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Goat Rancher's new website is now live. Take a look now at www.goatrancher.com.


If you get the old web page, just hit refresh and the new page should pop up.


This web page also includes our new digital edition. Just click on the magazine cover to access.

Kan. Sheep & Goat Conference Nov. 4-6

The Kansas State University Sheep and Goat Conference will be held Nov. 4-6 in Manhattan, Kan. The objective of the conference will be to educate sheep and goat producers on current industry practices and trends and provide an introduction for new producers.

For more information contact Brian Faris at the

Kansas State University Dept. of Animal Sciences and Industry

Phone: (785) 532-1255

Fax: (785) 532-7059

E-mail:  brfaris@ksu.edu

Registration application:

http://www.asi.ksu.edu/doc5899.ashx

Program:

FRIDAY, November 4th

9:00 – 12:30 Registration; Vendors arrive and set-up

LUNCH ON YOUR OWN

Afternoon Session: Live Animal Evaluation

1:00 Welcome – Dr. Ken Odde, K-State Animal Sciences and Industry Department Head

Conference Objectives – Dr. Brian Faris

1:30 Market Animal Evaluation

Sheep – Dr. Frank Craddock

Goats – Mr. Preston Faris

2:30 Break

3:30 Breeding Animal Evaluation – Keep/Cull

Sheep – Dr. Frank Craddock

Goats – Mr. Preston Faris

5:00 Break

6:00 Dinner and Entertainment

SATURDAY, November 5th

Morning Session:

8:00 Coffee and Donuts

9:00 Commercial Crossbreeding Programs

Sheep – Dr. Kreg Leymaster

Goats – Mr. Preston Faris

10:15 Break

10:45 Multi-species Grazing – Dr. Brian Faris

12:00 LUNCH

Afternoon Breakout Sessions:

1:00 Predator Management & Guardian Dogs – Dr. Charlie Lee and/or Mr. Bob Buchholz

Common Diseases and Abortion Storm Prevention and Treatment – Dr. Shelie Laflin

Managing Internal and External Parasites – Dr. Brian Faris and/or Dr. Frank Craddock

Working with Natural Fiber – Mrs. Melissa Urick

2:00 Break

2:15 Predator Management & Guardian Dogs – Dr. Charlie Lee and/or Mr. Bob Buchholz

Common Diseases and Abortion Storm Prevention and Treatment – Dr. Shelie Laflin

Managing Internal and External Parasites – Dr. Brian Faris and/or Dr. Frank Craddock

Use of distiller’s grains in sheep and goat diets – Dr. Justin Wagoner

3:15 Break

3:30 Use of distiller’s grains in sheep and goat diets – Dr. Justin Wagoner

Fencing and Facilities – Dr. Frank Craddock

Reproductive Management & New Technologies – Dr. Brian Faris

More than meat: Milk, cheese, dips and more – Mr. Noah Goddard

4:30 Break

4:45 Fencing and Facilities – Dr. Frank Craddock

Reproductive Management & New Technologies – Dr. Brian Faris

Disbudding, Hoof trimming, Tattooing – Mr. Preston Faris

More than meat: Milk, cheese, dips and more – Mr. Noah Goddard

6:30 DINNER

SUNDAY, November 6th

Morning Session: Reproduction and Carcass Evaluation

8:30 Marketing value added lamb/chevon products – Mr. Steve Burton

10:00 Break

10:15 Carcass Evaluation – Dr. Terry Houser

11:45 Closing Remarks

12:00 Adjourn

LUNCH ON YOUR OWN

Goat Education Day Nov. 5 in Red Bluff, Calif.

Pre-registration available now


The North Valley Dairy Goat Association will host the 2011 Goat Education Day  November 5 at the Tehama District Fairgrounds in Red Bluff, Calif.  The day will feature 56 class options as well as demonstrations, vendors, raffles and more. More than 600 attended last year's events.


Classes will be taught by veterinarians, industry professionals and professors from UC Davis and CSU-Chico.  The schedule which can be found at www.nvdga.org  includes classes on general health, husbandry and ranch management as well as classes for specific meat or dairy goat application.  In addition there will be  expanded soap and cheesemaking options as well as a youth program with class choices throughout the day.

Special sessions on Pack Goats will be taught by Clay Zimmerman of High Uinta Pack Goats, Tooele, Utah.  A special hard cheese class will be taught by author Gianaclis Caldwell of Pholia Farm Creamery.  That evening enjoy the first ever Special Reserve Meat and Milker Sale in the Don Smith Arena where top meat, dairy and pack goats have been consigned to add to your gene pool.

An A.I. Tank Corral is also available if you would like to bring your AI tank to buy or sell semen.

Still taking reservations for vendors and consignors.  But some classes are limited enrollment so go to www.nvdga.org today to pre-register for this event! Call 530-347-7376 for more information.

Mary Pryde
NVDGA Education Chair 2011
ged@nvdga.org

Experts now say don't use injectable Cydectin

     There is some confusion regarding the proper use of Cydectin (moxidectin) in goats. This is because originally the cattle pour-on was used orally, and

then the injectable route was recommended by the Southern Consortium for

Small Ruminant Parasite Control (SCSRPC) because of better bioavailability.

     However, FARAD, the government organization that helps us to avoid drug

residues when we use drugs in an off-the-label manner, recommended a 120-day

withdrawal, which makes use of injectable Cydectin impractical because of

such long withdrawal. Therefore the recommendation of the SCSRPC was

changed back to oral.

     FARAD requires the use of the oral Cydectin sheep drench since it is the only available form of Cydectin formulated for oral use. It should be administered at 1.5 times the sheep dose, which results in a dose of 14 ml for a 100 lb goat. The correct withdrawal time is 23 days.

     So, no injections, no injectable given orally or pour-on given orally. Use

the sheep oral formulation at 14 ml/100 lbs body weight and use at least

a 23-day withdrawal time (don't send animals to market until 23 days have

passed since giving the Cydectin).

     This information is provided to help the industry avoid drug residues in meat. As always, every year verify if the dewormer is working in your herd by taking a fecal sample from several animals when you deworm (take to vet to see how many eggs in sample, you could have none) and take several samples from the same animals 7-14 days after deworming and have your vet check it. It should be free or nearly

free of worm eggs. If not, you need to look for another dewormer and check

it out in the same way.

Steve Hart

Goat Extension Specialist

Langston, Oklahoma

shart@luresext.edu

Phone 405-466-6138 

Fiber Daze in Southwest Missouri this week

The first annual Fiber Daze in Southwest Missouri will be held this Friday and Saturday!  With wonderful teachers in all areas of the fiber arts, there will be something for everyone!

Learn to spin your own yarn, improve your knitting skills, dye different types of fibers, take your weaving to the next level, and so much more!

Additional information about Fiber Daze is at:  http://fiberfolks.wordpress.com/fiber-daze/

For more information, contact Dr. Jodie Pennington at the Newton County Extension Center, (417) 455-9500, or Joi Chupp at (417-592-1378).

New Goat Rancher at the printer

The October issue of Goat Rancher is at the printer and will be mailed next week. This is the first issue that will be printed in our new glossy magazine format. We'll have a great, new look but will keep all of our popular features. 

If you are not already a subscriber, call today 888-562-9529 or click here to order online.

Update on Regina Bynum death

The San Angelo newspaper policy won't allow me to reprint the article here but this is the link to an updated article:

http://www.gosanangelo.com/news/2011/sep/19/san-angelo-local-reported-killed-in-reno-air/

Regina Bynum of Bynum Show Goats killed in Reno crash

Regina Bynum of Bynum Show Goats in San Angelo, Texas, has been confirmed as one of nine people killed in last week's air race crash in Reno, Nev. Funeral services for Bynum, 53,  are pending with Johnson's Funeral Home in San Angelo.

NZ goat cull 'failing to reduce population'

- Westport News

- APNZ

By Lee Scanlon

PUNAKAIK, New Zealand — A West Coast man who received a conservation award for killing hundreds of goats doubts whether his tally had any impact on the local population.

Tony Sole, 66, recently shot his 600th goat in the Paparoa National Park where they destroy the undergrowth and increase erosion.

"I don't think I really make a dent in them [the population]," he said. "Almost any nanny you shoot, she will either have kids with her or be pregnant or have kids and be pregnant.

"They're only eight to nine months old and having their first litter."

Mr Sole was among six West Coasters to receive awards from the Department of Conservation in Hokitika.

He has been shooting goats frequently since he and his partner moved from Wellington three years ago to Punakaiki, where they've had a holiday home for 15 years.

"If they were in harmony with the environment I wouldn't have started shooting them," Mr Sole said.

He has made regular trips into the bush, shooting up to 13 goats a time.

He shoots only nannies and kids because the billies spray themselves with musk and smell.

He removes the legs from the carcasses, keeps some for himself and gives the rest to friends and his cat, whose goat meat diet gave it "the shiniest coat on the West Coast".

Cooked in curries, goat tasted similar to lamb but was much leaner, he said.

West Coast conservator Mike Slater said Mr Sole's contribution to biodiversity was significant.

Final stats gathered at Western Maryland buck test

Western Maryland Pasture-based Meat Goat Performance Test


KEADYVILLE, Md. — The goats were worked for a final time Thursday by Jeff Semler, David Gordon, Mary Beth Bennett, Jeanne-Dietz Band, Pam Thomas, and Susan Schoenian.  The goats were weighed by Jeff Semler and scored by Susan Schoenian.  Pam Thomas and David Gordon recorded data.

It was the second time in a row that the goats had to be worked in the rain.  The test site has received considerable rain in the past few weeks. The wet weather is likely why the goats did not gain much weight during this final weigh period, as their dry matter intake was probably reduced. The past few weeks of wet weather has also increased the parasite load in the goats, as evidenced by higher FAMACHA© scores and fecal egg counts.


To read more: http://mdgoattest.blogspot.com/2011/09/final-day-of-data-collection.html

Idaho meat goat producer plans open house Saturday

If you’re serious about exploring local foods, visit a Hagerman, Idaho goat ranch’s free open house, 1-6 p.m. Saturday, for an afternoon of learning about goat meat.

Cucina Gemelli chef Lynn Sheehan will prepare several dishes for participants to taste. You can also sample chevon, meet the ranchers, tour the goats and learn about starting a small meat business.

Goat ranchers Evelyn Simon and her husband, Joe Bennett, have been raising Boer meat goats on their five-acre farm since 2005. Their herd includes 30 brood does, one champion buck and lots of kids. They sell meat at the farm, to restaurants, online at idahosbounty.org and sometimes at farmers markets.

The Hagerman ranch is at 882 East 2830 South.

Information: Simon, 837-6523 or 539-2261, or idahoboergoats.com.

Copyright 2011 Magicvalley.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Read more: http://magicvalley.com/lifestyles/food-and-cooking/spend-an-afternoon-at-goat-meat-farm/article_3d6617b8-68ad-57fb-a8f6-e50cd7618c67.html#ixzz1Y4hXpSnc

Owners reuniting with their livestock

More than a dozen animals remain unclaimed

Updated: Wednesday, 14 Sep 2011, 7:33 PM CDT
Published : Wednesday, 14 Sep 2011, 5:24 PM CDT

• Erin Cargile

BASTROP, Texas (KXAN) - For many people in Bastrop County, their animals are the only thing left. Some had to leave a lot of their livestock behind during emergency evacuations.

The flames burned down fences and sent cattle, horses, goats, sheep and pigs running loose. The Bastrop County Sheriff's Office, animal rescue organizations and regular citizens have picked many up in the days following the wildfire.

Many were brought to the Bastrop Livestock Show Barn off Loop 150 and American Legion Drive.

"This goat was brought in two days ago and he's very friendly," said Rachel Bauer, Bastrop County AgriLife extension agent.

He is one of about a dozen goats who were still waiting for their owners to come forward as of Wednesday morning. There were also three pot belly pigs, a Bay horse and a small, white donkey with a club foot. 

To read more: http://www.kxan.com/dpp/news/local/Livestock-reuniting-with-their-owners

Organic Farming Profitable Long-Term

Organic farming is known to be environmentally sustainable, but can it be economically sustainable, as well?

The answer is yes, according to new research in the September-October issue of the Agronomy Journal. In an analysis of 18 years of crop yield and farm management data from a long-term University of Minnesota trial, an organic crop rotation was consistently more profitable and carried less risk of low returns than conventional corn and soybean production, even when organic price premiums were cut by half.

To read more: https://www.agronomy.org/story/2011/sep/thu/organic-farming-profitable-long-term

AgriLife Extension sheep and goat assistant named

September 13, 2011

Renfroe named new state AgriLife Extension sheep and goat assistant

By Steve Byrns, 325-653-4576, s-byrns@tamu.edu

Contact: Dr. Frank Craddock, 325-653-4576, f-craddock@tamu.edu

SAN ANGELO – Aaron Renfroe became the Texas AgriLife Extension Service’s state sheep and goat assistant effective Sept. 12.

Renfroe is headquartered at the Texas AgriLife Research and Extension Center at San Angelo. He will deal primarily with 4-H sheep and goat programs across the state.

Dr. Frank Craddock, AgriLife Extension state sheep and goat specialist, is Renfroe’s  supervisor.

“I’m very happy to have Aaron join me in conducting AgriLife Extension’s sheep and goat educational efforts across Texas,” Craddock said. “He has a strong practical background in the production side of the industry. He also has a lot of show-ring, youth program and wool-judging experience as a competitor and also as a coach and instructor. This experience will be very useful, as the youth educational component is a key part of his job.”

Renfroe attended South Plains College in Levelland and was a member of the livestock judging team. He then attended Texas Tech University where he judged livestock and was a member of the national champion team. He was also a member of the wool team and was high individual at the National Western Wool Judging Contest in Denver. He received his bachelor’s degree in agriculture education.

Prior to accepting the AgriLife Extension position, Renfroe was an agricultural science teacher with the Water Valley Independent School District. While at Water Valley, he coached the 2010 state and national champion FFA wool judging team.

Renfroe was raised on a sheep and goat ranch near Ozona, where he was also involved in raising show lambs. He is the son of Billy Dell and Bobbie Renfroe and has a sister, Kelbie, who is involved in the 4-H sheep and goat program.

Texas sets up hay hotline

Another load of hay westbound on Interstate 30 between Texarkana and Dallas.

When I was driving home last week from the Labor Day sales in San Angelo, I was amazed at the number of 18-wheelers that I met on Interstate 30 hauling hay into the state. I have been well-aware of the ongoing drought and friends had told me how scarce (and expensive) feed was. But it really hits home when you see truck after truck after truck loaded with hay headed for the drought area.


The Mississippi Market Bulletin, published bi-weekly by the state department of agriculture, has a front page bulletin this week promoting the Texas Hay Hotline. After a little research, I discovered that many states through the middle United States  are participating in the effort to find and ship hay to needy ranchers in Texas. The Texas Hay Hotline provides an extensive list of sellers and shippers.

Trailer flips in Kansas dumping load of goats

BY DEB GRUVER

The Wichita Eagle

WICHITA — A grassy area near the Kansas Turnpike and 47th Street South became a makeshift petting zoo Friday when a truck blew a tire and overturned a trailer full of goats it was carrying. A few of the 224 goats had to be euthanized after the crash, but almost all survived.

Read more: http://www.kansas.com/2011/09/09/2008745/goats-rounded-up-after-accident.html#ixzz1XVFuWPLx

Advertising deadline for "new" Goat Rancher is Monday

Goat Rancher magazine is improving and expanding to better serve the Boer goat industry! 

Our October issue will be our first using a new, slick magazine format. We’ll also be going online in October with a completely new Website and a digital, interactive version of the magazine (online readers can link to your website from your ad!).

This premier issue in our new format will have a special pressrun that will be distributed to our paid subscribers, several large goat events around the country and on the newsstands at 1,044 Tractor Supply Co. stores. This is one magazine folks will be holding onto!

That makes this a great issue for you to advertise your farm, ranch or goat-related business. Extra exposure for you at no extra charge!

To reserve your spot in this premiere issue of the “New” Goat Rancher, call Mary at 888-562-9529 or e-mail us for our rates and sizes and many new advertising options. 

The deadline is Sept. 12, with space being reserved on a first-come basis. 

While the style of the magazine is changing, regular readers don’t need to worry. We won’t be just another pretty magazine. We’ll still have all of our regular features including monthly columnists, health and management news, market reports and feature articles. 

Contact Us:

888-562-9529

goatrancher@hughes.net

www.goatrancher.com

International Goat Days Festival opens today in Tenn.

MILLINGTON, Tenn.  — Goats, Goats, Goats! Goats are the center of attention at the funky 22nd Annual International Goat Days family festival. You'll see all sorts of goats! There will be Two Myotonic Goat Shows, Goats competing in Chariot Races, Painted Goats in the World's Greatest Goat Parade, and you won't believe what you'll see in the Kidds on Parade. This includes the Best Dressed Goat competition, the Funniest Goat, and the Best Goat Look-A-Like Contest.


Time: Friday, September 9, 6 pm - 10 pm
Saturday, September 10, 8 am - 10 pm

Venue: USA Stadium
4351 Babe Howard Blvd.
Millington, TN 38053



More information: Click here

Labor Day Classic in Okla. grosses $81,000

The Labor Day Classic sale was held Saturday September 3^rd, at Redlands Community College in El Reno Oklahoma.

Austin Bauer from Kenyon, Minn., purchased the high selling buck for $6,600 from Bar None Meat Goats.  Abigail Hannah from Mercedes, Texas, purchased the high selling doe for $5,100, also from Bar None Meat Goats. 

The sale had 76 lots that grossed over $81,000.

Volume buyer was Raymond DePalma from Evanston Wyoming taking home twelve head.  


For more details and photos, see the October issue of Goat Rancher.

Virginia Meat Goat Expo Sept. 16

Space is limited so sign up now

ETTRICK, Va. - Virginia State University's Agricultural Research Station, in collaboration with Cooperative Extension, will conduct a Meat Goat Expo from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday, Sept. 16, on the school's Randolph Farm which is located on River Road in Ettrick.

Designed for small-scale goat producers as well as anyone interested in learning about meat goat production, the expo will update participants on current and applied university research; explore direct and wholesale goat marketing opportunities; and recommend management practices for marketing healthy goats.

Guest presenters include Dr. Frank Pinkerton, renowned international goat industry expert, who will discuss supply, demand and channels associated with goat meat commodity marketing. Also, meat goat producer Renard Turner who owns and operates Vanguard Ranch Ltd. in Gordonsville, will share his personal experiences with marketing goat meat from Community Supported Agriculture to value-added markets.

Other presentations will cover small-scale strategic marketing strategies and meat goat disease identification. During the program, participants will have opportunities to interact with meat goat experts and observe field demonstrations.

A registration fee of $10 per participant includes workshop materials, breakfast, and lunch featuring local goat meat products.

Since space is limited to the first 300 registrants, anyone interested in attending is encouraged to register before the Sept. 2 registration deadline. To register, contact Mark Klingman at (804) 524-5960 or e-mail mjklingman@vsu.edu.

Anyone needing special services or accommodations in order to participate should call in advance to discuss arrangements.

To inquire about specific program details, contact Dr. Adnan Yousuf, VSU small ruminant research assistant professor, at (804) 524-6795 or e-mail ayousuf@vsu.edu.

Goats are handy weedeaters in Idaho

BY KATY MOELLER- kmoeller@idahostatesman.com

Copyright: © 2011 Idaho Statesman

Boise’s Foothills open-space manager has just one word for the “before” and “after” photos of what had been invasive-weed filled sage lands before a herd of 600 goats grazed a section of the hills in July.

“It’s pretty ‘wow,’ ” Julia Grant said. “They loved the bitter brush — it must have been like their dessert. They didn’t touch the very healthy native bunch grass. Their managers kept moving them.”

Read more: http://www.idahostatesman.com/2011/09/07/1788627/goats-prove-to-be-dandy-foothills.html#ixzz1XIkvAEHK

Dusek dispersal sale

The Lazy S-T dispersal sale went off without a hitch (at least to the casual observer) today at the fairgrounds in San Angelo, Texas. The opening bid wasn't far off the scheduled start time of 10 a.m. and the bidding held steady until the hammer fell on the last goat -- Lot #265 -- at 4:35 p.m. For a sale this complex, it went quicker and smoother than anyone would have expected. Another hour or so was spent selling off all the ranch's goat equipment.

Ralph McGee (right) of Tennessee with his two dappled purchases:

high-selling buck Sir Spotsalot for $9,500 and Cappuccino for $4,400. They are Lazy S-T/Bon Joli

partnership flushmates.

Marshall Griffith of Dixieland Ranch in Lebanon, Tenn.,

purchased the top-selling red buck, Outback Jack, for

$8,750. He was represented at the sale by Brent Hunter (right).

Brassy Lassy was the top-selling doe, going to Ed Borges

of Moorpark, Calif., for $5,800.

Bon Joli's share of the day's proceeds will go to Phil DeLobbe's

college fund. From left, Henri DeLobbe, Troy Powell, Ralph McGee, 

Phil and Carol DeLobbe. Troy purchased the other 

top-selling dappled 

buck, Copperhead, for $8,250.

See the October 2011 issue of Goat Rancher for all the details from this sale and all the other Labor Day weekend sales. If you don't already subscribe, do so online at www.goatrancher.com or call 888-562-9529.

No Step sells $30,000 buck

Sunday's first sale of the day was a reflection of the current wild and crazy wether market in Texas. The parking lot was filled with trailers and the auditorium was packed as bidders easily spent tens of thousands for prospective wether sires.


The tempo dropped to a more moderate level in the afternoon as Farmer's Stock Exchange and Silvergate Boer Goats offered a slate of beautiful big does from such genetics as Blue Chip, Mojo, Sumo and Rambo. These big does averaged less that $1,000. 

Steve and Diana Boscamp (center) of Skidmore, Texas,

got the top-selling buck at the No Step/Hutto/Schafer

sale Sunday at the Labor Day extravaganza at the San

Angelo Fairgrounds. They paid $30,000 for the No Step-bred

Freak son, the first ever offered for sale. Early estimates were

that the buck would bring as much as $20,000, but heated

bidding pushed up the price of the young buck, Lot #5 in the sale.

Three other bucks brought $20,000 each. 

Eleven bucks in the sale brought $10,000 or more.

Does from Lynn & Jim Farmer.

Lazy S-T began offloading their colored Boer goats in preparation for their

complete dispersal sale on Monday. The sale begins at 10 a.m.

First day of Labor Day sales

The Labor Day Sales kicked off in San Angelo, Texas, Saturday with the N&K Ranches annual sale. This year all the ranchers got together and decided to have all their sales under one roof at the San Angelo Fairgrounds. Two sales Saturday, two Sunday and one on Monday are planned. 

The Paul Payne, Lary Duncan, Cooper Sweeney sale rounded out Saturdays sales. Again, doe prices seemed lower than they should be but Duncan's (Able Acres') bucks put spark into the sale. One of his April 2011 bucks out of Full Proof brought $4,500 to top the sale.

Norman Kohls of N&K Ranches narrates at the first sale

of the holiday weekend. There were no bucks in this sale.

The top seller brought $2,700 while many nice does went

for $400-$600.

Viewers had a large variety of Boers to look at from the various

breeders participating in the sales.

In addition to the crowds at the sales, there was a large

number of viewers on the Internet as well.