North Carolina Goat & Sheep Producers Roundup III

On Friday and Saturday of this past week, I attended the North Carolina Goat & Sheep Producers Roundup III in Greensboro, NC at the Guilford County Extension Center. On Friday, some of the topics included Utilizing Ethnic Holiday in Your Marketing Plan for meat goats and sheep, Government Regulations of Direct Marketing of Meats, Grazing Contracts for Small Ruminants - the In's and Out's, Direct Marketing of Chevon to Customers at Farmer's Markets, Weed and Poisonous Plant ID, Utilizing Forages on Small Acreage, Parasite Control and Management, Hoof Trimming Made Simple and Predator Control in Your Herd. FAMANCHA certification training and hands-on hoof trimming demonstrations were given Friday night at the NC A&T State University Small Ruminant Research Unit located nearby. Lunch Friday was food provided by several restaurants from the Chapel Hill, Cary, Winston-Salem, etc. areas for the NC Chefs Chevon and Lamb Cook-Off. Winners of the cook-off were presented with engraved plates and money for both of the chevon and lamb categories. Saturday, more classes were held to include Improving Reproduction Management in Your Herd, Performing Your Own Fecal Egg Counts, and a demonstration of How to Build a Goat-Proof Fence that was being constructed at the Extension Center. After lunch, there was a Skillathon testing goat and sheep knowledge including breeds, tools, meat cuts and feed identification. The youth broke into groups for Sheep Showmanship, Meat Goat Showmanship and Dairy Goat Showmanship. They also learned to evaluate live animals for their youth projects and learned about other 4-H opportunities. Also during the two days, there were several trade show exhibitors such as Register Goat & Sheep Supplies, ADM Alliance Nutrition, Cedarbrake Katahdins, Animal Welfare Approved, NC Farm ID, NC Meat Goat Association, NC Meat Goat Producers, NC Sheep Producers, Pasture Management Systems, Pennington Seed, The Barn Loft Western Store, Southern States and the USDA APHIS Scrapie Program. This seminar is well worth your time and you should make plans to attend #4 in two years!

North Carolina Goat & Sheep Producers Roundup III

On August 14 and 15 at the Guilford County Extension Center in Greensboro, NC, the North Carolina Goat and Sheep Producers Roundup III will be held. There are programs for adults and youth. These Roundups are held every two years and I have attended since the beginning. The first Roundup was held in Raleigh and the second in Sanford, NC. Each Roundup has different topics on goats and sheep with different speakers. For those of you who are wanting to taste some chevon and lamb prepared by some of the best chefs in NC, this is for you. On Friday, August 14, the NC Chef Chevon and Lamb Cook-Off will be held. Participants of the Roundup will be eatting their dishes for lunch and voting for the best. The Top NC Chef awards for chevon and lamb will be presented during the Roundup. To see a brouchure for the Roundup and for a registration form, go to http://franklin.ces.ncsu.edu/ or, contact Martha Mobley, Extension Agent, Agriculture, Franklin County Center at 919.496.3344. This seminar is geared mainly toward meat goats and sheep. However, topics of utilizing forages on small acreages, weed ID, poisonous plants, parasite control, hoof trimming, performing fecal egg counts, fence building, etc. applies to the dairy goat industry as well. Also you can complete the FAMACHA Certification Program at NC A&T at their Small Ruminant Research Unit. Dairy goat showmanship will be taught to the youth on Saturday, August 15, by Ruth Weaver of Pittsboro. Hope to see you there!