CCF to host goat seminar

The Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF) will be hosting a goat farming seminar on 7 August. The one-day seminar will emphasise dairy goats, and it will be led by Dr Terry Gipson, an internationally recognised goat expert from Langston University’s E (Kika) de la Garza American Institute for Goat Research.Seminar topics will include improving goat herds, artificial insemination in dairy goats, breeding strategies and objectives for small ruminants in the tropics, as well as the genomics in small ruminant production with breeding objectives emphasised. CCF received a grant from the Kirkpatrick Foundation in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, to work with professors from the E (Kika) de la Garza American Institute for Goat Research to develop best goat farming methodologies. CCF maintains herds of dairy goats in conjunction with its Livestock Guarding Dog Programme and Model Farm. In 2009, CCF began making cheese products from their goat’s milk. In 2013, CCF opened the Dancing Goat Creamery at its centre and expanded products to also make ice cream, fudge, soap. According to the CCF the creamery doubles as a test facility for developing new products and ancillary revenue streams from goat milk, and as a training facility for rural farmers and Unam’s Food Science students. Improving livelihoods for goat farmers is central to CCF’s holistic approach to cheetah conservation, which carefully considers the needs of humans and livestock and wildlife sharing farmlands. CCF hopes the partnership with the American Institute for Goat Research will produce results that benefit Namibian goat farmers.“We are very pleased to be embarking upon this collaboration with Dr Gipson and other researchers from the E (Kika) de la Garza American Institute for Goat Research. We are excited about the potential impact for Namibian goat farmers, and we are very thankful to the Kirkpatrick Foundation for making this partnership possible”, said Dr Laurie Marker, CCF Founder and executive director. While at CCF, Dr Gipson will also conduct advanced training sessions for CCF farm staff and Future Farmers of Africa programme trainers. Registration fee for the seminar is N$300 and lunch is included. Camping is also available with prior reservations. To register for the seminar and make camping reservations contact: Dr Laurie Marker at 067 306225 or 081 1247887 or email: director@cheetah.org.STAFF REPORTER

CCF to host goat seminar

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Namibian Sun 2025-04-04

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CCF to host goat seminar

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Namibian Sun 2025-04-04

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