Kentucky State University’s animal science program currently offers research and extension programs that focus on small ruminant production, especially goats. The program focuses on production and management issues being faced by the goat industry in Kentucky. This industry has expanded greatly sense 1997 with a staggering growth rate of 500% between 1997 and 2002. The largest increase has been in meat goats with many new producers being small and/or limited resource producers.
Research projects are focused on sustainable goat production practices including forage based production with minimal supplementation to meet animal needs. We are looking at alternative forages including both annuals and perennials, use of browse for goat production and co-grazing goats with cattle. We cooperate on different research projects with both the University of Kentucky and Purdue University as well as USDA-ARS. We have studied differences in production between fall and spring kidding seasons and are working to start doing breed comparisons and crossbreeding research.
Our extension outreach programs include two major educational events at the KSU Center for Sustainability of Farms and Families each year as part of the nationally recognized “Third Thursday Thing”, these are in March and October. We also offer programs for goat producers through local cooperative extension offices, producer associations, and field days upon request. We participate as a member of the national eXtension goat community of practice which is available to anyone with internet access.
One major outreach program is the Kentucky State University Goat Herd Improvement Program (GHIP). This program is available to any goat producer and is designed to increase the availability and utilization of performance records. The program offers producers an opportunity to have production records standardized and assistance in using performance data to select higher quality animals for replacements and to cull older animals based on performance. This has resulted in herd improvement and increased performance without increasing production cost for producers.
To help producers find reliable information on goat production, please use the links below. This is not intended to be a complete list, but contains many useful links to associations, universities, government, and commercial web pages where information and products can be obtained to improve the probability of success in the goat industry.
For more information on livestock related activities at KSU, please contact Dr. Ken Andries, Animal Science Specialist, at 502-597-5094 or by e-mail at kenneth.andries@kysu.edu.
Online Resources for Goat Producers:
Producer Organizations:
American Boer Goat Association
American Dairy Goat Association
American Goat Society
American Kiko Goat Association
International Boer Goat Association
International Goat Association
International Kiko Goat Association
Kentucky Goat Producers Association
Nigerian Dwarf Goat Association
United States Boer Goat Association
University Resources:
Alternative Agriculture- Penn State Extension
National eXtension Goat Information
Goat Breeds - Oklahoma State Livestock Breeds library information
Langston University E(Kika) de la Graza Institute for Goat Research
NC State Meat Goats
Northeast Sheep and Goat Marketing Program
Purdue University Goat Information
SIPAC Project– Southern Indiana - Northern Kentucky Goat Project
Small Farms Alternatives – goat page from Florida Extension System
Small Ruminant Page- Maryland sheep and goat production information
Southern Consortium for Small Ruminant Parasite control
UK Goat Page
Government and other resources:
ATTRA - National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service
Kentucky Department of Agriculture
Midwest Plan Service
National Sheep Improvement Center
USDA Home Page
USDA Agriculture Marketing Service
USDA APHIS: US State and Territory Animal Import Regulations
USDA Livestock and Grain Marketing Reports
Goat Product Supply Companies
Allflex
Caprine Supply
D-S Livestock Equipment
Gallagher
Hoegger Goat Supply Company
Jeffers
Nasco Supply Company
Pasture Management Systems, Inc.
Pipestone Vet Supply
Premier Fence
Sydell
Tarter Gates
Townsend’s Sales