Savanna field day Saturday in Harper, Texas

A Savanna Goat Field Day and Auction will be held Saturday, Sept. 29, at Elgin Pape's 3 D Ranch in Harper, Texas. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. with coffee and pastries. A $10 lunch fee will be charged.

The day will feature educational seminars, carcass comparisons of Spanish and Savanna/Spanish slaughter kids and an update on the Savanna industry. The auction will begin at 3:50 p.m.

Guest speakers will include:

     • Dr. Frank Pinkerton, Extension Specialist, retired.

     • Dr. Ken McMillin, Meat Scientist, LSU.

     • Dr. Kurt Braden, Meat Scientist, ASU.

     • Dr. Greg Engdahl, Chairman, An. Sci., ASU.

     • Brian Payne, North American Savannah Association.

     

Consignments and consignors include:

     1) Savannah crossbred bucks, (20) various ages, Elgin Pape.

     2) Savannah crossbred nannies, (20) various ages, Brian Payne.                     

     3) 1/4 Sav x 3/4 Span nanny kids (15-20), Scotty Ligon.

     4) F-1 Sav/Span nanny kids (15), Charlie Wilson.

     5) F-1 Sav/Span buck kids (15, performance-tested), Grady Fort.      

     6) Span buck kids (15-20) Douglas Pape.

     7) Spanish nanny kids (25-30), Denise Pape.

     

Pre-registrations are very welcome, but not required; call 830-864-4517 or e-mail dobid@windstream.net. The Pape ranch is located on SH 783 south 3 miles.

Appalachian group holds successful sale

Brent Ballinger with (from left) Lynda Carter, Theresa Carter and Ellen Kelty.

A good crowd turned out on Saturday, Sept. 22, for the third annual Appalachian Kikos Invitational Sale. This annual sale upped its game this year with more consignors and a bigger advertising budget. The result was better goats and a bigger crowd.

Fourteen consignors brought more than 80 Kikos to the sale, held at the Appalachian Fairgrounds in Gray, Tenn. Buyers were looking for good quality does but showed little interest in the small consignment of bucks offered. Seven herdsire prospects were offered and averaged just over $200 each.

Twenty head of New Zealand Kiko does averaged $596 a head, with no goat selling below $400. Forty-one purebred Kiko does averaged $445 a head, ranging in price from $200 to $825 for the high-selling doe in the sale. These are not official numbers.

The high-seller was a March 2012 High Meadows Kikos consignment. She was purchased by Brent Ballinger and Ellen Kelty of Mill Creek Ranch in Bardstown, Ky.

KikoFest this weekend in Metropolis, Ill.

The International Kiko Goat Association 9th Annual KikoFest

Friday and Saturday,  September 14 - 15
Centrally located at the Massac County Community Center, Metropolis, Illinois.

KikoFest Goat University — Friday, Sept. 14
Successful Pasture and Forage Management
Latest Meat Goat Research Information and Review

Kiko Goat Auction — Saturday, Sept. 15

For more info please click here.
http://www.theikga.org/KikoFest_2012.html

Tuskegee AI workshop scheduled Oct. 13

Artificial insemination (AI) is gaining popularity among goat producers. Goat producers can take advantage of AI to accelerate genetic gain, to eliminate herd maintenance costs and to preserve valuable genetics.

Tuskegee University Cooperative Extension Program and The Alabama Cooperative Extension System at Alabama A&M University are providing a hands-on workshop entitled "Reproductive Management and Artificial Insemination (AI) in Goats" at the Tuskegee University Caprine Research and Education Unit on Saturday, October 13, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. The workshop seating is limited to 20 participants.  Registration is $25 and includes lunch and all training materials. The deadline to register is Wednesday, October 10, 2012.

This training will allow goat producers to receive instruction on the reproduction of goats, including anatomy, physiology and reproductive management of does as well as the advantages and limitations of using AI. The workshop will also provide hands on training in AI techniques. Participants will learn how to use the controlled internal drug-releasing device (CIDR) that was recently approved by the Food and Drug Administration to implant progesterone in goats for the purpose of synchronizing estrus.

For more information or to register, contact the AI Workshop Program Assistant, Ms. Hooks, at (334-727-8453 or mhooks@mytu.tuskegee.edu).  This event is supported by a grant by Southern SARE.

Sign up now for Meat Goat Boot Camp

This year’s Oklahoma Meat Goat Boot Camp, conducted by OSU extension educators, will be held at the Agri-Plex in Ada, Okla., on Oct. 15-17.  The three-day event offers 30 plus hours of hands on and small group goat production education. The unique format of this camp allows students to watch and then perform procedures, work in table groups to solve various management exercises, take a pasture walk with forage experts, and participate in producer panel discussions. A $100 class fee covers educational materials and some of the meals.  Class size is limited to the first 50 students to pay the fee and these 50 students will be working with approximately 15 educators. 

Topics covered in the three days include the following:

•Economics:  Budgeting - Record Keeping – Marketing.

• Fencing: Hands-on experience with various tools & components.

• Management:  Ration balancing - Hay evaluation - Goat selection –Breeding.

• Herdsmanship:  Tattooing - Ear Tagging - Feet Trimming - Dental Aging - Trailering - Castration - Goat Equipment - Predator Control.

• Forages:  Plant Identification - Stocking Rates - Multi-Species - Grazing – Fertilizing.

• Health:  Drugs & Vaccines - Injections - Parasites - Physical Exams - Pregnancy Testing - Birthing - Care of Newborns.

As you can see this is a very intense three day program.  Also of great value to most students is the list of new contacts they make of the instructors and their fellow students.

This year’s class is filling up fast. Make plans now to attend if you are ready to take your goat operation to the next level. For more information contact the OSU Extension Office in Ada, Okla., at 580-332-2153. You will also find more information on this and other goat related events at www.oklagoats.com.