Kentucky State University and the University of Kentucky are combining efforts to further the goat industry in the Commonwealth.

On March 21 experts from both universities, as well as Oklahoma’s Langston University and Tennessee State joined forces at KSU’s Research Farm to pass on helpful information to Kentuckians interested in breeding and raising goats.

John Kramer of Owen County brought his two daughters, Rachelle and Melissa, to Goat Day at KSU so they would learn more about the industry their family is entering.

“It seems there are a lot of people getting into the goat industry,” he said. “We’ve got 23 at this time and we’re trying to see if we should bring in a boar goat to our herd.”

Kramer and his wife home school their daughters who were taking notes at the KSU event to use in writing reports for school work. They were also learning more about worming, tags, feed rations and markets. He said his family decided to raise goats for two reasons.

“We had to forget tobacco, so they [goats] serve a dual purpose,” he said. “It’s educational to a certain point and it is supplemental income. I can’t really have cattle because of the girls, but they can easily go out and manage a herd of goats.”

Rachelle and Michelle will be showing the goats as 4-H projects. Currently, goat shows are only county-level events, but the girls hope a state competition will be available soon. Kramer admitted the hardest thing about raising goats for them was fencing.

“If there is a little hole, they will climb through it,” he laughed. “The next thing you know, you’re chasing goats.”

Recently, UK hired Terry Hutchens to serve as Extension Associate for the goat program alongside Monty Chappell, current Extension Specialist for Sheep and Goats.

“I will be working with goats and goat producers around Kentucky,” Hutchens said. “I’ll also be doing some applied research to discover some things the goat industry needs specifically in Kentucky.”