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10things Agf 170921204903
10things Agf 170921204903
THINGS
T H AT E V E R Y G O AT P R O D U C E R S H O U L D D O
10 THINGS EVERY GOAT PRODUCER
SHOULD DO
1. Establish goals and objectives
2. Build good fence
3. Have a marketing plan
4. Learn to feed goats
5. Enroll in the mandatory scrapie eradication program
6. Develop a veterinary-client-relationship
7. Have a biosecurity plan
8. Keep good records
9. Educate yourself
10. Join a goat association
DETERMINE YOUR GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
THERE ARE MANY REASONS TO RAISE GOATS.
WHY ARE YOU?
Reason(s) $$$
COMMERCIAL FOR PROFIT
(meat, dairy, fiber)
Hobby Not-for-profit
• Meat
• Dairy
• Fiber
• Grazing
• Skins
• Show
• Packing/hikin
g
• Agro-tourism
• Biotech
• Pets
• Other (?)
SETTING GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
WOVEN H I G H T E N S I LE E L E C T R I C
• Smaller openings (2x4, 2x6, 4x4) are better for • 12.5 gauge, smooth, HT wire
predator control, keeping goats from getting • 4-6 wires, spaced closer at bottom than top
their heads stuck, and keeping kids from (example spacing: 6-6-6-6-8-10).
getting out.
• Less wires for interior fences (?)
• Larger openings (6x12, 6x24) help goats get
horns out, but are less effective at deterring • Electrify all wires except under very dry,
predators, and keeping kids in. frozen, or sandy conditions.
• An electric off set wire will keep goats away • At least 4000 to 5000 volts on fence.
from fence (prolongs life of fence, too). • Keys: strong corners + proper grounding
• Electric wire on top will prevent fence jumping. • Can rejuvenate or “goat-proof” existing
• Fence can also be topped with several strands fences by adding electric wires.
of barbed wire.
H AV E A M A R K E T I N G P L A N
THE UNMET DEMAND FOR GOAT MEAT
IN THE UNITED STATES
• There is a strong demand for goat meat
in the United States.
– Shift in demographics towards more
Hispanics, Asians, and Muslims.
– Increase in foreign born population
13.5% of population in 2015
• The US only produces about half of the
goat meat consumed domestically.
• The other half is imported, mostly from
Australia, and mostly from feral goats.
WHO ARE YOUR CONSUMERS?
• Goat meat is
consumed almost
entirely by ethnic
markets.
• The ethnic market is a
generic term. It is
composed of many
different sub-groups,
each with different
preferences as to the
type of goat they
want, how, and when.
• While lamb is more
the meat of religion,
the demand for goat
is also affected by
holidays. Source: www.sheepandgoat.com
HOW ARE YOU GOING TO SELL YOUR MEAT GOATS?
THERE ARE PROS AND CONS TO DIFFERENT OPTIONS AND NOT ALL OPTIONS ARE AVAIL ABLE EVERYWHERE.
Custom
Consumer (freezer trade)
Carcass State
Retail establishment (butcher shop, store, or restaurant)
Federal
Personal consumption
Direct to consumer via
State Farm sale or store
Meat
Federal Farmer’s market
Internet sale
CSA
ALWAYS KNOW WHAT YOUR GOATS
ARE WORTH.
New Holland, PA (per head) San Angelo, TX (per pound)
MARKETING OTHER GOAT PRODUCTS
DA I R Y FIBER
• About 10% of US goat operations focus on • The Angora industry has been in a
dairy; majority for personal consumption. state of decline since subsidies ended
• There is a slow, steady growth of goat milk in 1995.
and cheese consumption in US.
• Currently 152,000 Angora goats in US
• More than 50% of goat milk cheese 5.7 lb. clip x $4.65 =$26.51 per head
consumed in US is imported, mostly from
France. • Largely a niche market.
• Most dairy goat producers rely on direct • Other fibers (cashmere, cashgora,
market sales. pygora) are also very specialized
• Dairy regulations, including raw milk markets.
regulations vary by state.
• Dairy usually requires a significant
investment.
L E A R N H O W T O F E E D G O AT S
FEED COSTS ARE THE SINGLE LARGEST
COST ASSOCIATED WITH RAISING GOATS.
NUTRITION IS THE CORNERSTONE OF GOOD PRODUCTION.
• What it costs to maintain a doe and grow out kids varies by farm and geographic area.
• There is no “one size fits all” feeding or grazing program for goats.
• Pasture, browse, and range are often the most economical source of nutrients for goat, but not
always.
• Farms and geographic areas vary in the type and cost of feed they have available to them.
• The most economical feeding program will be the one that maximizes your resources, meets the
nutritional needs of your goats, and delivers nutrients at the most economical cost.
TIPS FOR FEEDING GOATS
• Do a feed budget.
• Maximize your forage (pasture,
browse, range) resource.
• If necessary, supplement forage diet to
meet nutritional requirements and/or
production goals; supplement most
limiting nutrient.
• Price feedstuffs by weight.
• Learn what feedstuffs are available in
your area and learn how to compare
costs of feedstuffs based on nutrient
costs.
• Feed by weight.
TIPS FOR FEEDING GOATS
• Learn to balance simple rations: various
tools available.
• Have forages analyzed for nutritive
value.
• Can have feces analyzed to determine
quality of diet being consumed by goats.
• Regularly body condition score goats to
assess nutrition (and health) of goats.
• Can do liver biopsies to determine
mineral status of animals.
E N R O L L I N T H E M A N D AT O R Y
S C R A P I E E R A D I C AT I O N P R O G R A M
SCRAPIE
• Scrapie is a degenerative disease
that affects the central nervous
system of sheep and goats.
• It is among a family of diseases
classified as transmissible
spongiform encephalopathies
(TSEs); same family as mad cow
disease and chronic wasting
disease (in deer and elk).
• There is no treatment or cure;
scrapie is always fatal.
SCRAPIE
• Scrapie is transmitted primarily at
birth, through birth fluids,
colostrum, and milk.
• Signs of the disease usually appear
until 2-5 years after infection (or
later).
• Genetics determines susceptibility
to scrapie (if exposed to infective
agent, believed to be a prion).
– 30% of US sheep are believed susceptible
– 100% of US goats (still doing research to
identify resistant genotypes)
SCRAPIE WAS INTRODUCED TO US IN 1947 VIA SHEEP FROM CANADA .
SCRAPIE ERADICATION
• In 2001, USDA initiated an accelerated
program to eradicate scrapie from USA
(primarily mandatory ID, slaughter
surveillance)
• The goal is to eradicate “classical” scrapie
from US and meet the World Organization for
Animal Health (OIE) criteria for disease
freedom.
• Since 2003, there has been a 99% decrease in
scrapie incidence in sheep and goats.
As of June 1, 2016
0.001% prevalence in cull sheep
0.002% prevalence in cull goats
MANDATORY SCRAPIE IDENTIFICATION
• All goats are required to be identified
when they move into commerce: change
ownership, or leave farm of birth.
• Exceptions: low risk goats, goats in
slaughter channels, and castrated goats.
• Exceptions vary by state.
• Diagnostic testing
• Better access to other veterinary experts
HOW DO YOU FIND A VETERINARIAN
• A minimum of 30 days is
Always recommended.
quarantine
• Average was 21 days.
Did not d
quarantine 49% • Quarantined animals
51% should not have fence
line contact with other
animals.
PRODUCTION FINANCIAL
EDUCATE YOURSELF
LEARN AS MUCH ABOUT GOATS AND
RELATED TOPICS AS YOU CAN.
VISIT YOUR LOCAL COUNTY
EXTENSION OFFICE
• Cooperative Extension is unbiased and research-based.
• There are Cooperative Extension offices in most counties and
cities in the US.
• Some extension programs are cluster (multi-county) based.
• There may be a livestock educator that covers multiple counties.
• There may be a livestock or small ruminant team that covers the
state.
• 4-H extension educators can also be good sources of information
and support.
• Some states have state goat (and sheep) specialists.
• If your local extension office does not have small ruminant
expertise (or interest), he/she should be able to refer you to
someone who does.
VISIT OTHER GOAT FARMS
SUSAN SCHOENIAN
Sheep & Goat Specialist
University of Maryland Extension
sschoen@umd.edu
www.sheepandgoat.com
www.wormxinf