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.