Sustainable Goat Production - Educational Materials

Goat producers and Extension professionals involved in educating goat producers, especially in the southern USA can be greatly benefitted by using the following two educational materials that are freely made available by the Tuskegee University Cooperative Extension Program.

• YouTube Video on "Sustainable year-round forage production and grazing/browsing management for goats in the Southern Region”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wq9wTE7-HkA
• Sustainable year-round forage production and grazing/browsing management for goats in the Southern Region - Handbook:
  http://www.tuskegee.edu/sites/www/Uploads/files/About%20US/TUCEP/Livestock%20Program/Year-RoundPasture_Handbook.pdf

Any question or comments regarding these materials can be posted using the comment section on this page.

 

Alabama Farmers Cooperatives - shop location

If you are looking for Farmers Cooperative shop near you, visit this link: http://www.alafarm.com/locations/storelist/

Web Soil Survey Report for Your Land

NRCS/USDA Web Soil Survey is a very useful soil data available online. Before starting any farm operation or other use of the land, it is important to know the type of soil present in different portions of your land. Knowing the soil type helps farmers and land managers select suitable agricultural or non-agricultural use of the land resources.

Step by step procedure of obtaining the web soil survey report is available at this link: Obtaining the Web Soil Survey Report






 

Tuskgee University Master Goat Producer's Certification Training Program

The 7th Annual Tuskegee University Master Goat Producer's Certification Training Program is scheduled to be held at the Tuskegee University Caprine Research and Education Unit on August 4-6, 2014 with a “Grants for Producers” pre-program workshop event sponsored by Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) on Sunday, August 3 at 6PM.
For more information and registering for the program, please visit this link: http://www.tuskegee.edu/academics/colleges/caens/master_goat_producer_training.aspx

Health and Parasite Management in Small Ruminants

Health and Parasite Management in Small Ruminants Training Workshop

Date: May 31, 2014

Venue: Caprine Research and Education Unit (Goat Farm), Tuskegee University  

Introduction



Conventional method of parasite control by just using chemical de-wormer seems to be ineffective, especially to control barber pole worm – a most significant parasite causing a huge loss in small ruminant industry. For several reasons, this worm is developing resistance against most of the chemical dewormers. Now, it is time to adopt an integrated approach of managing gastrointestinal parasites including barber pole worm. Moreover, external parasites, and infectious and other diseases play a crucial role in the health and well-being of small ruminants. Some of the diseases and parasites are also zoonotic (capable of affecting human).  Producers and professionals must be aware of all these health problems and be able to prevent them on time. This program aims to educate extension professionals and producers on the major health problems in small ruminants and various strategies to prevent them.

 

Workshop topics/activities (9:00 A.M.  - 3:00 P.M.)

 ·         Major diseases and parasites (internal & external) of small ruminants and their prevention  strategies
·         Pasture and grazing management for controlling internal parasites
·         Nutrition, feeding, and immunity against parasites and diseases
·         FAMACHA and smart drenching
·         Use of tannin containing feeds and forages to control internal parasites

·         Parasite drug resistance in small ruminants: causes and solutions

·         Hands-on activities: General health inspection, use of FAMACHA card, condition score, hoof inspection and trimming, taking temperature, fecal sample collection and examination, identifying parasites and parasite larvae, etc.

 

Registration fee: $10.00 (if pre-registered by May 16, 2014); $15.00 (after May 16, 2014). Working lunch and snacks will be served and a package of educational materials will be provided.

Please reserve your place today by sending Registration Form along with the registration fee to: Ms. Yvonne Wright, 201 Morrison-Mayberry Hall, Tuskegee University Cooperative Extension Program, Tuskegee, AL 36088. For registration question, contact Ms. Wright - Phone: 334-724-4440, Email: wright@mytu.tuskegee.edu

For driving direction and further information about the program, see Program Flyer and Program Agenda. Any additional question about the program must be directed to Dr. Uma Karki, Email: karkiu@mytu.tuskegee.edu, Phone: (334) 727-8336.

 

 

Agroforestry/Silvopasture Workshop at Tuskegee University

Agroforestry/Silvopasture workshop will be conducted on May 3, 2014 at Tuskegee University. Detailed information on this workshop is available at this link: http://www.tuskegee.edu/about_us/outreach/cooperative_extension/agroforestrysilvopasture_workshop.aspx

Tuskegee University Annual Goat Day 2014

Tuskegee University Annual Goat Day for this year is scheduled on April 26, 2014. More information is available at this link: http://www.tuskegee.edu/about_us/outreach/cooperative_extension/goat_day.aspx

Eufaula Field Day 2014

Year-round Pasture, Sustainable Grazing, and Goat Herd Management

Ruminant livestock production in Alabama is based on pasture. Highly productive and quality pasture persisting throughout a year or most of the year is important for profitable livestock enterprises. Most of the livestock producers in Alabama have warm-season perennial pastures that produce from May to October and have negligible or no production from November to April, when farmers need to invest considerably on supplementary feedstuffs such as hay, agricultural byproducts, and commercially prepared feeds to sustain their livestock. Feeding supplement for 5-6 months each year is not cost-effective. The purpose of this field day is to educate and demonstrate Extension professionals and livestock producers on developing and managing year-round pasture system. Moreover, basics of goat herd health evaluation and care will be shared with the participants. This field day will be conducted on a goat producer’s farm, which has been involved in developing year-round pasture and managing the pasture with rotational grazing system. Participants will be able to see and experience how their livestock production system can be improved, and apply the useful practices on their farms.

Major Topics/Activities

• Forage establishment and grazing management
• NRCS support for pasture improvement and grazing management
• Producer’s experience – Importance of pasture improvement and grazing management for sustainable goat operation
• Economic benefits of pasture improvement
• Basics of managing a healthy goat herd
• Field visit and hands-on: collect and composite soil samples, identify different forages, measure the forage height and calculate the available biomass, tour the pasture, observe planting equipment, fencing, and facilities (shelter, watering, and feeding),  hoof trimming, FAMACHA use, and body condition scoring
• Participant discussion, feedback, and evaluation

Venue: 36 County Road 40, Eufaula, AL 36027

Date: April 5, 2014

Time: 9 AM - 1 PM

 

Registration fee: None

Register by March 24 is required by sending the completed registration form as indicated in the form.

For driving direction and more information about the program, please see the program flyer and agenda.

 

Sustainable Year-Round Forage Production and Grazing/Browsing Management Training 2014

Introduction

Tuskegee University Cooperative Extension Program in collaboration with other land grant universities (Auburn, Langston, and Mississippi State), Alabama Natural Resources Conservation Service, and PadmaDal Memorial Foundation is conducting a 2-day training program – Sustainable Year-Round Forage Production and Grazing/Browsing Management (goat focus) for field agricultural professionals and livestock producers. Training will be conducted on March 25-26, 2014; March 24 and 27 will be the travel dates for those who will be coming a long way to Tuskegee. 

Program Objective

The objective of this program is to train field-level Extension and technical assistance personnel (hereafter field personnel) and livestock producers in year-round forage production and grazing/browsing management in the Southeast Region. The trained field personnel are expected to educate and help goat producers in the Southeastern Region make their production system more sustainable through pasture improvement and sustainable grazing management.

 

Major Training Topics

The training will consists of various topics relevant to year-round forage production and grazing/browsing management, such as agronomic aspects of forage production, sustainable grazing/browsing management, suitable forage species for developing year-round grazing systems for goats and cattle, grazing facilities for different grazing systems, browse species, supplementary feeding, weed management, resource conservation, and economics. Each topic will include hands-on activities. 

 

More information about this event is available in the Program Flyer and Program Agenda.

 

Send the completed Registration Form on time as indicated in the form to reserve your spot.

 

 

Plantersville Field Day, 2014

Year-round Pasture, Silvopasture, Sustainable Grazing, and Goat Herd Management Field Day 

Tuskegee University Cooperative Extension is organizing this field day to promote the sustainable livestock production system. Ruminant livestock production in Alabama is based on pasture. Highly productive and quality pasture persisting throughout a year or most of the year is important for profitable livestock enterprises. Most of the livestock producers in Alabama have warm-season perennial pastures that produce from May to October and have negligible or no production from November to April, when farmers need to invest considerably on supplementary feedstuffs such as hay, agricultural byproducts, and commercially prepared feeds to sustain their livestock. Feeding supplement for 5-6 months each year is not cost-effective. The purpose of this field day is to educate and demonstrate Extension professionals and livestock producers on developing and managing year-round pasture system. Moreover, basics of goat herd-health evaluation and management will be included among the field-day topics. This field day will be conducted on a goat producer’s farm, which has been involved in developing year-round pasture including pine silvopasture and managing the pasture and silvopasture with rotational grazing system. Participants will be able to see and experience how their livestock production system can be improved, and apply the similar system on their farms. 

 

Major topics/activities

• Forage establishment and grazing management
• Supplementary feeding
• Economic benefits of year-round pastures
• Producer’s experience – pasture and silvopasture for goats
• Basics of managing a healthy goat herd
• NRCS support for pasture improvement and grazing management
• Field visit and hands-on: collect and composite soil samples, identify different forages, measure the forage height and calculate the available biomass, tour the open-pasture and silvopasture sites, observe planting equipment, fencing, and facilities (shelter, watering, and feeding),  hoof trimming, FAMACHA use, and body condition scoring
• Participant discussion, feedback, and evaluation

Venue: 472 Pecan Road, Plantersville, AL 36758
Date: March 1, 2014
Time: 9 AM - 1 PM

Registration fee: None

Register by February 21 by sending the completed registration form as indicated in the form.

For driving direction and more information about the program, please see the program flyer and agenda.