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The Extension office provides assistance and programs for the community without discrimination in five main areas: 4-H Youth Programs, Agriculture, Community Health, Horticulture, and Small Acreage Management.

Dairy Goat   arrow

About the Dairy Goat Project

The 4-H Dairy Goat project provides youth a fun and hands-on learning experience which develops both goat subject skills (such as nutrition, housing, and health care) and life skills (such as responsibility, decision-making, nurturing, and communications) under the direction of caring adults.

Dairy goats produce milk that can be made into products such as soaps, lotions and cheese. They are a smaller species of livestock that is easily managed by youth and can even be kept in suburban and urban environments. The 4-H goat project can provide you with the opportunity to learn about selection, management, health, marketing and careers in the goat industry.

The dairy goat project is a great way for members to learn about agriculture around the world while the goats are in the backyard. 4-H members may start with a doe and then raise kids to create their own dairy goat herd.

Members will receive a manual when they sign up for a goat project. For more information. Project levels are designed for members 8-18 years old, junior, intermediate and senior. For more info => Goat Project & Tips

Boulder County Fair Dairy Goat Project Superintendent:
Melanie Bohren ~ mel_coward@yahoo.com

Record Books / e-Records

4-H Record Books are also called e-Records. Each project has its own record book that members are required to complete each year. Record books need to be checked a few times for progress throughout the year:

  1. June – your 4-H leader will be sure your books are started and up to date.
  2. Prior to showing at the Boulder County Fair, your record books will be checked by your superintendent to be sure they are up to date and complete as can be, in order to participate and show at the fair.
  3. Final livestock record books are due at the Extension office by the second Friday in September. (Please note: your 4-H leader may need an earlier deadline for review and signatures.)

e-Record Book

  • Record Book Check-in Sheet – Livestock

4-H Livestock Resources

Forms

Supplemental Information


Events & Opportunities

Check out the latest videos for the Goat Project

Get Ready for Kidding Workshop This video covers doe care prior to kidding, what to have in your kidding kit, what to expect during the event, and how to care for newborn kids. 

Market Goat Nominations for County Fair

Expand for Market Goat Nominations at the County Fair.

Identification & Weigh-In Process for 2021

Process:

  • Fill out the tag-in form. It is also available at the 4-H Extension website.
  • Tag Fees – There is a $3.00 fee for each tag. Audra will be collecting the fees and will be located mid aisle.
  • Going to CO state fair? This is an additional form to be filled out. Pick up the form in advance at the Extension office OR at tag-in night
  • Advise the 4-H office if you plan to attend any additional livestock shows which require DNA (hair sample) to be collected. (Aksarben in Nebraska- pay fees $6 per animal)

Traffic Flow

  • Enter from the SOUTH fairground entrance to the Pole Barn
  • Left at the Pole Barn and around the North side of Barn A
  • LEFT on Midway down to BARN C
  • There are 2 WEST side entry points
  • Exit on EAST side when tag-in, paperwork, and fees are paid

Tag-In will proceed in the following order: 

1. Nomination Forms/Cards:

Fill out one nomination card (county OR state) for each animal. State fair cards also qualify for county fair. You will need to know your project animal’s breed, sex and birth date.
Pay a $3.00 nomination fee per animal. Fee covers the cost of tags, tag equipment, scale equipment retinal scanning equipment and helps supplement funds for fair awards. Remember to include fee in your record book.

Tag-In Form for Market Goat

2. Ear Tags:

Establish the ownership of each animal. Each project animal is required to be owned and nominated to one specific exhibitor. In other words, siblings must specify ownership of each animal and may not share or swap animals after Tag-In. For example, goat 101 cannot be listed as John’s goat and later trans-ferred to his sister, Mary.

Fill out Tag Number on Nomination Card. After animal has been tagged by a volunteer, check that the correct tag number is now listed on the nomination card for that animal.

3. Weigh:

Push your animal(s) through the shoot to the scale. It is highly recommended that your animal have a halter or collar on when going through the scale.

Hand your completed Nomination Form/Card to the volunteer at the scale. Check that the tag # on the card matches the tag # on the animal that is on the scale.

Note: Male market animals must be castrated or banded and all ewes and does must have scrapie tags in place by the May tag-in. Market goats must be dehorned or have horns “tipped” before exhibiting.

4. Retinal Scan:

Bring each animal individually to the designated pen for retinal scanning. Retinal scanning is required to be eligible for market goat classes at the Boulder County Fair and Colorado State Fair. Retinal scanning works like a finger print to provide precise identification of an animal in case a tag is lost or questions arise. All Champion and Reserve Market Goats will be scanned at the Boulder County Fair to verify identity.

Scrapies Tags:

How do I get scrapies tags for my goats?

Request your FREE tags and tagger, just call 866-USDA-TAG 866-873-2824.

If you are planning on exhibiting/selling any female sheep/goats; sexually intact male sheep/goats OR own any sheep/goats older than 18 months old in Colorado you will need tags. It is recommended to have tags in place by Market Nomination day so you know you are good for fair and required to be eligible to show/sell goats at the Boulder County Fair.

* If we are unable to tag or retail scan in vehicle or trailer, there will be 2 pens setup to hold your market animal.