Eastern States Exposition
Information & Forms:
Do you want to
raise two meat goat kids this year as a 4-H Project? If so, the
University of Maine Cooperative Extension is launching a pilot
project where 4-Hers purchase castrated buck kids from meat goat
producers in Maine for the purpose of raising them to market weight
for resale.
Overall Purpose: to provide youth in Maine with a short term
livestock project to learn skills such as meat goat production,
responsibility, record keeping, sales and other life skills.
Rules:
- Youth must be at least 9 years of age (4-H
years, which is their age by January 1st of the
project year) and be (or become) a 4-H member of an established
4-H club.
- Youth must purchase a minimum of two
castrated male goats and agreed to sell them back to the
original seller at first refusal.
- Youth must keep records of all expenses
and income for this short term project. A copy of these records
must be submitted to the state coordinator for review.
Description of the Project
Interested youth will complete and submit an
application to participate in this meat goat project.
Youth will purchase a minimum of two castrated
male kids (at less then two weeks of age) from a participating
producer at a designated price ($20.00 each). The kids will be
percentage Boer (meat goat type breed). The kids will have received
colostrum, been trained to suck from a bottle, and given the initial
vaccination of CDT before being presented to the youth.
Youth will meet the seller and an exchange of
contact information will occur between the parties.
Participating youth will provide adequate
housing, feed and care for the kid goats from the day they receive
them to the day they sell them.
Blank Maine 4-H record sheets and an
informational packet will be provided to all participants by the
statewide project coordinator.
Timeline:
January through May – Submit application for
intention to participate in the project
March-May – Youth would be informed of their
application status and the contact information of the seller.
March-May – Receive kid goat wethers
March through November – raise kid goats on
milk replacer, grain and pasture
March through November – Keep track of weight
gains of goat kids and all expenses for project
March through November – communicate with
original seller on status of the goat kids
September through November – make arrangements
for sale of kid goats to original seller
December – submit copy of records and a project
report to state project coordinator
If
you are interested, please contact Extension Educator, Richard
Brzozowski at 1-800-287-1471 or
rbrz@umext.maine.edu
For more information on educational programs in your area,
contact your county Extension office.
