Northeast Livestock Export Program (Phase III)

Northeast Livestock Export Program (Phase III)

Summary

This is a continuation of Ms. Ratcliff’s two previous grants, FNE96-149 and FNE97-180, concerning promotion of exports of goats and goat semen from the Northeast U.S.

Ms. Ratcliff has put three years into this effort, and is starting to see some results. With the help of several other goat farmers, and others, she has:
- compiled a list of some 200 breeders in the New York-New England area who have quality animals and semen available for export;
- established a quarantine and semen collection operation in Schenectady, New York;
- put together data sheets and a color catalogue of the animals whose semen is for sale;
- familiarized herself with the relevant health regulations of several countries;
- made several mass mailings to prospective customers in various parts of the world;
- consummated several sales to Canada, Mexico, and Taiwan;
- lined up other possible sales.

Ms. Ratcliff has established contact with many breeders, goat associations, charitable organizations, cheese-makers, U.S. agricultural attachés, and others, often by means of the Internet. Prospects for further sales seemed very good indeed, until the current economic depression took hold in East Asia, South America, and other parts of the world. Ms. Ratcliff remains confident, however, as the economies in these regions appear to be starting to recover.