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Mid-Atlantic 4-H Market Goat Project Guide

According to USDA statistics, the meat goat industry is growing at a rate of 10 percent to 15 percent a year. Yet, U.S. farmers do not produce enough goats to meet the domestic demand for goat meat. The growing demand for goat meat is due to the increasing immigration from regions of the world where goat meat is a preferred protein source. Among the largest consumers of goat meat are those from the Middle East, Latin America, and the Caribbean islands. The demand for goat meat is strongest on the East Coast and in urban areas with large ethnic populations. The introduction of the (South African) Boer goat breed in 1990 brought the first true " meat breed " to the United States. It was followed several years later by the (New Zealand) Kiko. Before the introduction of these breeds, meat production was mostly a by-product of the mohair (fiber) and dairy-goat industries. Market, or meat, goats make ideal 4-H project animals for many reasons. Generally, the purchase price of goats is small and the facilities needed to maintain goats are minimal. Goats are not that large and can be handled by 4-H'ers of all ages, even if they do not have a great deal of previous livestock experience. The market goat project will help you gain knowledge of the livestock industry in general and the meat goat industry in particular. By participating in the market goat project you will learn responsibility and money management, record keeping, livestock handling, and livestock selection skills. In order to successfully complete the market goat project, you will need the support and encouragement of your parents and 4-H leaders. However, the responsibility for the daily care, training, and grooming should be yours.