The webinar library is now live on the blog. Check out some previous webinars that focused on goat genetics, goat nutrition, udder health and milk quality.
Webinar Library Now Live!
All posts tagged Goats
Managing Metabolic Challenges in Dairy Ewes During Lambing
The transition period can bring many challenges to ewes. The transition period is the weeks leading up to and after lambing. The ewe is transitioning from a non-lactating, pregnant state to a lactating, non-pregnant state. Metabolic challenges can arise in the last 3-6 weeks of gestation before lambing and last into early lactation. What is Ketosis? The term ketosis is derived from ketone bodies, produced when the body breaks down stored fat for energy, also known as lipid mobilization. In ewes, this occurs during increased energy requirements in late pregnancy and early lactation. A negative energy balance occurs when energy consumed does not meet the current physiological energy demand. In a less technical phrase, there needs to be more groceries…
Hoof Health in Small Ruminants
On August 17th and August 19th 2023, Ontario Goat hosted a hoof health clinic emphasizing the importance of hoof trimming and preventing hoof diseases in your goats. Featured speakers included Dr. Gosia Zoebel (New Zealand), Susan Schoenian (University of Maryland), Dr. Emily zur Linden (Metzger Veterinary), and Dr. Lauren Wilson (Cornwallis Veterinary Services). Inspired by the event, this blog post discusses the importance of hoof trimming and outlines hoof ailments that you may be concerned about in your sheep and goats. Hoof Trimming In intensive systems, like those in Ontario, animals are typically housed on soft surfaces that don’t allow for natural wearing of the hooves. Allowing hooves to overgrow and become deformed can cause permanent damage and increase susceptibility…
Transporting Livestock: Understanding a Transfer of Care Form vs. an Animal Transport Record
Whether you’re a commercial transporter or a producer transporting your own animals, it is important to keep records on the movement of animals to ensure that animals are being responsibly taken care of and humanely transported. You can do this by filling out a Transfer of Care form and an Animal Transport Record. But what’s the difference? Transfer of Care Form What is its purpose? The purpose of a Transfer of Care Form is to ensure that animals are not left at slaughter facilities, assembly centres, or auctions without evidence that the care has been transferred from the transporter to the receiver. This form only applies for animals that are delivered to slaughter, assembly, and auction facilities. After the recipient…
Short Video Tutorials for the Dairy Goat Cost of Production Benchmarking Tool
This series of short videos have been created to help guide producers through the process of using the Dairy Goat Cost of Production Benchmarking Tool in Excel. Each video covers an individual producer tab. Providing step-by-step instructions on how to enter the data correctly into the cells. Along with highlighting some of the information calculated and provided by each tab. To get the most out of the tool producers should try to fill out the information as completely and accurately as possible. Access all the videos here. Learn more about and access the Dairy Goat Cost of Benchmarking Tool here. Introduction Video This video provides a general overview of the tool. Covering some benefits of using the tool, the information…
Dairy Goat Cost of Production Calculation and Benchmarking Tool
The purpose of this tool is to help dairy goat producers calculate their cost of production per litre and per doe, and to compare individual results to an industry benchmark; the aggregated performance results of other producers within the Ontario dairy goat industry. The industry benchmark is based on an average of production information from the 2019 to 2021 calendar years. The benchmarks represent production information from a sample of participating farms in the province and may not necessarily be statistically significant as representing the dairy goat industry as a whole. Excel is required to run this tool. Download a copy of the Excel spreadsheet tool below (Updated: March 27, 2023) Need help navigating the tool? View the Goat COP…
New! Publication 30: Guide to Forage Production
Publication 30: Guide to Forage Production is a comprehensive guide to forage agronomy. It has information on establishment, fertility, weed management and weather stress for many species grown as forage in Ontario. It also covers harvest and storage of forage crops and understanding a laboratory forage analysis. To download a free PDF version or order a paper copy, click here. ~~~~~~ La Publication 30F, Guide de production fourragère, constitue une source de renseignements détaillés sur les pratiques agronomiques en production fourragère. On y trouve de l’information sur l’établissement, la fertilité, la lutte contre les mauvaises herbes et le stress thermique, applicables à de nombreuses espèces végétales cultivées comme plantes fourragères en Ontario. Ce Guide traite aussi de questions concernant la récolte et l’entreposage des fourrages et…
Ontario Meat Goat Symposium 2022
The Ontario Meat Goat Symposium will be held in Lindsay, Ontario on August 13, 2022, at the Lindsay Fairgrounds from 9 am to 3:30 pm. The event will feature guest speakers on topics such as nutrition and parasites. There will also be live goat demonstrations and a tradeshow which will include goat equipment, supplies and industry partners. Although the event is focused on meat goats, dairy goat producers are also welcome. Plan on attending to network with fellow goat producers! The event is free to attend, and lunch will be available for purchase. A full agenda will be posted shortly. The event is hosted by the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) in partnership with Ontario Goat…
The Sheep and Goat Production Blog has moved!
Welcome to the new web address for the Sheep and Goat Production blog. Be sure to update your bookmarks to the new web address sheepandgoatproduction.ca In addition to being an email subscriber you can also follow the blog on Twitter @SheepProdn for the latest sheep content and @GProdn for the latest goat content. All the blog content from our old website has moved to the new web address. You will notice a few changes to the menus of the blog. Do you want to know more about the contributing authors? Check out the current authors list by clicking the tab above. Browse our previous content through the blog menus found above. If you find any content that is missing or…
Goat Genetic Improvement Webinar Series – Key Messages
In July, OMAFRA hosted a series of webinars on topics related to goat genetic improvement. The webinars were held on July 20th, 22nd, 27th and 29th, with speakers presenting on aspects of genetics and genetic improvement programs for both meat and dairy goats. This post summarizes some of the key take-home messages from the presentations. If you’re interested in learning more, full video and podcast recordings of the presentations are available below. Click the links below to go directly to the presentation you’re interested in learning more about. Not sure where to start? Check out the Overview of Presentations to hear the key messages from all of our presenters. Overview of Presentations Keep or Cull: Strategies for Replacement and Culling…
