Kentucky Meat Goat Field Day set for June 4 in Berea

QUICKSAND, Ky, (May 21, 2009)

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, there were more than 3.15 million meat goats in the United States in 2008. However the USDA report stated that U.S. producers still could not meet the demand, and they still have a difficult time finding information dealing specifically with meat goats.

Berea College, the University of Kentucky Robinson Station, Kentucky State University and the Madison County Cooperative Extension office will offer specific meat goat educational opportunities at the Kentucky Meat Goat Field Day June 4 at Berea College.

Beginning at 8:30 a.m. EDT, the morning workshop will take place at Hall Science Building in room 106 on the Berea College campus. The workshop will cover topics such as selecting, establishing and maintaining livestock forages, meeting the nutritional needs of goats with forages, breed evaluation research, developing a meat goat enterprise budget and goat parasite management.

After lunch, events move to the Berea College Farm at Hunt Acres with 20-minute presentations on general herd health, predator control, fencing options, rotational grazing, tall fescue grazing, the Kentucky Department of Agriculture Forage Testing Program, and an optional FAMACHA© training. Attendees will get directions to the farm at the morning workshop.

Field day registration is $10 per person and an additional $15 for the optional FAMACHA© training. Make checks payable to "Kentucky Meat Goat Field Day," and mail to Brandon Sears, Madison County Cooperative Extension Service, P.O. Box 270, Richmond, KY 40476.

A Berea College campus map is available at http://www.berea.edu/campusmap. For more information contact the Madison County Cooperative Extension office at 859-623-4072.

Contact: Brandon Sears, 859-623-4072; David Ditsch 606-666-2438, ext. 231

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