Press Release

Spring Offers Loads of Lessons on Goat Production

Goats are finding homes on more and more Oklahoma farms in recent years.  A series of free and low-cost educational programs this spring offers the know-how to raise them healthy – and at a healthy profit.

These sessions with the state’s goat experts can benefit anyone with an interest in goats, from those just considering a goat enterprise, to experienced producers looking to refine their techniques.

The season’s goat learning lineup starts April 17 with a free seminar in Tahlequah, covering basic health and economics for those starting sheep or goat enterprises.

A private treaty sale of breeding stock will follow, including hair sheep, wool and meat sheep, meat goats, and dairy goats.  Lunch will be provided.

For more information, visit the Rural Small Landholders Association website, www.rural-smallholderassociation.org.

On May 8, livestock producer and extension veterinarian Dr. David Sparks will host a free field day on multispecies grazing (cattle and goats) on his farm near Porum.

Sparks will focus on sustainable goat management and the benefits of raising both goats and cattle using management intensive grazing.

Additional topics include managing kidding and newborns, composting waste and goat mortality, inexpensive working facilities, performance testing, and non-chemical parasite management. 

Register by May 4 at 918.647.9123 or mailbox@kerrcenter.com.

A June 5 workshop at the Kerr Center headquarters outside Poteau will focus in depth on managing goat parasites. OSU Cooperative Extension is co-sponsor.

Dr. Steve Hart from Langston University, along with other experts from the Kerr Center and OSU Cooperative Extension, will discuss worm biology and effective parasite management.

The workshop will include hands-on training in simple yet important techniques for monitoring parasites, to help producers manage their herds sustainably.

Registration costs $10 and includes lunch. Register by June 2 at 918.647.9123 or mailbox@kerrcenter.com.

Finally, June 11 is the deadline for nominations for the 2010 Oklahoma Forage-Based Buck Test (formerly called the Oklahoma Commercial Meat Goat Performance Test).

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. The Kerr Center and OSU Cooperative Extension are again teaming up to conduct the test, now in its fourth year.

Fee is $120 per buck.  Information and entry forms are available at www.kerrcenter.com or from Mary Penick at 918.647.9123 or mpenick@kerrcenter.com.

More information on all these goat-related programs, as well as many other upcoming events in sustainable agriculture, is available from the Kerr Center’s online events calendar at www.kerrcenter.com.

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