Corn Country Meat Goat Conference Oct. 4-5 in Ind.

Cream of the Crop Kiko Production Sale will follow

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Is your goat operation taking more and more work but providing less and less reward? Maybe it’s time you stepped back and re-evaluated your whole goat operation from the ground up. As the price of feed, fuel and other supplies continues to rise, it is more important than ever that goat producers use every means possible to cut costs while at the same time making their operation run more profitably.

            To that end, the 5^th Annual Corn Country Commercial Meat Goat Conference, planned Friday and Saturday, Oct. 4-5, at the Harrison County Fairgrounds in Corydon, Ind., will focus on how to formulate your long-range business goals, how to select the right stock for your herd, the steps you can take now to improve the health and productivity of your does — PLUS real-world advice on how to get top dollar when it comes time to market your goats.

The Corn Country goat conference is bringing together three of the nation’s best-known DVMs who also raise goats and have a unique understanding of the problems facing their fellow goat producers.

·       Dr. Dave Sparks, with Oklahoma State University Extension and a longtime Goat Rancher columnist, will offer his advice on breeding stock selection.  Starting out with sound, healthy production animals is the first step toward having a successful, low-maintenance goat operation.

·       Dr. Fred Brown, from Traphill, N.C., will address parasite issues, the No. 1 profit eater among goat producers.

·       Dr. Kraig Stemme, of Alba, Texas, will offer specific tips to help you increase reproductive efficiency – the more kids you raise to weaning, the more profit you will make.

Financial issues also will be addressed. Speakers include:

·       Money manager and goat producer Brent Ballinger of Bardstown, Ky., tells you how to create a plan for financial success with your goats.

·       Kent Perkins of Nashoba, Okla., former order buyer and sale barn operator, offers tips on how to get the best price for your goats at sale time.

In addition, a producer panel will offer advice and answer questions on the best methods of predator control.

These helpful, educational seminars will be interspersed with free refreshments and the opportunity to talk one-on-one with other goat producers. Following Friday’s seminars, there will be a meet-and-greet social in the lobby of the Corydon Hampton Inn (812-738-6688), host hotel for the conference.

The conference continues Saturday morning and winds up at noon with a free goat meat lunch. At the conclusion of the conference, the popular Cream of the Crop Kiko Sale will take place at the same location. More than 100 head of Kiko breeding stock will be offered at auction, with the sale beginning at 1 p.m.

The Corn Country Meat Goat Conference is sponsored by the National Kiko Registry and Purdue University Extension, and is open to producers of all breeds of goats. Admission is free with all costs underwritten by the National Kiko Registry. No pre-registration is needed. To learn more about the conference and sale, visit www.creamofcropkikos.com or call 918-484-2364.