Selling Points

Significant economic opportunities await producers raising meat goats, according to University of Illinois Extension meat goat specialist Dick Cobb.

“Population projections predict an increase of 100 million people in this country by 2040. Much of this growth will be due to the increase of Hispanic and Islamic populations with much of it in Illinois centered on Chicago. Both of these groups enjoy goat meat.”

The University of Illinois, Western Illinois University, and Southern Illinois University are working with producers to develop a sustainable Illinois meat goat industry. The Illinois Meat Goat Producers Association is hosting a buck test in July, 2009, to identify bucks that can convert feed to meat protein efficiently.

The test station will be at WIU’s Agricultural Research facilities in Macomb. Bucks must be delivered to the test station on July 18, 2009. Following a six-day adjustment period, the 84-day confinement test begins. It concludes Oct. 16. Test candidates must be born between Feb. 20 and April 20, 2009.

The test will evaluate and compare test bucks in a common environment for average daily gain, feed efficiency, and other factors. For more information contact: WIU-bucktest@attglobal.net or call Paul Miller (217) 322-4687 or Jennifer Miller (217) 688-2043.

Source: University of Illinois College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences

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