Panhandle Meat Goat Expo

Tom Boyer from Chalk Creek Boers in Coalville Utah, had valuable information on the best marketing strategies for the meat goat industry. With a few years experience in the industry to draw from, Mr. Boyer had some great ideas, that made excellant since for today's market.

Dr. Steve Hart of Langston University talked about the FAMACHA Parasite Evaluation plan. This was a fascinating new approach to the old method of worming the entire herd. With a fresh new look at worming only the goats that need worming. Lessening the likely-hood of Dewormer Resistance. Several goats were presented for demonstration and using this system we could easily see the difference between goats that needed worming and those that didn't.

Randy Saner from North Platte, NE talked about Body Condition Scoring. And we again had some great examples from the barn for the different types of body scores. This is a great way to better understand the condition of your herd as a whole and as individual animals... which in turn would lead to picking out those animals that might need to be inspected closer with the FAMACHA program for worming.

The 4H progress show turned out well. The 4H'rs recieved some great prizes. As did the show goats on Sunday. Gloria Floyd of Nebraska Boer Goats made the porcelain plaques that were the Grand Champion and Reserve Grand Champion Doe and Bucks awards. Those plaques will be treasured awards for years to come.

We had some "awesome" livestock for the show and sale. The high selling buck was sold for $900! The prices averaged the $150 to $250 range with several animals selling in the neighborhood of $400 as well. The quality of the stock was very impressive... the breeders involved should be proud of what they had to offer this weekend.

We would like to say "Thank You" to everyone who helped make this a great weekend, whether you were here for the seminars, had consignments in the show and sale, came in on Sunday just to buy goats, or if you were here to help with the Expo, each of you were a key component to the Expo being a success. Thank you!