2007 Meat Goat Buck Test
With the growing importance of meat goats in Oklahoma agriculture,
it’s necessary to know which lines perform best on pasture.
With that goal in mind, the Kerr Center and the OSU Cooperative
Extension Service are conducting the 2007 Meat Goat Forage Buck
Test.
"The rationale behind the Oklahoma Meat Goat Forage Buck
test is to begin to identify individual bucks, as well as their
sires and dams, that carry genetics expressing strong traits important
in commercial meat goat production," said test manager Mary
Penick, livestock specialist at the Kerr Center.
"Additionally, this test will allow breeders to compare
genetics within their herd to make better management decisions
as to herd lines that will produce profitable progeny for future
herds. This test will also provide valuable information for all
goat producers and the public."
Goat producers wishing to test their bucks' performance on forage
are invited to enter bucks in the test, which will run from mid-July
until the end of October. Fee is $100 per buck, and nominations
are due by June 15, 2007.
For details, nomination forms, and questions, visit the Kerr
Center website at www.kerrcenter.com, or contact:
Mary Penick
918.647.9123 Fax: 918.647.8712
mpenick@kerrcenter.com
Dr. Dave Sparks, D.V.M.
Oklahoma Cooperative
Extension Service
918.686.7800 Fax: 918.686.7819
dave.sparks@okstate.edu
For more information and nomination form, click here
Growing Goats:
Meat Goat Workshop, June 2nd
–Wylie Harris
 Between
1997 and 2002, meat goat production in Oklahoma doubled,
propelling the state to fifth place nationwide. With
such rapid growth, the demand for information on
goat management is intense.
On June 2nd, Oklahoma goat producer and OSU Extension
Agent J.J. Jones will satisfy some of that curiosity
with a meat goat workshop at his farm near Ada.
Sponsored by the Kerr Center in cooperation with
the USDA Risk Management Agency, the workshop
is meant both for newcomers to goat production as
well as established goat producers.
In fact, both of those groups are represented at
the Jones farm. Jones and his father own adjacent
acreages, and though they are separate entities,
they run the goat operation together. The father
has been keeping goats for more than 15 years, while
the son got into the business only two years ago.
"You’ll get the old school versus the
new school," at the workshop, Jones jokes.
For example, over the years, the two men have tried
many different approaches to fencing, all of which
will be on display and under discussion at the workshop – from
wire panels, to electrified fence, to wire fence.
On the father's side of the property, old
barns have been converted to kidding barns, while
a new 30' by 40' concrete-floored barn adorns the
son’s portion.
While Jones' father originally had Spanish
and “brush” goats, the pair currently
run Boer goats, both fullblood with papers, as well
as crosses, or "grade" goats.
Between father and son, there are 80-90 mother goats
on a total of 35 acres. The goat pasture is
usually divided into 9-10 separate paddocks.
According to Kerr Center Stewardship Ranch Director
Alan Ware, the workshop program will consist of a
talk about the Jones’ operation and how they
started, a basic goat care and marketing session,
and a discussion of the new goat handbook (forthcoming
from OSU extension).
"Folks getting into the goat business usually
have little or no ag experience,"Jones explains. As
such, portions on the workshop will focus on the
basics of management – “when, why, and
how things are supposed to be done,” as he
puts it.
The goat workshop will run from 9-2. Preregistration
Required. Preregister by May 28 to get lunch. To
register call the Kerr Center at 918.647.9123.
The goat workshop will run from 9-2. The $10 registration
fee
includes lunch; registration deadline is May 28.
To register call the
Kerr Center at 918.647.9123.
Directions:
From Ada – south on Hwy.
1 to Roff. From the curve in Roff, go 4
blocks south to Pontotoc Ave. (blue sign that says "The
Rock"), turn
right (west), go 3 miles to County Road 3430, turn
right (north), go 1
mile, curve to left (west, County Road 1640), go
1 mile, curve to
right (north, County Road 3420), go 1 mile, curve
left (west, County
Road 1630), go approximately 3/10 mile to 1st OR
2nd driveway on left
(south side of road).
From Sulphur – north on
Hwy. 177 for 10 miles to Hwy. 29 junction,
turn right (east), go 2.7 miles, road turns to gravel
after 2 miles,
from there turn right at the 3rd OR 4th driveway
(south side of road).
From Stratford – south on
Hwy. 177 for 10 miles to Hwy. 29 junction,
turn left (east), go 2.7 miles, road turns to gravel
after 2 miles,
from there turn right at the 3rd OR 4th driveway
(south side of road).
From Wynnewood – east on
Hwy. 29 approximately 11 miles to Hwy. 177
junction, continue east 2.7 miles, road turns to
gravel after 2 miles,
from there turn right at the 3rd OR 4th driveway
(south side of road).
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