YOUTH GOAT EXHIBITORS RECOGNIZED AT LUNCHEON
At right is Claudia Meeks of Sadieville and Steve Mobley, director of the KDA’s Division of Show and Fair Promotion.
The Kentucky Proud Points Program awards points to exhibitors, animals and breeders for their best performances in livestock shows sponsored by the Kentucky Department of Agriculture.
Claudia Meeks (Sadieville), Nick Stucker; Tayler Renfro, Kari Butin, Catherine Riley, Jessica Johnson, Kayla Buntin,
Market Goat
Nick Stucker (
Goat Showmanship
Kari Buntin (Marion), Nick Stucker, Tayler Renfro, Kayla Buntin, Claudia Meeks, Catherine Riley, Shelby Whitley, Jessica Johnson, Chad Bell, Tom Courtright
Buck
Allison Fister (
Breeding Doe
Allison Fister, Claudia Meeks, Hope Ballman
Goat Breeder
Charlie Allen (
The Kentucky Proud Points Program is sponsored by Purina, the KDA’s Division of Value-Added Animal and Aquaculture Production, and the Division of Show and Fair Promotion.
To see pictures from the luncheon, go to www.kyagr.com, click on Show and Fair Promotion on the pull-down menu and click on All Livestock Show Pictures.
Kentucky becomes major U.S. goat-producing state
By TIM THORNBERRY
Kentucky Correspondent
Farm World magazine
FRANKFORT, Ky. — Kentucky is celebrating the goat industry - and rightfully so. Since 1997, the business of raising goats has grown by more than 300 percent in Kentucky, and the numbers are still rising.
An estimated 5,000 Kentucky farms raise goats to the tune of 74,000 head with more than 46,000 marketed goats since 1997, an astounding 661 percent increase, according to the 2002 Agriculture Census. The Kentucky office of the National Agricultural Statistics Service estimated the state’s goat population as of Jan. 1 at 6 percent higher than the previous year - placing it fifth in U.S. goat production.
Most of the growth can be attributed to the growing demand from the U.S. ethnic population. Goat meat is popular among many throughout the world; still, 50 percent of what is consumed in the United States comes from imports.
Tess Caudill, an ag marketing specialist with the Kentucky Department of Agriculture (KDA), said U.S. demand is too great to fill from domestic producers.
“We do not export goat meat, but we do import as much as we produce because we simply can’t meet the demand,” she said. “Many farmers have become involved due to marketing efforts by KDA and the tobacco settlement money used for diversification purposes. I see the demand stabilizing, and I tell new producers to start small with no more than 20 does. After the first year, if they get through it, the sky is the limit. There is money to be made, but you have to enjoy it.”
Ray Bowman, director of the Kentucky Goat Producers Assoc. (KGPA) and Kentucky Regional Coordinator of the American Meat Goat Assoc. (AMGA), has found his way into the goat market and helps others.
“Getting started is not at all difficult or expensive, but potential producers should do their homework and understand completely what they’re getting into. Some individuals, me included, didn’t fully understand what was needed to start a goat operation and many were frustrated and didn’t stay in,” said Bowman.
“Adequate land and good fences are a must. Start out slow and make sure you fully understand the carrying capacity of your land and forage base and always buy your production animals from a reputable producer who backs up the sale.”
Charles Smith, a producer from Glasgow and a KGPA board member, came from a traditional farming background and took the slow road into his goat operation, which has grown into one of the largest in Kentucky.
“Our farm is about 235 acres; and until 1994, we had a dairy operation of about 125 cows, and we also raised tobacco,” he said. “We started with goats in 1998 as a way to get back into farming after leasing the farm for a while. I started with 19 bred does from Texas, and from that we’ve grown to about 450 head.”
Smith said there are big differences between goat farming and more traditional farming endeavors, but the experience he had coupled with less overhead in goats helped him become successful.
“Compared to other types of farming, it’s a different world. There’s a tremendous investment in livestock and equipment for a dairy operation and tobacco’s the same with labor cost, but one thing that drew me to goats was the fact that 99 percent of the work I could do myself,” he said. “It’s only been in the last few years that we’ve had a lot of information about goats and I drew heavily on my background in livestock to help. The meat goat business is a numbers game but if you do a good job, there is a small margin of profit so you have to have a large herd. The gross dollars won’t compare to a milk check but I don’t have nearly the same overhead.”
Smith said new producers may have a tough time making goat farming a full-time job, but said it could be 100 percent self-sufficient for those already on the farm.
“It’s a viable option for those who have a farm because you work goats on land you couldn’t use for anything else,” he said.
Goat popularity has grown so far in Kentucky that Gov. Ernie Fletcher proclaimed October as Goat Production Month, honoring the state’s fastest-growing ag industry.
“Kentucky has become a national leader in goat production,” Ag Commissioner Richie Farmer said.
“Kentucky already is well-known for the quality of our goats. Congratulations to our goat producers for this well-deserved honor.”
Some Kentucky farmers have turned to goats as an alternative to tobacco production. KDA led the way in establishing regional goat markets and Tel-O-Auctions to spur goat sales. The Kentucky Agricultural Development Board has awarded $318,918 to the Goat and Sheep Diversification Program this year, and the Goat Diversification Program received $3,219,784 from 2001-05.
Bowman said goats are good for farm diversification and they are compatible with cattle when it comes to sharing grazing land.
“Goats are an excellent way of diversifying. Cattle producers will find they are very complimentary when companion or rotationally grazed. Goats thrive on the abundant forages of Kentucky farms and since there is only about a 20 percent overlap in the dietary preferences of cattle and goats, the two species do not compete for food,” said Bowman. “Goats actually improve pastures for cattle by readily consuming plant species not favored by cattle, thus opening more pasture land for the production of desired grasses. Additionally, cattle producers will find the sale of market meat goats to be a welcome addition to their bottom line.”
The KGPA had its annual meeting last week with producers coming from across the state to hear experts discuss ways to make their herds better and more profitable. Terry Hutchens is the goat extension specialist at the University of Kentucky and gave the group an overview of the meat goat industry.
“Even though there are people coming in and out of the business, we’ve seen two to three percent growth each year and those that have been in the industry are solid and they’re going to stay in,” he said. The demand is there and that makes the market fairly predictable.”
In a state that is trying to get its footing after “king tobacco” gave up its reign, Kentucky’s goat industry is making a place for itself in the agricultural world.
“It is widely held that no single crop will produce an income at the levels traditionally associated with tobacco,” said Bowman. “High product demand and good prices for live animal sales have demonstrated that meat goats are an attractive option. Kentucky is gaining national recognition for its strong market infrastructure in the form of regional graded sales and Tel-O-Auctions where farmers have been receiving top prices for their market animals.”
For more details about Kentucky’s goat industry, visit the KGPA’s website at www.kentuckygpa.com
This farm news was published in the Oct. 25, 2006 issue of Farm World, serving Indiana, Ohio, Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan and Tennessee.
KGPA President on KFB's "Across Kentucky"
Sale of Champions Welcomes Goats
By Carol Spence
LOUISVILLE, Ky., (Aug. 30, 2006) – Stefan Fink wasn’t thinking about making history when he brought his goats to this year’s Kentucky State Fair. But history was made, when his Supreme Champion goat was auctioned off during the 4-H/FFA Sale of Champions.
Market goats are fairly recent additions to the state fair, having been shown only since 2004. This, however, was the first time since the Sale of Champions began in 1980 that the auction included the Supreme Champion and Reserve Grand Champion market goats in the usual slate of market steers, hogs and lambs. The inclusion reflects a growing trend in the state.
“Our numbers almost doubled last year as far as our 4-H projects here in Clark County,” said Roy Turley, a University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service agent in Stefan’s home county. “We’re already seeing a growing interest in it for next year and it’s not even that time yet. We won’t really get geared up until we have our first livestock meeting, which will be in November.”
According to Chris Caudill, of the Kentucky Department of Agriculture and goat superintendent at the fair, the goat industry is growing all over the state.
“We’re one of the top states as far as boer goat breeders are concerned,” said Caudill, who believes that has contributed to the rise in the number of goats shown at the fair by members of 4-H and FFA.
“It’s become a popular youth project for the simple fact you don’t have to have a farm to show market goats,” he said. “A kid can take on a goat project and work that project a lot easier than a steer or a beef heifer or dairy cow. It could even be a city kid for that matter. A lot of these goat exhibitors are nonagriculturalists. I’ve found that very unique.”
Turley, the Clark County Extension agent, attributes the interest among 4-H’ers to both the compact size of the animal and the fact that there’s not a lot of expense involved.
“It doesn’t take a lot of feed. It doesn’t take a lot of housing. It doesn’t take a lot of medicines to apply to the animal, as compared to a horse or a big cow or a steer,” he said.
Stefan, 12, isn’t a newcomer to livestock. He’s been working with sheep in 4-H “since I started walking,” and got interested goats five years ago. He said he finds goats particularly appealing, in part because of their personalities.
“I just like showing them. They try to talk to you and they can’t,” he said. “They follow you around and they want to be petted.”
This year’s inaugural Supreme Champion and Reserve Grand Champion market goats also had another distinction. They were shown by family members. Stefan’s first cousin, Jaclyn Farris, 18, a freshman in the UK College of Agriculture, won Reserve Grand Champion with her 73-pound goat. Continuing the family tradition in another category, Farris’ younger sister, Jayme, 15, had the Reserve Grand Champion market lamb during the sale. And Stefan’s younger sister, Allison, 6, had the Reserve Champion novice goat. Novice winners are not included in the Sale of Champions.
The Finks and the Farrises “are top-notch families,” Caudill said. “They really know how to show their animals. The kids are very much involved in projects. When I think of livestock exhibitors in Kentucky, they are very experienced and very knowledgeable in what they’re doing. They have it down to a fine art.”
Stefan’s 79-pound Supreme Champion goat, a boer cross, brought $6,000 during the auction. Ron and Lynn Carmicle and Tom Schifano (Arison Insurance Services) had the winning bid. Farris’ Reserve Grand Champion goat brought $5,000 from the Kentucky Goat Producers Association, Hayward Spinks and BASF.
“You couldn’t ask for a better price for the first time,” Caudill said. “That’s a respectable price for both of them and that will continue to go up in the future.”
Stefan was happy with the outcome of the sale.
“It was exciting. We bought the goat for $300 and it went for $6,000,” he said. “I got 60 percent of that, which was $3,600, so it paid for the other ones, too,” meaning the other three goats he brought to the fair. He also took home the third and fourth prize awards in two other classes of market goats.
To cap a perfect evening, Stefan had his picture taken with Rachelle Phillips, Miss Kentucky 2006.
“The only picture she was in was the goat picture,” he said.
Contact: Roy Turley, 859-744-4682
Chris Caudill, 502-564-4983
Dr. Larry Turner dies in plane crash
The agriculture community mourns the loss of an educator and leader as a result of the Sunday, August 27 crash of ComAir 5191. A statement from University of Kentucky President Lee T. Todd Jr. recalled the life and accomplishments of Dr. Larry Turner.
"Larry Turner was Associate Dean for Extension and Director of the Cooperative Extension Service. Larry began his extension career at UK in 1978. Much of his life revolved around farming and agriculture. A native of Rising Sun, Ind., Larry grew up on a family farm. But his love for and commitment to his adopted state ran deep.
Since 2002, he has been the chief officer overseeing the University of Kentucky extension service, which has offices in each of the state's 120 counties. Larry oversaw the work of more than 1,000 people, but he undoubtedly touched countless lives with his deep integrity, commitment and gentle nature. He often said the extension service could be described in three words ? 'people, programs and partnerships.'
Today, we have lost one of our best partners."
Kentucky, Indiana to Offer Sheep and Goat Forage Workshop Aug. 29
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Contact: Terry Hutchens, 859-257-2465 |
By 
No pre-registration is required and a $2 registration fee can be paid the day of the workshop. The workshop begins at 3 p.m. and concludes at 7 p.m. CST. The Southern Indiana Purdue Agriculture Center is located at 11371 East Purdue Farm Road, Dubois, Ind. From Lexington, take 1-64 west into Indiana to IN-145, exit 72. Turn right onto IN-145 and travel approximately 7 miles to IN-64. Turn left and continue to Schnellville Road. Turn right and continue to S 1025 East - S 1025 East becomes S 1025 E. Turn left onto IN-164/E IN-164. Turn right onto IN-545/Cuzco Rd./S IN-545/Patoka Dam Access Road. Continue for approximately 5.5 miles and turn right onto East Purdue Farm Road.
Goat Inventory Up
Kentucky Farm Bureau News, August 2006
In its first measure of July 1 goat inventories and the kid crop, USDA estimates there were 3.47 million head of goats, up three percent from last July. Breeding goat inventory totaled 2.58 million head, up three percent. All market goats and kids totaled 890,000 head, a five percent increase.
Meat and all other goats totaled 2.86 million head, up four percent from July 1, 2005. Milk goat inventory remained steady at 320,000 head, while Angora goat numbers fell two percent to 285,000 head. The 2006 kid crop is expected to total 1.97 million head, up seven percent from the 2005 kid crop.
Goats: Number by Class, United States, July 1, 2005-2006
2005
| Item | Total | Breeding | Market | Kid Crop1/ |
| Angora | 290,000 | 230,000 | 60,000 | 148,100 |
| Milk | 320,000 | 270,000 | 50,000 | 199,500 |
| Meat | 2,740,000 | 2,000,000 | 740,000 | 1,488,100 |
| All | 3,350,000 | 2,500,000 | 850,000 | 1,835,700 |
2006
| Angora | 285,000 | 225,000 | 60,000 | 150,000 |
| Milk | 320,000 | 270,000 | 50,000 | 215,000 |
| Meat | 2,860,000 | 2,080,000 | 780,000 | 1,600,000 |
| All | 3,465,000 | 2,575,000 | 890,000 | 1,965,000 |
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1/ Kid Crop for 2005 refers to the actual kids born during 2005. Kid Crop
for 2006 is the kids born alive during January 1, through June 30, 2006
plus the kids expected to be born July through December 2006