Received an email press release from www.wolfcrossing.org about a poll of New Mexico and Arizona residents. Average people were asked questions about the wolf re-introduction program and how it relates to ranchers and grazing lands. What was notable was that respondents supported both wolf reintroduction efforts and ranchers and their right to make a living.

This conclusion from the press release speaks volumes, not only about the wolf controversy, but it can be applied to just about any agricultural issue in play today:

The vast majority of those polled admitted little to no knowledge of the issue, therefore the uneducated public opinion on Mexican wolves and wolf reintroduction is positive. Despite mass media campaigns by wolf advocates who have been educating the public on wolf management that may or may not be scientifically based for years the public still supports livestock grazing on federally administered lands. Possibly even over wolf recovery even though they also support the idea of wolves on the same landscape. What would happen with a little pro active education on the real wolf story from a ranching perspective?

Emphasis is mine.

Even the pro-wolf groups (Re-Wildling Institute, Arizona Zoological Society, New Mexico Audubon Council, the Southwest Environmental Center) that commissioned the poll could, if they would, admit to “little or no knowledge of the issue.” They know they want wolves and lots of them.

The core of the problems we face stem from (IMHO):

1. Insulation of 99 percent of the public from any type of practical hands-on interaction with nature, farming, livestock or the actual processes that result in food on their table (or handed to them out the drive-through window, depending on their home life). Ironically it’s the efficiency and effectiveness of our capitalistic system in agricultural production, processing and packaging–the easy, inexpensive and constant availability of food–that has led to this insulation.
2. Constant 24/7 shaping of public opinion and conventional wisdom (by news media, movies, TV, etc., with very few exceptions) to a politically correct reality where killing deer for sport and food is evil, where livestock producers are villains who are denying animals their “rights,” and where the only good farmer is one who raises organic veggies and sells them locally. Yes, animals have “rights.” (I guess animals don’t respect one anothers’ rights, because they have a tendency to eat each other on a regular basis.)
3. Extremely poor education in public schools. Oh, the teachers can teach all right, but the curriculum seemingly must include mainly P.C. highpoints in history, “green” emphasis in life sciences, and presentation of nature and animal issues from the conventional wisdom point of view (see 2.).

Now, maybe the east and west coast apartment, condo and liberal enclave dwellers who promote and/or fund programs like wolf reintroduction would change their minds a bit if we insisted that wolves, bears and cougars were reintroduced on, say, Manhattan Island, in central Connecticut or in the Los Angeles basin.

Nah, probably not.

In the 2008 Angelo State University Meat Goat Performance Test, the bucks have all started the test, according to Dr. Mike Salisbury of ASU. All goats were vaccinated and treated for internal parasites at arrival. They received their booster vaccines Friday, June 6, at the initial weigh day.
This year, 157 bucks make up the test group and average initial weight was 55.6 pounds per animal. The initial scrotal circumference was 18.1 centimeters. Next scheduled weigh day is July 2, 2008, at 8:00 am. — actually a 26-day weight since 28 days falls on Independence Day.

Below you will find mean values for the past 8 years and where the current test compares:

Mean Initial Weight, Final Weight, Average Daily Gain (ADG) and Estimated Rib-Eye Area (REA) for the 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 performance tests.

Goat producers who don’t consider raising hair goats—Angora goats—are passing up a rewarding opportunity. Not only do Angoras produce a meat crop, they produce one of the best specialty fibers in the world–mohair.
Mohair is used to produce yarn and thread for sweaters, high fashion garments, and luxury carpets, rugs and upholstery. Mohair is known as the “diamond fiber” because of its value and quality.

Many of the best mohair producing Angora goats in the world are raised by just a few breeders in Texas and surrounding states. These breeders’ goats have been sought after by mohair producers in Australia and New Zealand, as well as the United States, for many years. The first Angora goats were brought to Texas from Turkey and South Africa in the early 1900s. The families of these early goat raisers are still around. They and their neighbors in Southwest Texas and other areas have been raising these mohair producing goats ever since and have constantly improved the genetics of their breeding stock.

But if you’re casual and not serious about raising hair goats, Angora breeders would rather you not buy their stock. They are interested in seeing their hard won genetics continue without dilution or crossbreeding to other breeds, which would ruin the fine mohair their efforts have yielded.

If you are serious, and would like to try producing one of the best specialty fibers in the world, you can find the best foundation Angora breeding stock in the world at just a handful of sales each summer.
If you are interested and would like to ask questions of the breeders and find out more, they would be glad to talk with you, I’m sure. Below are the three main annual sales featuring fullblood Angora goats with the finest mohair. Now is the time to bid and buy. After years of drouth and culling, only the best genetics remain.

Haby, Lockhart, Ross and Speck, July 12, 2 p.m.
Annual fine-haired Angora goat sale at Kerrville, Texas, features goats by some legendary names in the hair goat business, Hayden Haby, Jesse and Ben Lockhart, Joe David Ross and Dr. Fred Speck. Offered are some of the finest Angora breeding goats available anywhere in the world. South African goat breeders would be proud. Call Hayden Haby,(830)278-1965; Ben Lockhart, (830)234-3592; Joe David Ross, (325)387-3163; or Fred L. Speck, Jr.,(830)895-1234

Texas Angora Goat Association annual sale, July 26, 1 p.m.
This sale by TAGRA members is held at the Junction, Texas, fairgrounds operated by the Hill Country Fair Association. The picturesque Llano River valley scenery alone is worth the trip. For the first time, the event will include a fiber fair. For more information contact Dale Naumann, Sec./Treas., or Bonnie Naumann, 830-796-7429 or 830-688-1391. Send email to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Lem Jones Memorial Angora Goat Sale, August 9
Held a couple weeks after the TAGRA sale at the same Junction, Texas, fairgrounds, in conjunction with the Hill Country Fair Association rodeo. Buy fine goats and get a flavor of West Texas at this event. Form more information, call event organizer Teddy Holekamp, 325-446-2537.

American Boer Goat Association executive director Robert Swize has left ABGA after the remainder of his contract was settled by the ABGA board of directors. As with any organization there were complainers and those who felt that one group or another or one individual or another were favored under Swize and past boards of directors. There were some members who felt that the ABGA was too Texas-centered under Swize and previous leaders, including board members and past executive secretaries.

The association has made great strides under Swize’s leadership. Membership has grown, registration operations have been upgraded and streamlined to some extent. The national show has exploded in size and participation. Of course, some of the growth has been organic due to the expanding popularity of goats as livestock in all parts of the United States and the fact that Boer goats are a logical and good choice for many small acreage farmers and rural residents.

I don’t know exactly what happened that triggered Swize’s exit, whether it was his idea or the board’s. I do know that for some reason there is always a lot of drama, power struggle, conflict and intrigue surrounding goings on in goat circles and goat organizations. Don’t ask me why.

The ABGA National Show begins this week, June 11, and runs through Sunday, June 15, in Tulsa. The ABGA office crew have left for Nationals and I imagine the association’s business meeting there will be interesting.

Here is a portion of the ABGA notice of Swize’s May 20 departure:

The ABGA board of directors and ABGA Executive Director, Mr. Robert Swize, announce a mutual agreement to cease their employment relationship effective May 20, 2008. After several months of discussion and consideration, the ABGA board and Mr. Swize have agreed that it is in the best interest of the association, Mr. Swize, and his family to amend Mr. Swize’s employment contract, causing it to end effective May 20, 2008.

Mr. Swize began his employment as Executive Director with ABGA in 2003. Since that time ABGA has seen unprecedented growth in membership and registrations as well as significant improvement in its financial position. Mr. Swize has brought a sense of professionalism to the ABGA office and has served to help move ABGA and the Boer goat to their current place of prominence on the landscape of American agriculture.

The ABGA Board of Directors wishes to express our appreciation to Mr. Swize for his contributions and time of service given to improve our association and our industry. We also wish to express our appreciation to Mr. Swize’s family for their sacrifice and support of ABGA during the time of Mr. Swize’s employment.

The ABGA Board of Directors would also like to express our confidence in the association, its members, and its staff as we move forward in the work and mission of the ABGA. With this change in the Executive Director position, the board would like to express that ABGA business will continue efficiently, and we will provide you with the quality service you have come to expect. We realize that with a change such as this there will be questions from the membership. The board encourages you to contact the board of directors as we want to be available to answer thosequestions and provide you with the much needed service you deserve.

The ABGA Board of Directors wishes only the best for Mr. Swize and his family. The board further encourages you, ABGA members, to be supportive of Mr. Swize and his family, as they pursue their future endeavors. We trust that, along with the board of directors, the membership will now look to the future of the association and communicate your thoughts for the future directly to your board of directors. The board will be taking a positive approach to our future and trust the membership will do the same. Your positive input and constructive criticism are appreciated and will prove immeasurably beneficial as the ABGA moves into the future.