Goat Rancher Update

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

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

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

Saturday, January 14, 2012

ETGRA production seminars January 21

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.

Friday, January 13, 2012

Ohio Extension utilizing the Web

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.

Thursday, January 5, 2012

Agribition planned Feb. 3 in Alabama

February 3 is the date to mark on your calendar. The events for this year are much the same as in past years. We are always trying to improve the show and have events for everyone without limitations. This show is for all youth up to 18 or one year out of high school. Goats entered in the open show must be registered in the ABGA, IBGA, USBGA or the Canadian Boer Goat Associations but not in the child’s name. They must be properly tattooed and have papers or applied for papers if they are under 3 months of age. Entry fees for all classes are $10. This year’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 class break downs are under 35 lbs. prospect class; light, medium and heavy weight wethers or commercial does that still have their baby teeth. That would make most older commercial does that have lost their teeth competing together. You may choose how you want to show your commercial young does.

The tentative schedule is as follows: Registration and weigh in is 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 will follow. Please contact Lee Anne Hall at 205 965 1360 for more information on the Dairy Goat Show and entry form. Exhibits: displays, scrapbooks and photos must be in place by 4:00 P.M. Bring your own table, covering and display board. Please contact me if you are interested in a Public Speaking contest.

The Photo Contest was a great success last year, therefore we will continue it this year. There will be three categories you may choose from. You may entry one photograph in each of the categories or only one category, your choice. The categories are Goats on the Farm, Goats in the Landscape, 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. Either frame your photos or attach them to a mat so they can be exhibited. Your name, age and category needs to be listed 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 limited to promotion of a certain breed, meat productions or products, qualities that make a show goat, winnings and awards and for the love of the goat. You will be asked questions by the judge so be available at judging time.

Scrapbook contest age groups are Junior up to 10 years of age and Senior 11-19 years of age. This could also include a middle group. It is according to how many entries we get. Guidelines are 1. Begin with a Cover. 2. Title page followed 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 and magazine clippings, programs from special events, or other official documents. 4. Be neat and organized! Have no loose pieces, caption all photos and type or write neatly. Parents are allowed to help provided there is evidence the child has done the work too.

We aren’t yet sure how much money will 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 raffle items 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 brief description of your and your goat’s costume. Name, age and where you are from. Make it interesting. Age divisions for the parade and showmanship are 0-5, 6-8, 9-11, 12-15 and 16-19.

If you have your own pens they are welcome and needed.

Hope to see you in Autaugaville on February 3, 2012.

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

Ala. 2012 small ruminant health workshops

The Alabama Cooperative Extension System at Alabama A&M University is offering a series of workshops on “Small Ruminant Health from A to Z,” including gastrointestinal parasitism management and FAMACHA training. The workshops are conducted at the beginning of the grazing and kidding season in early spring since this is the season when many health problems are more prevalent.

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

· Best health management practices for small ruminants

· FDA-approved and non-approved parasite deworming methods to treat GI parasitism among goat and sheep herds, including the FAMACHA test developed by South African scientists

· McMaster technique of nematode fecal-egg identification and counting

· Life cycle of gastrointestinal worms

· Consequences of parasite-host interactions

In addition, FAMACHA cards will be available for purchasing.

The workshops are free; however, participants are encouraged to pre-register by calling the appropriate county Extension office or Dr. Maria Browning 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 between US-431 N (Blount Avenue) and US-431 S (Gunter Avenue). Use Blount Avenue entrance 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 Ross Clark Circle, turn onto US-431 North. Travel approximately 3 miles and turn onto 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 104 approximately 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-157 to 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 36744 To register: Contact Tommie Teacher at (334) 624-8710 or teachto@aces.edu.

Directions: Enter Greensboro from ALA-69, ALA-61, ALA-14, or ALA-25. Travel to intersection of ALA-69 and ALA-14. Travel east on ALA-14 approximately 300 yards to Centreville Street. Turn right on Centreville 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

To register: Contact Dr. Richard Browning at (615) 963-5837 or rbrowning@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 is the first driveway on the left.

Wednesday, January 4, 2012

Meat — A booming business in the USA

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.)