Assessing Goat Welfare & Your Bottom Line

Upcoming workshops will look at animal welfare and profitability

We all know the impact that unhealthy animals have on our herd, affecting both productivity management and animal health management. Mike Draper, Livestock Community Sales Act Coordinator with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food & Rural Affairs, will speak to producers at this month’s Goat Profitability Workshops about goat care standards and on-farm animal welfare management. “Animal welfare is very important in improving your bottom line. Learning when to cull your sick goats will help to improve the overall health and welfare of your herd,” stated Draper. Mike will review criteria producers should consider and evaluate when culling goats from their herd. His tips will help you make better profit and production decisions.

Other workshop presenters include Kathleen Shore, Ruminant Nutritionist with New-Life Mills, who will be sharing tips on kid management. Successful kid rearing and nutrition can really boost production and profitability on booth dairy and meat goat operations.

Paul Stewart from EastGen will educate producers on how artificial insemination can help fill year-round demand.  Producers who have implemented AI on their farms will share what has worked for them.

The recently released 2014 Cost of Production study results will be reviewed by Erin MacDuff, Policy Manager at Ontario Goat. Erin will share information on high costs discovered during the first phase of the project and what the COP numbers mean to Ontario’s dairy goat producers.

OG’s Goat Profitability Workshops are the perfect opportunity to chat with fellow producers and learn new ways to increase your profitability and strengthen your industry. Everyone is invited to this educational event but pre-registration is strongly encouraged to plan for meals.  The workshops are being held in three locations: Belleville Parkdale Community Centre (October 27), Tavistock Memorial Hall (October 29) and Listowel Agricultural Hall (October 30). Registration is only $25 per person and includes a lunch, speakers and session notes.

Click here for more information and to access the registration form or contact Ontario Goat at info@livestockalliance.ca or 519-824-2942 to register today!

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