First post as a goat owner-baby was born July 4th and Q's

[ksj0225]

4-H requires ALL goats that are shown to be hornless--dairy, pet, meat, or pack/cart projects. Doesn't make a lot of sense to me since most meat and pack goat owners want horns on their animals, but I guess they're more worried about safety of the children involved.

You should really check with your area 4-H, our meat goats just need to be blunted, not hornless.

 

[helmstead]

You should really check with your area 4-H, our meat goats just need to be blunted, not hornless.

Dairy goats must be hornless...as a rule. Be it 4H or open shows.

4H does vary by region and supply/demand. For instance, until this year, our county 4H show didn't include Nigerians in its dairy group. The reason being there were NO Nigerians in the area before we moved here from GA. This year, local families bought from us, and now there will be Nigerians in the Dairy Group.

In some areas, Meat Goats are king, so that's what the 4H show has.

My county has Meat Goats under one group, Dairy Goats in a group, and then Pygmies in their own group (judged as meat goats, but obviously it would be unfair to show them against Boers). Here, too, the dairy does do have to be registered, and they recommend registration for the wethers, but exhibitors can show on applications as long as the tattoo corresponds with the application. Otherwise wethers must be iris scanned and ear tagged.

 

[Mama2B&D&nowgoatstoo]

Thanks so much everyone Were nervous, lots to learn and I tend to be a perfectionist so I drive myself crazy wanting to learn EVERYthing and know some might just come with time, but were really excited! Thanks for that website too and the helpful 4-H info...there's a wealth of info here! At least I have you all!

 

[ksj0225]

Otherwise wethers must be iris scanned and ear tagged.

Iris scanning, how cool! The meat goat wethers for state have to be "nose printed" here. I laughed out loud the first time I heard that!!!

 

[helmstead]

The meat goat wethers for state have to be "nose printed" here. I laughed out loud the first time I heard that!!!

Wha? LOL!! I just LOL too!

 

[ksj0225]

Yup, North Carolina state fair wethers have to be nose printed about a month before fair.