In 1983, Florida A&M University (FAMU), College of Engineering Sciences, Technology and Agriculture (CESTA) recognized the role meat goats could play in complementing existing agricultural production systems. Faculty and staff at FAMU therefore, shifted their research and extension efforts to evaluating goat production as an alternative enterprise for small-scaled farmers. Nutrition and reproduction studies provided valuable data on the economics of raising goats under optimum conditions. Other studies were conducted to determine the cost effectiveness of raising goats under alternative production systems, evaluating goat production through the intromission of Boer genetics and determining the effects of diet and management on carcass traits, composition and palatability of young goats.
Today, meat goat production has become one of the fastest growing livestock industry’s in the U.S. Researchers and extension personnel at FAMU are consistently working to address those issues critically facing the goat industry at the local, regional and national level. In 2001, the meat goat training program was established through the Cooperative Extension Program at the university. The program was later renamed in 2007 as the "Master Goat Producers Certification Program." The program was designed to meet the needs of meat and dairy goat producers in Florida. In 2008, sheep producers were included in this training initiative. The "Master Goat and Sheep Certification Program" and the "Goat Field Day" are held annually at the university's Research and Extension located in Quincy, FL.
In 2010, FAMU hosted the first "National Goat Conference" held ever in the U.S. The event was primarily successful due to the enormous support from Southern SARE (Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education), USDA Risk Management Agency, several 1890 and 1862 universities, community-based organizations, conference sponsors and state and federal agencies in the U.S. Information on the next conference will be made shortly, so keep checking our website (http://www.famu.edu/goats) for an update. It is the goal and intent of the faculty and staff in the Small Ruminant Program at FAMU to continue working with producers, industry leaders, community organizations, and state and federal agencies throughout the U.S. to help improve the sustainability and viability of a promising industry.
To provide research-based educational opportunities to small and limited resource goat and sheep producers in the state of Florida
