IGA Blog

Presidential Inaugural Address, Japan Goat Network, March 2018

7/19/2019

During the Japan Goat Network (JGN) General Assembly held on November 4, 2017, I was appointed as the new President and successor of former President Akio Imai, who has served since 2005. The JGN currently has more than 600 members including individuals and organizations, so it is a comparably sized association to some other academic organizations in Japan, or even larger. Representing such a large and diverse group might seem like a burden; however, I am willing to fulfill my mission during this term.

The JGN was founded in 1999 and the National Goat Summit, one of the main activities, will celebrate its 20th anniversary this year. The greatest achievement that the JGN has been engaged in so far is revising the “Ministerial Ordinance on Component Standards of Milk and Dairy Products” (Food Sanitation Act, Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare Ordinance). For a long time, the Ministerial Ordinance constrained pasteurized goat milk production in Japan. In 2009, the JGN and the Japan Livestock Technology Association jointly requested a revision of sterilizing goat milk standards (milk fat contents 3.6% or more → 2.5% or more and milk solids nonfat 8.0% or more → 7.5% or more) to the Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare. After five years, the revision was finally approved through the Pharmaceutical Affairs and Food Sanitation Council Subcommittee on December 26, 2014.

Announcement: Japan Goat Network joins IGA

7/18/2019

We would like to welcome our newest IGA institutional member, the Japan Goat Network.

The Japan Goat Network (JGN) was founded in 1999 by researchers and producers who value goats and their products. The founders started with reviewing the goat utilization and promoting its production in Japan saying, “goats save the world.” Goats were one of the very important proteins and socio-economic resources in Japan during the reconstruction period after WWII. They also played a great role to reduce poverty in the world.

Vision
Promoting goats with love.

Mission
The JGN promotes goats in Japan through sharing and exchanging information on goat management and production, goat milk and meat processing, product marketing, and other goat utilizations such as vegetation control, juvenile emotional education, and as companion animals among researchers, producers, and consumers as well as goat lovers.

Survivability of Escherichia Coli in Commercial Powder Goat Milk during Four Months Storage at Two Different Temperatures

7/17/2019

Abstract
Bacteria in low moisture environments are not favorable for growth, but can survive and cause a possible food safety risk for consumers. A study was conducted to evaluate survivability of Escherichia coli and storage stability of commercial powdered goat milk (PGM) products. Three batches of whole milk PGM samples were purchased at a local outlet, and divided into two halves to assign non-inoculated control and E. coli inoculated groups, then stored at 4 and 22°C for 0, 2, and 4 months. Results showed that significant reduction (P<0.05) in E. coli counts occurred at 22°C treatment group by more than 2 log CFU/g at 2 months storage, then further decreased by an additional 0.37 log CFU/g at 4 months storage. The survival of E. coli was significantly higher at 4°C, suggesting that E. coli could survive better at 4°C by extending a longer latent period than at higher temperature (22°C) under the low water activity condition. E. coli counts had negative correlations with water activity at both temperature treatments for all three storage periods except for 0 and 2 months at 22°C, indicating that the survivability of the E. coli would decrease in powdered whole goat milk for 4 months of storage because of decrease in water activity. It was concluded that Escherichia coli survival and storage stability of the commercial PGM products were significantly (P<0.05) affected by storage temperature and time.

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Sistema extenso de producción de cabra de doble propósito en el municipio de Capitanejo, Santander, Colombia

6/30/2019

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Resumen
El Chicamocha Medio es una ecorregión donde la caprinocultura se considera una actividad económica importante para las familias campesinas, por ello se propuso identificar las prácticas de manejo del ganado caprino para generar información específica que sea útil para las instituciones en diferentes escenarios. Se tomó una muestra no probabilística a 33 unidades productivas caprinas de nueve municipios de esta región. El diagnóstico se realizó mediante una encuesta semiestructurada sobre como: 1. tipificación de predios, 2. acompañamiento técnico, 3. inventario de semovientes, 4. instalaciones para caprinos, 5. fin productivo, 6. manejo del rebaño, 7. Plan sanitario, 8. tipo de sistema productivo y alimentación y 9. Bioseguridad. Se estableció que la caprinocultura se desarrolla en minifundios con un inventario promedio de 59 cabezas, con infraestructura adaptada y baja inclusión tecnológica.

El fin productivo predominante es la carne, su manejo es tradicional en sistema semi confinado y el principal problema sanitario referido es el parasitismo gastrointestinal. Se concluye que el manejo del rebaño es tradicional con baja inclusión tecnológica, los problemas sanitarios son de origen infeccioso y las soluciones ofrecidas a este renglón productivo son muy incipientes.

LEE MAS...

Un agradecimiento especial a Clara Viviana Rúa Bustamante por esta información.

El paisaje cultural: un estudio oral a través del testimonio del Volquetero Mauro Carrillo, Colombia

6/29/2019

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Resumen
Este artículo se planteó para ofrecer una descripción de los parámetros técnico económicos dados en las producciones caprinas extensivas doble propósito en la región del Chicamocha Medio. La metodología fue descriptiva con variables cuantitativas y muestreo por conveniencia, la información se recopilo por observación y encuestas semiestructuradas de aplicación directa, y luego mediante la técnica de paneles de productores se validó.

El desconocimiento de estos parámetros limita la eficacia en la toma de decisiones de los productores, incidiendo directamente en el desarrollo de la cadena, evidenciándose en las falencias existentes en la gestión administrativa y de mercados.

LEE MAS...

Un agradecimiento especial a Clara Viviana Rúa Bustamante (Representante de país para Colombia) por esta información.

USA, Mississippi – Assistant Professor in Swine Management with a research emphasis in Growth and Development or Meat Science

6/28/2019

Job Description:
The Department of Animal and Dairy Sciences is seeking an Assistant Extension Professor for a 12-month tenure track (60% extension/40% Research) position to develop a swine management extension program and a research program that emphasizes swine growth and development and/or fresh or processed pork production. The Animal and Dairy Sciences Department currently houses approximately 380 undergraduate students, 20 graduate students, and 22 faculty, both on campus at research and extension centers throughout Mississippi. The Department conducts teaching, research and extension activities on the 1200 acre south farm which includes a small research swineherd and research pens for over 150 animals. Also, proximity to commercial swine facilities in the Southeast will increase research and extension opportunities for the successful candidate. The Department began operations on a new 15,000 ft2 Meat Science and Muscle Laboratory in July of 2018 and will move into a new 38,000 ft2 Animal and Dairy Sciences Building in June of 2019. The Department offers Bachelors of Science degrees with concentrations in Pre-Vet Science/Science, Animal Production, and Business and Industry. Both M.S. and Ph.D. degrees are offered from within the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences in Animal and Dairy Sciences.

USA, Mississippi – Assistant Professor in Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education with an Emphasis in Small Ruminant Production

6/27/2019

Job Description:
The Department of Animal and Dairy Sciences is seeking an Assistant Extension Professor for a 12-month tenure track (60% Extension/40% Research) position to coordinate statewide Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) programs as well as develop extension and research programs in small ruminant health, reproduction or management. The Animal and Dairy Sciences Department currently houses approximately 380 undergraduate students, 25 graduate students and 22 faculty, both on campus and at research and extension centers throughout Mississippi. The Department conducts teaching, research and extension activities on the 1200 acre south farm that includes a research sheep herd. The Department began operations on a new 15,000 ft2 Meat Science and Muscle Laboratory in July of 2018 and will move into a new 38,000 ft2 Animal and Dairy Sciences Building in June of 2019. The Department offers Bachelors of Science degrees with concentrations in Pre-Vet/Science, Animal Production, and Business and Industry. Both M.S. and Ph.D. degrees are offered from within the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences in Animal and Dairy Sciences.

Extensive Dual Purpose Goat Production System in the Municipality of Capitanejo, Santander, Colombia

6/26/2019

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Abstract
The Chicamocha Medio is an ecoregion where the goat culture is considered an important economic activity for the peasant families. Therefore, it was proposed to identify goat management practices to generate specific information that is useful for institutions in different scenarios. A non-probabilistic sample was taken from 33 goat production units from nine municipalities of this region. The diagnosis was made through a semi-structured survey on: 1. plots classification, 2. technical support, 3. livestock inventory, 4. goat facilities, 5. productive aim, 6. herd management, 7. sanitary plan, 8. type of productive system and food and 9. biosafety. It was established that the goat culture is developed in smallholdings with an average inventory of 59 heads, with adapted infrastructure and low technological inclusion. The predominant productive purpose is meat, its management is traditional in a semi-confined system and the main health problem referred to is gastrointestinal parasitism. It is concluded that the management of the flock is traditional with low technological inclusion, the sanitary problems are of infectious origin and the solutions offered to this productive line are very incipient.

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Special thanks to Clara Viviana Rúa Bustamante (Country Representative for Colombia) for this information.

The Cultural Landscape: An Oral Study Through the Testimony of Volcano Mauro Carrillo, Colombia

6/25/2019

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Abstract
This article was raised to provide a description of the technical and economic parameters given in the extensive dual purpose goat production in the region of the Chicamocha Medio. The methodology was descriptive with quantitative variables and convenience sampling, the information was collected by observation and semi-structured surveys of direct application, and then it was validated through the producer panel technique.

The ignorance of these parameters limits the efficacy in the decision-making of the producers, directly affecting the development of the chain, evidencing in the existing shortcomings in the administrative and market management.

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Special thanks to Clara Viviana Rúa Bustamante (Country Representative for Colombia) for this information.

Prácticas tradicionales de las comunidades indígenas Wayúu en ganadería ovinocaprina

6/19/2019

La Guajira es el departamento con mayor población ovinocaprina de Colombia, los animales han permanecido desde la época de la conquista en poder de las comunidades indígenas Wayúu, asentadas en la media y alta Guajira.

Los sistemas de producción, la crianza y manejo de estos animales se adecúan a el ecosistema en el que viven y a la cultura de la etnia Wayúu, siendo para los occidentales una alternativa que ayuda a preservar de manera eficiente los recursos naturales. El Ministerio de Agricultura y Desarrollo Rural de Colombia y Agrosavia, investigan sobre la medicina tradicional y la proyección de estos sistemas a mercados internacionales.

Here’s what is ailing dairy goat farming

6/18/2019

"At the recently held Animal Production Society of Kenya's Scientific conference in Nakuru, there was a meeting of farmers who are members of the Dairy Goat Association of Kenya (DGAK), along with researchers and experts in animal production. They observed that shrinking land sizes and increased urbanisation are some of the things that are taking a toll on goat farming."

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IGA Website Updates, May 2019

5/17/2019

We are constantly updating the IGA website with the best and newest information, but did you know that we also add important documents from throughout IGA’s history.

We have proceedings and abstracts from many past IGA conferences. Here are some you will find:
International Conferences
Abstracts – 12th ICG, Antalya, Turkey, 2016
Abstracts – 10th ICG, Recife, Canary Islands, 2012
Abstracts – 9th ICG, Queretaro, Mexico, 2008
Papers – 8th ICG, Pretoria, South Africa, 2004

Regional Conferences
Abstracts – Tromsoe, Norway, June 2013
Proceedings – Bella, Italy, May 2007
Papers, Session Posters, and Poster Summaries – Fuerteventura, Canary Islands, April 2003

We hope that this information will be useful and that it encourages you to spend some time visiting the IGA website.

2018 IGA Achievement Awards

5/8/2019

Recognition of IGA’s Most Active CRs and RDs

As part of a new initiative, the International Goat Association wishes to officially recognize the most active Country Representatives (CR) and Regional Directors (RD). RDs and CRs are a very important part of IGA, and we greatly appreciate all that they do: promoting IGA and our International Conference on Goats, organizing in-country and regional conferences, soliciting new members, preparing country reports for IGA’s Newsletter, etc.

The Regional Director & Country Representative Committee recently selected the individuals who have done an outstanding job representing IGA in their region or country during the past year, and we wish to congratulate them for their involvement and successes.

The 2018 IGA Achievement Award recipients are Emilia Bagnicka (RD for Eastern Europe) and Clara Viviana Rúa Bustamante (CR for Colombia).

Additionally, we would like to thank the other Country Representatives, Regional Directors, and members who helped make 2018 such a wonderful success.

Proceedings of the 3rd National Goat Conference, USA

5/6/2019

Download the Proceedings.

“Building Towards a Sustainable Future via a Healthy and Profitable Goat Industry”

The Proceedings of the 3rd National Goat Conference are now available. You can download them here or here,
https://docs.wixstatic.com/ugd/67d69e_327ca4bcdc69404f9a7f45dcdee824a3.pdf.

This conference took place on September 16-18, 2018 at Tuskegee University, Tuskegee, Alabama, USA.

In memoriam of Carlos Gutiérrez Cabrera

5/3/2019

Dr. Carlos Gutiérrez Cabrera passed away Friday 8 March 2019 in a tragic car accident. Dr. Gutiérrez was born in the Canary Islands (Spain) in 1960. He studied Veterinary Science in the Cordoba Veterinary Faculty in Spain, and in 1989 joined to Academic Faculty staff in the Las Palmas de Gran Canaria Veterinary Faculty as Assistant Professor in Large Animals Medicine area. Dr. Gutiérrez earned his Associate Professor position in 1998. In 2015, he received a Full Professor position. As a Professor, Dr. Gutiérrez was devoted to his students, always available to solve any query from his pupils. Dr. Gutiérrez research was focussed in large animal diseases mainly trypanosomiasis. He was an expert in Camel medicine. As a human being, Carlos always held a smile in his face. His attitude in live was always positive and he was available when you need him. I will miss you.

Rest in peace Carlos,
Anastasio Argüello

The International Goat Association's mission is to promote goat research and development for the benefit of humankind, to alleviate poverty, to promote prosperity and to improve the quality of life.

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