank you all for a wonderful goat camp. It was a great experience for everybody."
-- Maria Lugo

For more information, please contact: Dr. Shawn Ramsey, Lamb & Goat Camp Program Coordinator
Phone: 979-845-7616
Fax: 979-458-3294
Katie Fritz or Kelsey Willberg at aggielandlambandgoatcamp@gmail.com
Phone: 979-845-7616
Fax: 979-458-3294

Sheep shearers needed in Hawaii

2011-12-19T05:13:00.000-08:00

The Hawaii Sheep and Goat Association presents a Sheep Shearing Clinic to be held on Jan. 11 and 12, 2012. This is a rare opportunity to learn Sheep Shearing here on the islands.

If you own sheep, you may know that there is a shortage of Sheep Shearers. If you are interested in learning this trade or just want to be able to shear your own sheep, this workshop is for you!

When: Jan. 11 (Wednesday) , Noon – 5pm

Jan. 12 (Thursday), 8:30am – 4pm

Who: Jim Bristol, Certified Instructor and Expert Shearer from Michigan

Where: Kahua Ranch (Kohala Mountain Road)

Cost: $50

Contact: Jan Dean at 775-0401 or email maluhia.farm@mac.com to reserve your space (space is limited!)

Eating goat meat in mid-America

2011-12-19T05:04:00.000-08:00

Cookbook cues: Goat: Meat · Milk · Cheese by Bruce Weinstein and Mark Scarbrough
Ruth Young on Wednesday 12/07/2011 2:00 pm
The Daily Page.com
Madison, Wisconsin

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When deciding what to cook for dinner on any given night, "goat," for most of us, is likely the one of the last ideas to come to mind. Goat meat is on the rise in Madison restaurants, but it's still largely absent from home kitchens. Bruce Weinstein and Mark Scarbrough, authors of a plethora of cookbooks and the blog Real Food Has Curves, are out to change that in their recent cookbook,Goat: Meat · Milk · Cheese (Stewart, Tabori & Chang, $30).
In the preface, Weinstein and Scarbrough explain how goat meat hasn't yet fallen into the "tastes like chicken" category because "nobody has morphed the DNA of goats so that they have breasts so big they can't walk (hello, chickens), or hooves so weak they are prone to rot (hello, cows)." In fact, no hormones and only a few antibiotics have been approved for goat production in the Unites States. In other words, this stuff is pure and deeply flavorful. What's more, upwards of 70% of the red meat eaten globally is goat. All said, we are only left to wonder why the heck we hadn't thought to cook with goat meat and dairy until now.
The authors effectively deconstruct the illusive goat into three easy-to-grasp sections: meat, milk and yogurt, and cheese. Those sections are broken down further into familiar categories like "hunks," "chunks," "moles," and "curries" in the meat section. The recipes are interlaced with anecdotes that add a level of fun to what is some pretty serious cooking, and give valuable insight to everything from goat farming to the intricate art of goat cheese-making.
The "meat" recipes range from simple (chili) to complex (the seven-hour leg), and from familiar (burgers) to foreign (dopiaza -- think of really fancy French onion soup). The first recipe I tried, however, was from the "cheese and yogurt" section. The directions for corn pudding were easy to follow, and in no time I had myself a rich, cheesy corn casserole made with goat milk, soft goat cheese and hard goat cheese. The tanginess of the goat products added an enjoyable dimension to what would otherwise have been a pretty ordinary dish. The goat cheese cheesecake recipe was also easy to follow; however, those who consumed it didn't realize it was made with goat cheese until they were told.
Overall, this is a great guide for those who are ready to embrace these up-and-coming ingredients. If you're low on time, money or sense of adventure, though, you may be best off simply finding a fresh baguette and giving it a generous smear of soft chevre. Perfection.
Don't know where to get your goat meat? Weinstein and Scarbrough provide a list of US farms. The most local they list,Shepard Song Farm , is in Downing, Wisconsin. Other local purveyors include Black Earth Meats in Black Earth, Greek Acres Farm in Cambria and Ruegsegger Farms in Blanchardville.

Elite Kiko buck sale May 19 in Missouri

2011-12-11T09:30:00.000-08:00

The National Kiko Registry continues “thinking outside the fence” while developing

plans for its 2012 Spotlight Auction, scheduled for May 19 in Springfield, Mo. The sale is part of the NKR-sponsored Ozark Empire Goat Conference that will be held May 18-19, 2012, at the Ozark Empire Fairgrounds.

First off, the bucks will have their own sale to be held at 1 p.m. The sale will be limited to 10 head with a maximum age of two-years-old by sale day. Billed as the NKR Elite Kiko Buck Sale, this sale will be the first auction of its kind in the history of the U.S. meat goat industry. Producers will have the opportunity to offer 10 of the best representatives of the Kiko breed in a high-profile, highly promoted arena with these top herdsires going to the highest bidders. Nominees must be of the highest quality, free of defects and health issues. Photos of the 10 nominees, their pedigrees, accomplishments and owners will be featured on the NKR website as well as in other national advertising. These bucks will be DNA-tested and NKR-registered.

Immediately following the buck sale will be the Spotlight Auction, a doe-only sale that will feature approximatey 110 NKR-registered New Zealand, purebred and

percentage/GeneMasterTM does. Buyers can purchase the buck they want then put together the does of their choice for a perfect foundation herd or addition to their current breeding program.

Here is the link for sale information and rules:

http://www.nkrextension.com/uploads/2/8/7/8/2878869/spotlight_sale_rules-final2.pdf

Here is the link for more information on the conference:

http://www.nkrextension.com/conf--auction.html

To learn more about the National Kiko Registry, visit www.nationalkikoregistry.com.

For more information, contact Ron Polette at 314-808-7664 or mrbuff@centurytel.net.

W. Va. small ruminant course Dec. 10

2011-12-07T12:54:00.000-08:00

The 2011 West Virginia Small Ruminant Short Course will be held from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday in Room 1001 in the West Virginia University Agriculture Science Building in Morgantown.

Sponsored by the West Virginia Extension Service, the educational program for sheep and goat producers is open to the public and will include information on feed, nutrition, and economics.

An update will be presented on the National Animal Identification System, Scrapie Program, American Sheep Industry programs and the West Virginia Fiber Festival. Furthermore, a summary of current WVU research projects on Multi Species Grazing, Synchronization,Out-of Season Breeding and Weaning trials will be available.

An informational farm tour is scheduled in the afternoon by charter bus to visit the George Wherry Farm. Wherry manages a large commercial sheep operation located in Scenery Hill, Pa, consisting of 500 Dorset and Texel crossed ewes. The farm tour will focus on effective sheep management, pasture based production systems, rotational grazing management to utilize warm season grasses and Wherry's progressive direct marketing strategies

Box lunches will be offered on the charter bus on the way to visit the Wherry farm. The annual meeting of the West Virginia Shepherd's Federation will be conducted on the charter bus on the way back to Morgantown. Registration is required for lunches and transportation as soon as possible.

The cost for the workshop is $15 to cover the charter bus and box lunch costs. The registration fee will be payable on Dec. 10. To register for the workshop contact the Grant County WVU Extension office at 1-304-257-4688 by email at Brad.Smith@mail.wvu.edu or call J.J. Barrett, Wood County WVU Extension agent for Agriculture, at 1-304-424-1960.

Illinois sheep & goat workshop Jan. 28

2011-12-05T09:40:00.000-08:00

The 2012 Sheep & Goat Workshop will be held Saturday, January 28, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the University of Illinois Extension Kankakee County Office,

1650 Commerce Drive, Bourbonnais, IL 60914

The annual Kankakee County Sheep & Goat Workshop will have information for veteran producers as well as those new to the industry. The goal is to educate sheep and goat producers on current industry practices and trends, and to provide an introduction for producers who are new to the respective industries.

Topics will include:

* Latest in Disease and Pest Issues

* Best Way to Establish Pastures

* Breeds to Raise

* Appropriate Fencing & Housing Facilities

* Calculating Profits

Speakers will include veterinarians, University of Illinois Extension educators, Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) staff, and a Producer Panel.

A pre-registration fee of $20 ($15 for additional person from same homestead) which includes lunch for the workshop is required by January 25, 2012. Please call Kankakee County Extension Office at 815-933-8337 for more information or check our website at http://web.extension.illinois.edu/gkw.

Urban farmers try goats

2011-12-04T06:03:00.000-08:00

From USAToday

SEATTLE – Snowflake the goat has cornered me, nuzzling my hand as she nibbles on my jacket's zipper.

Elaine Thompson, AP
Jennie Grant scratches the neck of Eloise in the backyard of her home in Seattle.

Enlarge

Elaine Thompson, AP

Jennie Grant scratches the neck of Eloise in the backyard of her home in Seattle.

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"They're very affectionate," says urban goat pioneer Jennie Grant, who owns the 99-pound, white miniature LaMancha.

Distracted by Snowflake, I hardly notice a smaller black goat closing in on me until she takes a bite out of my notebook. Behind the roughhewn milking platform, the view stretches out past pavement, streetlights and cars. This is the city, and these are city goats.

Urban goat farming is part of a nationwide movement to eat food produced locally — sometimes as locally as our backyards. Successful efforts to legalize chickens in cities such as Chicago and New York paved the way, with ducks and bees gaining ground in many places too.

But goats? It's been two hooves forward, one hoof back as the idea has spread to more cities. For every pro-goat Portland, Ore., or Oakland, Calif., there's been a Kansas City, Mo., or Minneapolis shutting the barn door on backyard ruminants.

To read more, click here.

4-H workshop Saturday in Springfield, Mo.

2011-12-02T09:25:00.000-08:00

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- The annual “Bright and Bold” 4-H workshop will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 3 at Lay Hall on the campus of Drury University in Springfield.

Velynda Cameron, 4-H specialist in Greene County, is coordinating this year’s workshop which is expected to draw about 300 adult volunteers and 4-H youth members.

“The regional Bright and Bold workshop is designed to be an interactive training for 4-H members, clover kids, leaders and parents,” said Cameron.

Workshop topics include shooting sports safety training and Clover Kids training as well as workshops on robotics, public speaking, 4-H camp, photography and more.

David Burton, civic communication specialist in Greene County, will be teaching students how to tell a story with photos. The topic is relevant because with end-of-the-year reports, 4-H members are asked to detail their 4-H project with five photos.

“Even an elementary school student should be able to tell you that a story has a setting, characters, and a plot. Photography gives you the opportunity to tell a story in a unique, powerful way – without the written or spoken word,” said Burton.

Missouri 4-H, University of Missouri Extension's youth development program, helps to create opportunities for young people to be valued, contributing members of their community. To learn more about 4-H -- the world’s largest youth-serving organization -- and how to get involved locally go online to http://mo4h.missouri.edu or visit the nearest University of Missouri Extension Center.

Texas couple becomes goat-farming entrepreneurs

2011-11-29T12:39:00.000-08:00

November 28, 2011

Greg Flakus | Waller County, Texas

-- Voice of America

Most people hold on to their jobs for security and whatever benefits they might provide. But some adventurous souls follow a more challenging path, becoming entrepreneurs, working for themselves with no safety net to catch them if they fail. One urban couple chose to move to the country in Waller County, Texas, northwest of Houston, to begin a new life and business, with goats.

Part of the daily routine for Christian Seger at the Blue Heron Farm is milking the goats at feeding time.

His wife, Lisa, maintains the kitchen they built to meet state specifications.

And they had to buy these expensive machines to pasteurize the milk. “It is not something you can do as a hobby. When we decided to do this, we had to make the investment and treat it like a business," said Lisa.

Both of the Segers were city dwellers five years ago. She worked in advertising. He handled sound systems for entertainers.

But Christian says he wanted to go into business for himself. “Working for other people my whole life, I felt I had given them more than I had gotten from them. No one is ever going to take a loss to pay you more," he said.

The Segers bought this four-hectare property in 2006 and the equipment they needed for their enterprise.

Working as a team, they process the milk, make the cheese and sell some of it to restaurants and special clients.

Click here to read more.

Goat Rancher Update

Texas predator workshop planned March 27

April Goat Rancher to feature show wethers

Goats on a tree

Eugene, Ore., bans plastic bags; may allow goats in yards

Plastic bags in Eugene, Ore., may be discouraged. Small goats may be encouraged.

Jennifer Aniston admits strange love for milk goat

ETGRA Spring Open Sale on March 3

Barn fire kills 36 goats used as 4-H projects

Written by

BOB SCOTT

HOW TO HELP

Goats can develop accents, study shows

Petting zoo goats may have been slaughtered for meat

SW Mo. Spring Forage Conference Feb. 28

Deep in the Heart movie honors 4-H, FFA supporter

More details on Brian Payne's hay feeder

ETGRA Spring Open Sale on March 3

Wall Street Journal writes about goat meat

Greek-style baby goat soup

(Editor's Note: Ok, this article is too late for Super Bowl, but it's a great story!)

Raging goats holds woman captive

Police respond to call of one randy animal head-butting door

Photograph by: Gerry Kahrmann - PNG, The Province

Fort Worth Dorper sale results announced

East Texas Meat Goat Extravaganza Nov. 9-11 in Henderson

Va. co-op hosts monthly goat & sheep sale

Fund raising proceeds for Fort Worth champions sale

Missouri Jr. BGA Goat Camp on Feb. 25

UC Davis Goat Day on Saturday, Jan. 21

ETGRA production seminars January 21

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By Trent Loos

Cheese-making made easy

Classes offer introduction to easy yet mysterious art of cheesemaking

9:18 PM, Jan. 2, 2012 | Comments

Trystan Sandvoss, left, of First Light Farm & Creamery in East Bethany, Genesee County, with students Kristie Miller of Darien, center, and Jennifer Slenker of Alexander, right, all in Genesee County, during the creamery's Home Cheesemaking Workshop last month. / ANNETTE LEIN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Written by

Karen Miltner

Staff writer

A piece of farmhouse cheddar is placed back into the cheese press at First Light Farm & Creamery to control moisture. The class taught students how to make three types of cheese. / ANNETTE LEIN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Cheesemaking classes

Cheesemaking demonstrations

Where to find First Light cheeses

Online

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9:18 PM, Jan. 2, 2012 |
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