About AGF

The American Goat Federation works to unify, improve and advance the American goat industry in an effort to assist producers achieve maximum success. AGF represents the interests of more than 150 organizations and thousands of producers engaged in the sustainable production and marketing of goat milk, meat, fiber, breeding stock and grazing services across the United States. The American Dairy Goat Association, American Boer Goat Association and the Texas Sheep and Goat Raisers are all members of AGF. Members of AGF can participate in government and research surveys that can affect the goat industry, receive reduced fees for AGF Seminars, and help support various activities of other goat-related organizations. AGF promotes the development of all segments of the goat industry including dairy, meat and fiber, by encouraging sound public policy, enhancing production and marketing of goat products, and promoting research beneficial to our member organizations and all producers. Read More

USDA News

  • USDA will begin implementing the following goals for animal disease traceability this year.
    The agency will work with states and industry.
    > Advance electronic sharing of data among federal and state animal health officials, veterinarians and industry, including sharing basic animal disease traceability data with the federal animal health events repository.
    > Use electronic ID tags for animals requiring individual identification to make the transmission of data more efficient.
    > Enhance the ability to track animals from birth to slaughter through a system that allows tracking data points to be connected.
    > Elevate the discussion with states and industry to work toward a system where animal health officials.
  • President Trump donated his First Quarter Salary to USDA. In a statement, Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue said the donation - along with Trump's regulatory reform and trade deal negotiation effort - "further illustrates President Trump's affection for farmers and ranchers."

MISSION STATEMENT

The American Goat Federation promotes and facilitates the development of all segments of the goat industry including dairy,  meat and fiber,  by encouraging sound public policy, enhancing production and marketing of goat products, and promoting research beneficial to our member organizations and all producers.

Approved 1-23-10 Nashville ASI Meeting

 

~~~ IT'S TIME FOR THE 2019 NATIONAL GOAT STUDY ~~~

USDA representatives will begin contacting selected goat producers to participate in the 2019 National Goat Study next month.

Only those producers who have 5 or more goats and who have provided information for the Census of AG surveys sent out for the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) will be selected to participate.

Not all states are participating. This map shows those states (the ones in green) where producers may be contacted.

If you are in a Gray state, you will Not be contacted.


If you are contacted, it is important for you to participate.

What Do You Get???
Producers who participate in both the first and second questionnaire, get:

  • Fecal egg count reduction test results for gastrointestinal Parasites
  • Scrapie resistant genotyping
  • Culture results for presence of Salmonella, E. coli, Giardia, Campylobacter, and Cryptosporidium

Your information will be strictly guarded and kept confidential.
Only anonymous summary results will be made available in reports that will benefit goat producers with goat health and management topics.

What does the American Goat Industry Get??
Summary results will be published in informational sheets and in-depth reports addressing important goat health and management topics will be available to producers on the NAHMS website.

To learn more, visit NAHMS

News of Note

  • Earlier this year, the U.S. House Natural Resource Committee
    approved legislation introduced by congresesmen Sean Duffy (Wisconsin) and Dan Newhosue (Washington) that would return management of gray wolves to state control.
  • Senator Bill Sasse (Nebraska)
    reintroduced the Transporting Livestock Across America Safety Act, saying that the one-size-fits-all federal regulations endanger the health and welfare of livestock.
  • First Responders in Virginia are set to learn about handling livestock during natural or man-made disasters. the Virginia State Animal Response Team is offering two days of training geared towards animal control officers, police and fire professionals, veterinary professionals and Virginia cooperative extension agents.
  • Women on the Farm
    A 2007 census showed 2 out of every 10 farms in the United States were run by women. the latest agriculture census in 2017 showed that 1/3 were women. snd that 56 percent of all farms had at least one female decision maker.

AGF introduced new Member Services

  • Free Marketing Page on the AGF Website for marketing Goats and Goat Products that will link to Goatzz.com where the information will also appear. AGF has partnered with Goatzz.com to create a stronger goat industry through our combined marketing efforts. Goatzz is an internet site run by Openherd.com. AGF is offering on-site searching of member farms and member goats for sale, with each AGF member getting their own farm profile, plus other things and it is all free. Read More
  • Free excel-based Goat Production Recordkeeping and Performance Program for
    recording information about members' goats. The program, called Goat Herd Improvement Program (GHIP) was developed by Dr. Ken Andries of Kentucky State University, a member of our Advisory Council and Past President of AGF. AGF will personalize the program for each producer so they only have to see and record the information that is important to them. Format includes all information required by the Scrapie Eradication Program. Read More
  • Upgrade to Go360 bioTrack Program, an advanced Recordkeeping & Performance Program designed and maintained by AgSights. AGF has partnered with AgSights to offer the Go360 bioTrack Program to our members for a discount off the price through February 28, 2020. Read More

Scrapie Eradication Program

Scrapie is a fatal, degenerative disease and costs sheep and goat producers over $20 million dollars each year through production losses, increased cost and loss of export revenue.

Upcoming Events

  • June 9-14, 2019: American Boer Goat Association (ABGA) National Show, Grand Island, Nebraska. Read More
  • July 6-13, 2019: American Dairy Goat Association (ADGA) National Show, Redmond, Oregon. Read More
  • July 25-27, 2019: "Soil to Table" New York Grass Extravaganza, at Suny Cobleskill, Cobleskill, New York. Read More
  • August 16-17, 2019: Texas Sheep & Goat Expo, First Community Spur Arena, San Angelo, Texas. Read More
  • September 13-14, 2019: Spanish Goat Gathering, Lane Agri Center, Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Read More
  • October 4-5, 2019: NKR's Corn Country Commercial Goat Conferenc, Harrison County Fairgrounds, Corydon, Indiana. Read More
  • October 15-17, 2019: 9th Annual Antibiotic Symposium, National Institute of Animal Agriculture, Ames Iowa. Read More
  • October 15-20, 2019: American Dairy Goat Association National Convention, Boise, Idaho. Read More
  • October 30-November 2, 2019: FFA National Convention, Indianapolis, Indiana. Read More
  • November 9-10, 2019: Small Ruminant Management & Fiber Conference, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY. Read More
  • January 22-25, 2020: American Sheep Industry Annual Convention, Scottsdale, Arizona.
 

Coxiellosis,Commonly Referred to as Q Fever

Q Fever is a highly contagious, chronic disease in goats, sheep and cattle. It causes abortion storms in goats, often without any sign of problems before the abortions begin. Although affected does become immune, they shed the bacteria at high levels for years afterwards, particularly during birth and in their milk.

Q Fever is contagious to humans and that puts livestock producers, veterinarians and others who come into close contact with birthing small ruminants at risk. In addition, anyone can become infected just by breathing contaminated air, often miles away from the source. Although the acute form of Q Fever just causes flu-like symptoms in humans, the chronic form can be deadly.

READ MORE about the Hidden Menace of Q Fever

Please Help Us Grow the Goat Industry

AGF needs your membership and support so we can continue to meet the needs of all producers and relay information about goat producers' concerns and challenges to the USDA and others who make decisions that affect our industry. With the exception of a few grants; sponsors, membership fees, and donations fund the programs we provide and the expense of representing the interest of all goat producers in the United States. Whether you are part of an organization with twenty or hundreds of members; or an individual producer; or a business or organization that provides products or services to goat owners.
Its easy, its affordable, and its rewarding. With YOUR help, we can achieve our mutual goals.
Volunteer to Serve on a Committee and be an active participant in AGF activities.
As an Industry Partner Your Donation will help AGF provide services to all segments of the goat industry and support research projects beneficial to all goat producers.
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American Goat Federation © 2018                                 The American Goat Federation is a 501 (c)(5) Nonprofit Organization                 Office Hours: 10am - 5pm (eastern time) Mon thru Fri

MEMBER: National Institute for Animal Agriculture (NIAA) ~~~ United States Animal Health Association (USAHA) ~~~ International Goat Association (IGA)
On the Executive Board of the American Sheep Industry Association (ASI)
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