About the Program	Training Dates	Map to Facility
Certification  Track	Hotel Reservations	Directions to Facility
Non-Certication Track	Registration Fees and Deadlines	Registration Forms
Training Team	Contact Person

The Goat Industry

Today new business opportunities exist for farm families to diversify their farm operations and to explore alternative enterprises to increase their income. In the U.S., meat goat production has quickly become one of the fastest growing livestock industries Persistence among ethnic consumers in maintaining their religious or cultural practices has increased demand for goat meat. Because of demand, new and established producers have consistently expressed a need for information on how to raise healthy, productive animals. Recognizing this need, Florida A&M University, Cooperative Extension Program established the Master Goat Producer’s Certification Program in 2007 and sheep production and management was incorporated into the curriculum in 2008.

Program Objective

The objective of this program is to provide educational training opportunities in small ruminant production, mananagement and marketing to producers, agricultural professionals and students to assist in building a viable and sustainable goat and sheep industry in the state of Florida.


About the Program

This program is for beginning and advanced goat and sheep producers. To become certified as a Master Goat or Sheep Producer you must attend every class, take the pre-test, take the post test and pass with a score of 70% or above and pass an on-farm inspection. To become eligible for certificaition as an Advanced Master Goat Producer (only available for goat producers), you must pass a second on-farm inspection and pass the web-based goat certification course hosted on Langston University's website. We also offer a non-certification track for those producers, students or agricultural professionals who want to participate in the training activities, but are not interested in becoming certified. Individuals that take the non-certification track will not be required to have an on-farm inspection.The Master Goat and Sheep Producer’s Certification Program is a comprehensive training program which offers classes in the following areas:

• The Goat and Sheep Industry
• Marketing
• Establishing a Facilty (i.e., fencing, shelters, holding pens)
• Herd Health Management

• Dead Animal Disposal
• Bio-security and Food Safety

• Nutrition and Pasture Management

• Silvo-Pasture Production Systems

• Predator Control
• Reproduction and Breeding Management

• Disaster Preparedness

• Bioterroism Awareness
• Developing Enterprise Budgets
• Business Management and Development
• Risk Management (i.e, Financial, Production and Marketing)
• Selecting and Evaluating Breeding Stock
• Hands-on Training (FAMACHA training, hoof trimming, microscopic fecal  examinations etc.)

The Master Goat and Sheep Producer’s Certification Program is a joint initiative between the Cooperative Extension Program at Florida A&M University, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, University of Florida and the Southeastern Small Farmer’s Network.

Training Dates:

The Master Goat and Sheep Certification program is a 4 day training program. The training dates for this year are May 14th-15th, 2010 and May 28th-29th, 2010. The program will be held at Florida A&M University's Research and Extension Center in Quincy, Florida from 8:00 - 4:00pm everyday except on May 29th, 2010, the class will begin at 8:00am and end at 5:00pm.

Directions to Training Facility:
The training facility is located at Florida A&M University, Research and Extension Center, 4252 Bainbridge Hwy., Quincy, FL. 32352. Click here for map to center.

Travel east on I-10 from the Mariana area, exit on Exit 181 (SR-267 N) toward Quincy. Turn left off the exit. Make a right onto US-90 (W. Jefferson St.). Turn left on Adams street, continue to follow this street for 6 miles. Florida A&M University, Research and Extension center will be on the left behind a white fence.

Travel west on I-10 from the Tallahassee area, exit on Exit 180 (90 hwy.) toward Quincy. Turn right off the exit onto US-90 west. Stay on 90 hwy. west into Quincy, FL. Turn right on Adams street, continue to follow this street for 6 miles. Florida A&M University, Research and Extension center will be on the left. For a map to the facility click here.

Hotel Information:

For hotel reservations, call Parkway Inn 1-850-627-4633 in Quincy, Florida. The rooms are blocked under the name Goat Program. The group rate for a single or double bed is $65.69 (includes tax)/ night. The deadline for hotel reservations for the first training dates (May 14th-15th) is April 15th, 2010. The deadline for hotel reservations for the second training dates (May 28th-29th, 2010) is April 28th, 2010. The hotel is located on 75 Spooner road. For a map to the hotel click here.

Training Team Members