Meat Goats
Extension Animal Husbandry
Department of Animal Science
Dr. Jean-Marie Luginbuhl, Extension Meat Goat Specialist

Interest in meat goat production in North Carolina has increased steadilyduring the past ten years because of the increased demand for goat meat by ethnic groups who prefer goat meat in their diet. USDA statistics indicate that 3,363 metric tons of goat meat were imported in the USA in 1999, for a
total value of $7.85 million. In the year 2000, It is estimated that a total of over 180,000 goats were sold for meat in NC, representing receipts of over $7.5 million. In addition, it is estimated that the NC meat goat
breeding stock inventory totals 122,000 animals for a total of 3,000 farms, or an average of 39 goats per farm. The above breeding stock inventory represents a capital of over $12 million.

The South African Boer goat has provided great incentive to the development of the NC meat goat industry, resulting in the founding of the North Carolina Meat Goat Association in November 1993. Since then, membership has been steadily increasing to approximately 575 members. In addition, the successful establishment of meat goat shows at the Mountain and the NC State Fairs in 1996, the implementation of graded goat sales in certain areas of the state to supplement weekly auction market sales, and the opening in 2001 of a meat goat farmers' cooperative for direct sale of fresh goat meat to restaurants and retail stores all attest to the rapid growth of the industry.

A wide range of research and extension projects address current issues faced by the meat goat industry in North Carolina, with collaboration from the departments of Animal Science, Farm Animal Health and Resource Management, Agricultural and Resource Economics, Horticulture, as well as from the North
Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services research stations, and marketing specialist. Regional collaboration include Virginia State University, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State university, Fort Valley State College, Langston University, and the USDA-ARS Appalachian Farming Systems Research Center.

• Marketing & Economics
  • Breeds and Production Traits of Meat Goats
  • Meat Goat Production in North Carolina
• Management
  • Use of Goats as Biological Agents for the control of unwanted Vegetation
  • MONITORING THE BODY CONDITION OF MEAT GOATS: A Key to Successful Management
  • Meat Goats in Land and Forage Management
• Health
  • Winter Management Tip for Internal parasite Control in Meat Goats
  • Gastrointestinal Parasite Management of Meat Goats
  • Meat Goats - Health Requirements
  • Basic Meat Goat Facts
  • Meat Goat Vaccination Program
  • Controling Sore Mouth In Meat Goats
• Nutrition
  • Nutrition of Meat Goats
  • Forage Needs for Meat Goats
  • Winter Annual Forages:Grazing Experiment Progress Report
  • Influence of Grain Supplementation on Growth of Weanling Goats
  • Nutrition for Meat Goat Production
  • Matching Forages to the Nutrient Needs of Meat Goats
• Reproduction
  • Breeding and Kidding Management in the Meat Goats
  • Heat Detection in Meat Goats
  • Evaluation and Preparation of the Meat Goat Breeding Herd
  • How to Prepare Goats for the Breeding Season
    
    

  For more information please contact: Jean-Marie Luginbuhl, Associate Professor
                                                              Meat Goats & Forage Systems
                                                              Box 7620
                                                              North Carolina State University
                                                              Raleigh NC 27695-7620
                                                              Tel: 919-515-8743  Fax: 919-515-5855  

Additional sources of goat information:

• Annual NCMGA Meeting - January 19, 2002
  • Registaration Form
• Scrapie Eradication Program
• Breeds of Goats
• Smithfield Goat Auction (Wed)

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