CLIVE, Alta. — Meindert and Johanna Dijkstra were nearing home around 10:30 p.m. Feb. 4 after being out for the evening. As the couple got closer to their farm, set in the hills a few kilometres southeast of Clive, they wondered at the orange glow in the night sky. Upon turning south at their range […] Read more
Tag Archives goats
Anyone up for a goat yoga class?
Participants benefit from the physical therapy of yoga and the ‘mental therapy’ of being with cuddly dwarf goats
MAPLE CREEK, Sask. — Yoga practitioners are familiar with downward dog, but downward goat? Yoga goat classes are now underway at the Downward Goat in a barn at Grotto Gardens in Maple Creek, Sask. There, people can combine the physical therapy of yoga with the “mental therapy” of being around dwarf goats. Dana Hassett, who […] Read more
Climate change puts parasites on watch list
Treatments lacking for goats | Intestinal parasites are becoming more common with longer, wet springs
Climate change could affect how parasites affect goat herds, says veterinarian Dr. Chris Clark. The Saskatchewan winter climate didn’t support much parasite survival until five years ago, the Western College of Veterinary Medicine professor told the Saskatchewan Goat Breeders Association annual meeting. “Things are changing,” he said. “Yes, the environment here is good (to raise […] Read more
Ontario demand drives dairy goat expansion
Top North American producer | Goat milk is not under supply management so herd expansion is not restricted
SARNIA, Ont. — Ontario is a hotbed for North America’s dairy goat industry, and it is getting bigger. “We’ve taken on another 15 members over the past year,” said Coby Tenvoorde, general manager of the Ontario Dairy Goat Co-operative. “Demand is growing so fast it’s been hard to keep up.” The co-op, which has 110 […] Read more
Goat producers asked to submit heads of animals
Scrapie surveillance | Officials hope to better understand disease
Don’t tell the postal and courier services, but certain people are hoping more goat heads are shipped through the system as producers provide samples for scrapie testing. Sample collection is part of the National TSE Eradication Plan, and goat producers have until March 31 to voluntarily provide heads from animals at least 12 months old […] Read more
International expansion comes with a price tag
Demand grows Goat and dairy industry must promote food safety, traceability, says industry expert
PONOKA, Alta. — Canadian goat producers are in the same place beef producers were a dozen years ago when they hotly debated the need for a national identification program. Producers want to know why the government should know their private business and why they should have to pay for approved tags rather than use their […] Read more
‘Goat stuff’ hard to find; ingenuity essential
Modify and improvise | Rancher explains how to raise goats without spending a lot of money by using what’s on hand
JANSEN, Sask. — Producers who plan to raise goats have to be flexible, says producer Brian Payne. That means making the best use of the equipment that is available and improvising, said Payne, owner of Caprina Farm & Ranch. “It’s hard to find goat stuff,” he told a recent tour of his operation near Jansen, […] Read more
