Jackson 4-H Hosts Goat Nutrition and Health Workshop

The Jackson County 4-H program offered a one-day workshop on goat nutrition and health on July 13^th at the Jackson County Ag Complex on Penn Avenue. This informative program was designed to educate youth and adults in the area of goat health and nutrition and was sponsored in part by Jeffers Pet in Dothan, Alabama. Jeffers supplied take-home items and supplies for a “goat emergency kit” that was given away at the conclusion of the workshop.

Guest speakers Angela McKenzie-Jakes and Dr. Robert Purvis, DVM from the Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University Research Farm were present to provide information and answer questions on selection, housing, marketing, nutrition and overall animal health. Other topics included toxin identification, emergency care and how to prepare a “goat emergency kit”.

Representatives from the Jackson and Gadsden Soil and Water Conservation Districts, Tom Batey and Rachelanne Cleveland were on hand to help producers with questions regarding their goat operations, as was Environmental Consultant Kathryn Holland with the Office of Agricultural Water Policy, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

Future workshops regarding goat production and health are planned. For more information regarding goats or other 4-H programs, please contact Angel Granger, Jackson County 4-H Agent at (850) 482-9620 or amgranger@ufl.edu.

0