Research

Research Committee
Randy Dusek
Tom Boyer
Anita Dahnke

AGF pic for newsletterThe research function of the American Goat Federation (AGF) is carried out within the guidelines of the by-laws and policy positions of the Federation. The Federation woks hand-in-hand with the American Goat Initiative and makes recommendations to influence the research agenda of land grant universities, USDA agricultural research service and other institutions or agencies to focus on biological, economic and social issues that impact on efficient production and profitable marketing of goat milk, meat, fiber and vegetation control services, as well as the safety of goat products.

This effort is part of the Mission of AGF to help grow the goat industry and assist producers in ways that improve production, decrease input cost and gain recognition when it comes to programs, research and funding for goat producers.

More Information about AGI

RFID SCRAPIE ID TAG FIELD TRIAL

Conducted as part of a Cooperative Agreement
between the American Goat Federation and USDA/APHIS

The RFID Scrapie ID Tag Field Trial is a 3 year study of the reliability and usefulness of prototype EID Tags provided by tag manufacturers.
 

Vaccine Development Roundtable


 American Goat Initiative
    Tom Boyer, President - AGF: Director
    Randy Dusek, Trustee - AGF: President - American Boer Goat Assoc: Director
 American Goat Federation
    Bob Buchholz, Past President & Director - Texas Sheep & Goat Raisers Assoc: Representative
    Dr. Gary Newton, Vice President - International Goat Center - Prairie View Univ: Head
    Jan Carlson, Director - American Dairy Goat Assoc: Representative
    Tammy Fisher, Director - Public Policy Committee Chair
    Anita Dahnke, Executive Director
    Dr. Reid Redden, Advisory Council - Texas A&M Agri Life Extension Svc:
    Dr. Stephen White, Advisory Council - USDA/ARS; Research Geneticist
    Dr. Natalie Urie, Advisory Council - USDA/NAHMS; Veterinary Medical Officer
    Dr. Roselle Busch, Advisory Council - UC Davis Univ: Extension Sheep & Herd Health Prod: Specialist
 American Sheep Industry Association
    Peter Orwick, Executive Director
    Benny Cox, President
 United States Animal Health Association
    Benjamin Richey, Executive Director
 Texas Sheep & Goat Raisers Association
    Victoria Powers, Executive Director
 Idaho Wool Growers
    Naomi Gordon, Director
 Canadian Sheep Federation
    Corlena Patterson, Executive Director
    Allan Ribink, Chairman
 Colorado Serum Company
    Dr. Randall Berrier, Senior VP; Scientific Affairs
    Dr. Joe Huff, Founder
 Moredun Research Institute
    Dr. David Smith, developer of the barberpole worm vaccine
 National Institute of Antimicrobial Resistance Research & Education
    Dr. Paul Plummer, Executive Director - Iowa State Univ: Assoc Professor
 United States Department of Agriculture [USDA]
    Dr. Diane Sutton, USDA/APHIS/VS; Assistant Director RHC Small Ruminant Health
    Kim Royer, USDA/Farm SVC Agency; Executive Director - Idaho Sheep & Goat Health Board
 Universities
    Dr. Joan Dean Rowe, UC Davis University; Professor of Population, Health & Reproduction
    Dr. Jim Miller, Louisiana State University; Retired
    Dr. Cynthia Wolf, University of Minnesota; Assistant Professor of Veterinary Medicine
    Larry Campbell
 

Vaccine Needs Survey Results

AGF Member Organizations, Individual Members and Affiliate Members were given the opportunity to provide feedback on vaccines needed for the goat industry. The results are shown below.
Meat/Fiber Industry Vaccine LIST
Haemonchus (Barberpole worm)*
Coxiella (Q Fever)*
Sore Mouth
Foot Rot
EEE
Mastitis

Dairy Industry Vaccine LIST
Highest Priority
• Coxiella (Q Fever)*
• Haemonchus (Barber Pole)*
Priority
• Respiratory disease
• Johnes
• Toxoplasma

General Vaccine LIST
Vaccines that would be welcomed but pose specific challenges that may not be overcome
• Coccidia
• CAE

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.