Several Prairie View A&M students in the Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Related Sciences program are pictured with goats. (Photo by Paul Johnson)
(Prairie View)—Approximately 350 people from across Texas attended Prairie View A&M University’s 24th Annual Goat Field Day May 5. The event, hosted by the Cooperative Agricultural Research Center (CARC), a component of the College of Agriculture and Human Sciences, addresses relevant goat industry information and the needs of goat producers ranging from basic management techniques to marketing various products.
“In addition to providing information about topics including reproduction, diseases, goat meat preparation, artificial insemination and cheese making, our field day offers a program called the 4-H Goat Giveaway, where young people are given a goat kid to care for throughout the year,” said Linda Williams-Willis, dean of the College of Agriculture and Human Sciences. “This program, which started in 1987, helps them learn about all aspects of rearing goats, teaches them responsibilities of animal husbandry and encourages them to participate in 4-H clubs and projects.”
This year’s Goat Field Day theme, “Management of Goats for Profit,” was addressed by guest speakers Frank Pinkerton, former Extension specialist, and Marvin Shurley, president of the American Meat Goat Association.
Pinkerton gave an entertaining talk on marketing channels for goats and goat meat and asked participants “to keep your eyes open for marketing opportunities and work hard to avoid the pitfalls that may come about.” Shurley recommended that participants “put more goats on the ground and in the sale barn,” to meet the tremendous demand for goats in the United States.
Goat Field Day workshops covered sessions on parasite control in goats, forage production and management, hay and soil testing, weed control and fertilization.
“Our International Goat Research Center at Prairie View A&M, which opened in 1983, is world renowned..."
Scott Horner, 4-H and youth extension specialist with Texas Cooperative Extension, coordinated the 4-H Goat Giveaway Program.
“The purpose is two-fold,” said Horner. “The program teaches youth to develop important life skills such as responsibility, commitment and social interaction, and teaches them skills in animal care and health and safety. Second, the program benefits goat breeders throughout the state because they promote the program and donate the goats, which helps them increase their clientele for other goats.”
Taylor Cathey is shown with goat kid. (Photo by Paul Johnson)
Jackson Dzakuma, research leader for the Cooperative Agricultural Research Center, made an appeal this year to goat breeders to participate in a voluntary program that will help researchers to preserve goat genetics and to help identify genetic relationships of goats. Dzakuma said that this research program will help preserve goat genetics and provide a database for researchers in the case of a disease outbreak.
“I am extremely pleased with the work we are doing in our animal systems program, which is the largest of our focal areas of concentration, with special emphasis on goats, that make up the total research program in the CARC,” said Alfred Parks, research director for the Cooperative Agricultural Research Center.
“Our International Goat Research Center at Prairie View A&M, which opened in 1983, is world renowned, and our research scientists will continue to provide information to help goat producers in this state develop markets and create demand for goat products,” he said.
Goat Field Day concluded with an auction of selected bucks and does provided by the International Goat Research Center. The auction was led by CARC research scientist Louis Nuti and research technician Neville Beckford.
“Next year will be the 25th anniversary for the Goat Field Day,” said Dzakuma. “We are already preparing for this significant event and are inviting all interested persons to attend.” 