MSA - MODEL STATE PROGRAM – Mississippi State University SARE PROGRAM ASSISTANT 2024-2025

Project Overview

SMS24-A01
Project Type: PDP State Program
Funds awarded in 2024: $33,000.00
Projected End Date: 06/30/2025
Grant Recipient: Department of Animal & Dairy Sciences at Mississippi State University
Region: Southern
State: Mississippi
State Coordinators:
Dr. Leyla Rios
Email
Department of Animal & Dairy Sciences at Mississippi State University
Co-Coordinators:
Dr. Franklin Chukwuma
Email
Alcorn State University

Commodities

No commodities identified

Practices

No practices identified

Proposal abstract:

Sustainable Meat Goat Production in the Southeast will be achieved through the Southeastern Buck Performance Test, which aims to improve the profitability of the meat goat industry in the region by the improvement of meat goat genetics. This test will be conducted in 2024 and 2025 for the 2nd and 3rd time in South Mississippi. Expecting more than 100 bucks to take part, the pilot test of 2023 had 89 bucks from 45 farms from 14 states. Most of the goat meat we eat in the U.S. comes from abroad, with this test, we will hopefully be able to one day help meet the demand for goat meat in the U.S. with domestic products. That means more people coming into this business will have a place for their products. The test has three primary goals: to help identify genetics that produce a salable carcass by feeding forages commonly available in the region; to help improve resistance or resilience to internal parasites, which is the number one challenge for goat producers in Mississippi; and to determine the effect of heat stress. Measuring these important variables will allow meat goat production in the southeast to be more sustainable. Dr. Leyla Rios (PI) and Dr. Barbara Roqueto do Reis will be supervising this experience with farmers as part of their extension and research programs.

Project objectives from proposal:

  1. Sustainable Practices for Small Ruminant Farmers: Taking the Lab to the Farm.
  2. FAMACHA
  3. Small ruminant workshop
  4. Train the trainers
  5. Field day for Kiko Buck test
Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the U.S. Department of Agriculture or SARE.