Goats are good, not b-a-a-a-d

A Goat and Sheep Management Workshop is scheduled to take place at the Dade County Extension Office from 1-4 p.m. on July 9.

Experts estimate that there are more than 3 million goats in the U.S. today. They fall into three categories: meat, dairy and angora. Popular breeds include: Boer, Kiko, Spanish Meat Goat, and Tennessee Fainting Goat (meat); Alpine, LaMancha, Nigerian Dwarf, and Nubian (dairy); and Angora and Pygora (angora). There are also Kinder goats which are used for both dairy and meat, and Pygmy goats that are mainly used for pets.

The largest segment of goat production in the U.S. is the meat goat segment. There are an estimated 2.6 million meat goats in the U.S. Most of them live in Texas, but Georgia has the fourth-largest goat population east of the Mississippi River.

The growing Chicano and Latino populations in the Southeastern United States and in Texas have brought with them a historical preference for goat meat, also known as chevon. And this cultural preference has turned into to big business for those producers who can meet this steadily increasing demand for goat products.

This workshop will be led by Dr. Niki Whitley from Fort Valley State University. Both lecture and handson learning will be featured and cover such topics as FAMACHA/parasites, body condition scoring and hoof care. Participants will receive FAMACHA certification. To register, call the Extension Office at 706-6574116. Cost of training is $10 and the pre-registration deadline is July 1.