By CELESTE BAUMGARTNER
Ohio Correspondent

PIKE COUNTY, Ohio — The meat goat industry is one of the few agricultural ventures where producers could sell more than they can supply, said Jeff Fisher, Ohio State University extension agent for Pike County.

A Professional Meat Goat Symposium on June 22-23 at the Wilmington College Livestock Center will provide educational information on topics of interest for commercial and seed stock producers of meat goats, and anyone else interested in the topic.

“We’re seeing so much interest in meat goats in our region because our topography is very open to it,” Fisher said. “The exciting thing that is happening, I think, is that our farm numbers are actually going up in some of these small, rural counties.”

These are Appalachian counties in southeastern and even western Ohio which are typically thought of as becoming more urbanized. People buy 10 or 20 acres, bush hog it for a year and then decide maybe there’s something they could be doing to help pay the taxes, Fisher said.

“They call and we talk about some enterprises,” he said. “I like the meat goat one because I tell people they can run it out of the trunk of their car.

“The animals are easy to handle, they’re good-natured. You can haul your feed and then it’s just a matter of getting the goats marketed. They’re a good fit for a lot of the terrain that we have in this region.”

Several well-respected auction markets are available, but Fisher said he encourages people to try direct marketing.

“We have a lot of ethnic consumers in this country who prefer goat meat,” he said. “It’s just a matter of putting some ads in the paper, developing personal relationships with those groups. I think people find they can actually sell more goats than they can produce.

“The big thing is our production in this country is a half-million head short. That’s what’s driving this. We’ve got demand.”
The many ethnic groups immigrating into this country are causing a demographic change. Those groups are increasing in number and they want to eat goat meat, Fisher said.

“We’ve started a graded meat goat sale in Hillsboro, Ohio, and a lot of these goats are going to the East Coast to meet that demand,” he said.

The symposium will feature presenters who will combine lecture with hands-on opportunities to enhance the learning experience.
Dr. Richard Browning, research animal scientist at Tennessee State University, will share research results of Doe-Kid performance to weaning among Boer, Kiko and Spanish breeds.

Dr. Steve Hart, animal scientist at Langston University, will give a presentation on feeding the doe prior to breeding and during the three phases of pregnancy. Dr. Maria Leity Browning, extension animal scientist at Alabama A&M University, will discuss effective strategies for parasite management.

Mark Scarpitti of Amazing Graze Farm in Lancaster, Ohio, will discuss how he designed his forage management system for goats, which incorporates warm-season forages.

Feed consultants and equipment vendors will be on hand. During the event, participants will be able to view the Wilmington College meat goat operation.

Participant cost is $25 for pre-registration, which includes the Saturday meal. Registration the day of the event will be $35. For more information and registration brochure, visit the Buckeye Meat Goat Marketing Alliance website at www.ohiomarketgoat.com or contact Tony Nye at OSU extension in Clinton County at 937-382-0901.

This farm news was published in the June 13, 2007 issue of Farm World, serving Indiana, Ohio, Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan and Tennessee.