Goat Gossip

Things change. Season’s change, which is evident with the beautiful fall colors we are seeing this time of year and the coolness of the days and nights. Folk’s lives change with the passing of time and the birth of children and the passing of Loved Ones to the Lord and our own natural aging.

I know you all have heard me say that the goat industry is changing, probably so much that you’re ready for me to shut up about it. But I can’t. I am concerned that our industry is sliding down a slippery slope. It is better for everyone to face the facts now rather act like the proverbial ostrich and stick our heads in the sand and ignore our problems.

Have you all been to a production sale lately? I have and I surely didn’t like what I saw. At numerous sales I saw a lot of worried looks on producers’ faces when folks wouldn’t even attempt to bid the minimum on many fine goats that folks would have been proud to step into the show ring with 2-3 years ago. Many sellers at these sales “get it” when they understand that folks just aren’t paying top dollars for stock unless they are quality animals. They aren’t bringing trash and they are getting tired of folks trying to steal their treasures so they PO them. I overheard more than one producer say that they would rather eat them than give them away!

What does this trend indicate to you? Well, when I removed my rose-colored glasses and contemplated on this I came to the realization that the industry is in decline. I watch the monies that goats are bringing at the sale barns, production sales, and private treaty sales, when folks are buying, and I see the downright stagnation in prices.

I see a decline in the interest of folks wanting to join the goat industry because after looking into it they can see that there is no clear way to make a healthy profit. I like to say that we, as producers, are selling each other the same goats with different skins on them!

Along with the decline in sales and producers is the decline in goat breeders associations. Participation in events is down and so are income from renewals and fees. With the decline in renewals and fees and new memberships comes the decline in operating monies. Services provided by each association continue to decline in quality because costs remain constant or rise and each association is scrambling for ways to maintain these services.

It’s hard to remain optimistic and think of innovative ways to maintain growth in our industry. Maybe with the New Year we will see an invigoration in the industry and a positive effort to begin to grow again. Let’s all strive to sit back and reflect and renew our resolve during the Holidays and get the goat industry back on an even keel.

The ETGRA is having a raffle for a portable hayrack. Tickets are $5 each or 6 for $25. The hayrack was made by Greg Ashabranner and consists of three pieces. It can be assembled by one person in about five minutes and holds one square bale of hay. The hayrack is easy to move from pasture to pasture as you rotate your herd. The winning ticket will be drawn at the January, 2010 general membership meeting. Tickets will be sold at all association events. Tickets may also be purchased by mail, please include your name, address, contact phone number. Make checks payable to ETGRA and mail to P O Box 152937; Lufkin, Texas75915, for info go to www.etgra.com

The next NETGRA event will be the Christmas Party, Saturday, Dec. 12th - 6-10pm @ The Lodge in Sulphur Springs - 1026 E. I-30. Take Exit 127 - 1.6 miles East of Best Western on South Service Road. There will be Dinner @ 7pm - Door Prizes will be awarded.

That’s all I have for now. If you have any goat gossip then call 903-388-8528 or e-mail clwyer@gmail.com. Bye, for now.