Twenty years ago, 13 producers gathered around a kitchen table to discuss ways to grow Ontario’s dairy goat sector. Now nearly 100 members strong, the Ontario Dairy Goat Co-operative (ODGC) has evolved from the kitchen table to two offices while maintaining its mandate that every member profits and benefits equally. Why it matters: A co-operative […] Read more
Tag Archives goats — page 2
Ontario Dairy Goat Co-operative celebrates 20 years
The organization has grown to be a major force in the North American goat milk sector
Dairy goat deal with processor helps secure demand
A long-awaited deal has been struck with Canada Royal Milk
Ontario’s goat milk is getting the royal treatment as a powdered export. Canada Royal Milk (CRM), an export-based milk processor in Kingston, has partnered with the Ontario Goat Dairy Co-operative (ODGC) and Producteurs de lait de chèvre du Québec (PLCQ) in the production of goat milk powder. Why it matters: Powdered goat milk represents a […] Read more
Sheep, goat producers work together to improve genetic potential
Four organizations hope increased co-operation will do for their sector what genetic research did for the beef industry
Sheep and goat producer organizations are starting an initiative to improve genetics in Canadian flocks in conjunction with the University of Guelph. The project aims to strengthen the genetic evaluation program GenOvis, modernize breed registration and provide better information for meat and dairy production in sheep and goats. Why it matters: There is room for […] Read more
Plans afoot to move hay from East to drought-hit West
CFA, BFO spearheading Hay West-style initiatives
Farm groups are spearheading new plans to get livestock feed from Eastern Canada to drought-damaged regions of the western provinces and northwestern Ontario. Details are still pending, but the Canadian Federation of Agriculture (CFA) announced Aug. 12 it has started work on a “Hay West” initiative to get surplus hay “to those struggling in the […] Read more
Ontario names new ag minister in shuffle
Lisa Thompson replaces Ernie Hardeman
Ontario Premier Doug Ford has drawn another aggie from his existing cabinet to replace Ernie Hardeman as his agriculture minister. Ford on Friday announced a major cabinet shuffle, dropping Hardeman, the long-time MPP for Oxford, from the cabinet table and naming Lisa Thompson as minister for agriculture, food and rural affairs. Thompson, who until Friday […] Read more
Keeping more goat kids alive
Lower kid mortality rates possible with record keeping and management modifications
Courtney Pranger battled with kid mortality issues in the early part of launching a dairy goat farm with her husband Josh. “We lost 90 per cent of our kids the first year (due to Q fever), which was very traumatic,” she said, adding she was constantly in tears over it. Why it matters: Reducing kid […] Read more
Goat code open for public comment
The Draft Goat Code of Practice is now open for public comment ahead of a Feb. 22 deadline. “Whether you have a small herd or a large herd, the impact of the revised Goat Code of Practice on your farm will be the same,” stated Ontario Goat President Dirk Boogerd. “It is important for goat […] Read more
U.S. transport regulators reject ’emotional support animal’ status
Service dog status still protected; 'support' goats, turkeys, others up to airlines
Washington | Reuters — Only trained dogs qualify as service animals on U.S. airlines, as regulators rejected requests to extend legal protections to miniature horses, pigs, turkeys and other species, under final U.S. Transportation Department rules issued Wednesday. Airlines can still choose which other species to allow on board, but the rules issued on Wednesday […] Read more
Blast kills at least 23 at Afghanistan livestock market
Area shelled in clashes between government forces, Taliban
Kabul | Reuters — At least 23 civilians were killed in Afghanistan’s southern Helmand province and dozens were wounded when rockets hit a cattle market on Monday, Afghan government and Taliban officials said. The warring sides blamed each other for the attack on the open-air weekly cattle market in Sangin district, where hundreds of villagers […] Read more
No turkeys, pigs, goats: U.S. to let airlines limit service animals
Miniature horses still up for discussion
Washington | Reuters — The U.S. Transportation Department on Wednesday proposed giving airlines the power to bar emotional support animals from cabins and limit the definition of a service animal to a trained dog. The proposed new rules are aimed at preventing passengers from falsely claiming their pets are service animals aboard U.S. airline flights. […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
