The American Goat Federation represents the interests of more than 150,000 producers engaged in the sustainable production and marketing of goat milk, meat, fiber, breeding stock, pack goat and grazing services across the United States. Members of member organizations can join AGF as Individual members at a discounted rate. Each member organization has an individual membership for one of their members or directors as well as the opportunity to have a representative serve on the AGF Board of Directors. Individual and Affiliate members of AGF can participate in government and research surveys that can affect the goat industry, receive reduced fees for AGF Seminars, access free marketing and other programs for AGF members, and help support various activities of other goat-related organizations. Read More
The USDA ARS division (Agricultural Research Service) has been very responsive to American Goat Federation requests for research that will assist American goat producers. Thanks to their efforts we have Scrapie Resistance Genetic Testing available to the goat industry - the same type of testing that allowed the sheep industry to clean scrapie-susceptible sheep from their flocks. We also have been informed that ARS is working on development of a vaccine for Coxiellosis (Q Fever) for goats. It has become apparent that Coxiellosis is endemic in goats and can cause the loss of an entire kid crop and the goats that become infected recover but continue to shed the bacteria in large amounts making it possible to infect other goats and humans. ARS is also working on a vaccine for worms in sheep and will continue that work for goats when complete. These are just a few current things ARS is doing for the goat industry.
AGF 2021 SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM FOR GOAT INDUSTRY YOUTH
$1,000 Scholarships Available for ages 17-21
$500 Scholarships Available for ages 12-16
[funded by a Cooperative Agreement with USDA/APHIS]

Application accompanied by a short biography must be postmarked or emailed by May 1, 2021.
Project must be received at the AGF office and postmarked or emailed by July 1, 2021.

PURPOSE:
To encourage education and development of youth involved in the goat industry and who hold a current membership, or whose parents or guardians are members in The American Goat Federation or any of its member organizations.

MEMBER ORGANIZATIONS:  Alabama Meat Goat & Sheep Producers, American Boer Goat Association, American Dairy Goat Association, American Kiko Goat Association, Cashmere Goat Association, Hawaii Sheep & Goat Association, Nebraska Goat Producers Association, North American Pack Goat Association, Texas Sheep & Goat Raisers Association] Find out More

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

Upcoming Events

  • March 6, 2021: Small Farms for Sheep & Goats Webinar, Michigan State University Extension. Register by March 5 at: form.jotform.com/201194055067047
  • March 25, 2021: Texas A&M Agrilife Livestock Guardian Dog Nutrition & Feeding Webinar, MORE INFO
  • April 21-22, 2021: National Institute for Animal Agriculture 2021 Annual Conference. This will be a virtual event. Registration for Members is $75.00, Non-members $175.00 and Students $25.00. More information available on the NIAA website.
  • April 21, 2021: Designing Your Sheep & Goat Grazing System, Webinar. More Info
  • June 2-6, 2021: Midwest Buck Sale & Seminar, Sedalia Missouri. More Info
  • July 15-17, 2021: American Meat Goat Classic, Greenfield, Indiana. More Info
  • August 20-21, 2021: Texas A&M San Angelo Field Day and Seminars, San Angelo, Texas. More Info Later.
  • September 19-20, 2021: National Goat conference, Prairie View A&M University, Texas, More Info Later
  • November 2-4, 2021: National Institute for Animal Agriculture 11th Annual Antibiotic Symposium, Kansas City, Kansas: This is planned to be an in-person event. Registration for Members is $385.00, Non-members is $435.00, and Students is $50.00/day.
  • November 8-14, 2021: American Dairy Goat Association Convention, Tuscon, Arizona. American Goat Federation will hold a meeting at the Convention also. More Info Later.
  • December 6-9, 2021: 8th National Grazing Lands Conference, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina: More Info

The AMERICAN GOAT INITIATIVE

AGF believes there is a significant need for a national center for goat research and education, similar to the National Sheep Industry Improvement Center. After extensive research and discussions with federal government officials it became apparent that federal funding like that that supports the NSIIC would not be available. In 2018, AGF received a substantial sum of seed money to establish a National Goat Center and that entity has been organized and registered with the Federal government. The name of the association is the American Goat Initiative (A.G.I.) and it is a 501 (c) 3 scientific research and educational nonprofit foundation able to accept tax deductible donations.
Mission: Advance the US Goat Industry through Education, Scientific Research and Collaboration.
Read More

AGF Member Services

  • Free Marketing Page for Goats and Goat Products on the AGF Website that links 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. On-site searching of member farms and member goats for sale is available. Each AGF member gets their own farm profile, plus other things and it is all free.
  • Free excel-based Goat Production Recordkeeping and Performance Program for recording information about members' goats. The program, GHIP-AGF (Goat Herd Improvement Program) was developed by Dr. Ken Andries of Kentucky State University, a member of our Advisory Council and Past President of AGF. The program is personalized for each producer, and the program includes all information required by the Scrapie Eradication Program.
  • Upgrade to Go360 bioTrack Program for discounted price, 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.
  • Opportunities to add opinions and needs to national surveys that determine how federal money is spent (money that comes from the taxes goat producers pay).
  • Opportunities to help find, initiate and support research that is beneficial to their operations.READ MORE

Industry News

  • FDA is accepting public comments on “Potential Approach for Defining Durations of Use for Medically Important Antimicrobial Drugs Intended for Use In or On Feed:" until April 12, 2021. To electronically submit comments to the docket, visit www.regulations.gov and type FDA-2016-D-2635 in the search box. To submit comments to the docket by mail, use the following address. Be sure to include docket number FDA-2016-D-2635 on each page of your written comments. Read More
  • USDA-ARS Researchers Introduce Treatment to Prevent Parasites in Sheep. The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Agriculture Research Service (ARS) has developed a groundbreaking treatment that prevents anemia, weight loss, poor wool and meat production, and even death in sheep. ARS researchers partnered with Virginia Tech and the University of Massachusetts' Medical School to solve H. contortus parasite infection (barberpole worm).Read More
  • Goatscaping has grown in popularity in recent years as an environmentally friendly way to clear overgrown lots. Covid-19 has boosted the demand. Goats can be on the job during lockdowns. Ms. Thompson turned to goats after New York City’s spring restrictions forced the park’s usual group of volunteers to stay home and left it full of weeds. Read More
  • Kansas State Univesity teams up with Boehringer Ingelheim to invest in the future of veterinary medicine Read More
  • Texas A&M AgriLife Extension has developed a network project to aid rural veterinary practices. The network will provide education and assistance with a goal of making rural veterinary practices sustainable. Read More
  • Bill Introduced to reform USDA/Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Read More
  • The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service delisted the gray wolf from the Endangered Species List for the second time in October and the action became effective earlier this month. The wolf was delisted before, but was returned to the list in 2014 by a federal judge as a result of pressure from environmental groups. The action by federal wildlife officials was praised by the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, the National Association of Conservation Districts, and the American Farm Bureau.
  • The California Bureau of Land Management is again using goats to knock down dry weeds, brush and grass in an effort to reduce fire hazards. The goats arrived last October and will be working through Spring, 2021.Read More
  • Sheep, Goat, and Cervid Medicine, 3rd Edition by Dr. David Pugh N. (Nickie) Baird Misty Edmondson and Thomas Passler
    contains practical answers on the care of sheep, goats, and cervids. It covers the latest advances in the field, including diseases and medical treatment, surgery, pain management, theriogenology, and nutrition. Read More
  • Secretary Perdue Announces Groundbreaking Proposal to Transfer Agricultural Animal Biotechnology Regulatory Framework to USDA Read More
  • The Tennessee Department of Agriculture announced on Thursday that it has received a $250,000 federal grant to help develop a rapid field test for two highly contagious livestock diseases, Senecavirus A and the virus that causes foot-and-mouth disease. Read More
  • Reproductive Performance in Goats in Australia Read the Study
  • the 2020 United States Animal Health Association resolutions are now available online. Read More
  • Case of Scrapie Confirmed in North Iceland Read More
  • National Animal Disease Preparedness and Response Program (NADPRP) 2020 Projects: View
  • National Animal Health Laboratory Network (NAHLN) 2020 Projects: View

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.