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Goat Yoga: Preliminary Implications for Health, Agriculture, and 4-H
| Contributor(s):: Laura E. Balis, Chance Marshall, Alix Malcolm, Samantha M. Hardin
Goat yoga, an event that combines yoga and interactions with goats, may serve as a cross-initiative program that can promote both health and agriculture. This article describes the potential impact of goat yoga and the results of a pilot program. Adult attendees of the pilot event completed a...
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Small Ruminants: Farmers' Hope in a World Threatened by Water Scarcity
| Contributor(s):: Oluwakamisi F. Akinmoladun, Voster Muchenje, Fabian N. Fon, Conference T. Mpendulo
The availability and sustainability of suitable and good quality drinking water is a global concern. Such uncertainties threaten livestock production with an attendant ripple effect on food security. Small ruminants, including sheep and goats, appear to be promising to smallholder farmers in...
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Effects of Environmental Enrichment on Behavior in a Domestic Goat Herd
| Contributor(s):: Stephanie Peramas
Animal welfare is one of the most important parts of animal management. Apart from other measures of good animal welfare, like being in good health, animal behavior can be indicative of the animal’s internal state and is often one of the first signs of improper welfare. Stereotypies, or...
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Antibiotic Use on Goat Farms: An Investigation of Knowledge, Attitudes, and Behaviors of Missouri Goat Farmers
| Contributor(s):: Lauren K. Landfried, Ellen K. Barnidge, Patrick Pithua, Roger D. Lewis, Jonathan Jacoby, Christopher C. King, Carole R. Baskin
Use of low dose, prophylactic antibiotics contributes to the emergence of antibiotic resistant bacteria. In one study, goat meat in Missouri was found to have a higher percentage of antibiotic residues at slaughter than the national average, so we attempted to identify factors related to goat...
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Goats display audience-dependent human-directed gazing behaviour in a problem-solving task
| Contributor(s):: Christian Nawroth, Jemma M. Brett, Alan G. McElligott
Domestication is an important factor driving changes in animal cognition and behaviour. In particular, the capacity of dogs to communicate in a referential and intentional way with humans is considered a key outcome of how domestication as a companion animal shaped the canid brain. However, the...
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One Health approach to controlling a Q fever outbreak on an Australian goat farm
| Contributor(s):: K.A. Bond, G. Vincent, C.R. Wilks, L. Franklin, B. Sutton, J. Stenos, R. Cowan, K. Lim, E. Athan, O. Harris, L. Macfarlane-Berry, Y. Segal, S.M. Firestone
A recent outbreak of Q fever was linked to an intensive goat and sheep dairy farm in Victoria, Australia, 2012-2014. Seventeen employees and one family member were confirmed with Q fever over a 28-month period, including two culture-positive cases. The outbreak investigation and management...
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What Extension Personnel Should Know About Midwestern Goat Producers
| Contributor(s):: Kelsey F. Cole, Catherine Hoegeman, Benjamin M. Onyango, Jodie A. Pennington, Charlotte A. Clifford-Rathert, Elizabeth L. Walker
The growth of the goat industry has created opportunities for producers looking for a profitable alternative enterprise. Little is known about goat production or educational needs of producers in Missouri and Arkansas. A survey of goat producers in Missouri and Arkansas addressed farm...
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Heartland Farm Sanctuary
Heartland Farm Sanctuary, which opened in 2010, is a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping homeless farm animals in Wisconsin, and building connections between animals and vulnerable youth. We created Heartland to provide a safe, peaceful environment where youth and farm animals...
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Producer Perceptions of Food-Borne and Zoonotic Diseases: Sheep and Goats
| Contributor(s):: Paula Menzies
Work with the community and producers to understand perceptions of food-borne and zoonotic disease issues in the industry. Use this research to develop preferred knowledge translation methods to address needs and concerns.
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Managing Livestock Using Animal Behavior: Mixed Species Stocking and Flerds
| Contributor(s):: Ed L. Frederickson
Mixed-species stocking can foster sound landscape management while offering economic and ecological advantages compared with mono-species stocking. Producers contemplating a mixed-species enterprise should reflect on several considerations before implementing this animal management strategy....
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Animal welfare considerations in small ruminant breeding specifications. (Animals and their welfare)
| Contributor(s):: El-Balaa, R., Marie, M.
After satisfying their quantitative and qualitative needs with regarding nutrition, consumers in developed countries are becoming more involved in the ethical aspects of food production, especially when it relates to animal products. Social demands for respecting animal welfare in housing systems...
