It seems everyone is interested in raising meat goats, especially those who have a small farm.

These producers want to raise some livestock to make a little money to pay the taxes. They want the goats to teach their children how to do chores, and to save a little money for post-high school education.

Ohio State University Extension Enterprise Budgets suggest a doe might produce $120-$130 beyond the out-of-pocket expenses, if you wean, on average, 1.5 kids per doe. The budgets indicate that an average Ohio herd might be 25 does and a buck.

You can pasture as many as 10 does per acre for about 6.5 months. That, in my opinion, is a pretty good return per acre. If you are going to do this as more than a hobby, you need to learn as much as possible about the goats and how to care for them. You will have a great opportunity on June 22-23 in Wilmington, Ohio.

The Professional Meat Goat Symposium is the first of its kind in southern Ohio, designed for the commercial and seed stock producer. The program will begin on Friday, June 22 at 6 p.m. at the Wilmington College Farm, 1594 Fife Rd. in Wilmington.

The first presentation will be by Maria Leity Browning, Extension animal scientist from Alabama A&M University on “Spanish-Kiko-Boer: Which Combina-tion is Best?” Browning will present four years of performance data from the three meat breeds.

Presenters on Saturday, June 23 will be: Steve Hart, animal scientist from Langston University presenting “Doe Nutrition;” Dr. Browning presenting “Parasite Management;” and Mark Scarpitti, Amazing Graze Farm presenting “Forage Management.”

This will be a hands-on seminar to increase your learning opportunities. Vendors will be available to give you the opportunity to purchase supplies.  Hotel reservations are available for those wishing to spend the night.  For more information and registrations, go online at www.clinton.osu.edu or contact Tony Nye, Clinton County Extension at 937-382-0901.

The views and opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of Farm World. Readers with questions or comments for Steve Bartels may write to him in care of this publication.