Goat management course looks at market demands

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 3, Issue 47, 6 May 1986, Page 15

Goat management course looks at market demands

An advanced goat management course organised jointly by REAP and MAF was held in Ohakune last Tuesday. Thirty present and potential goat farmers went to Ruapehu College in the morning to hear three experts lecture. In the afternoon they went to Ian and Ann Roke's farm at Otiranui Road near Ohakune, for practical demonstrations.

Colin Horton, MAF advisor from Whangarei, descrihed case studies from Northland in which actual returns from goat enterprises could be seen. He discussed the heritability of different traits, including research from Australia on angora and cashmere traits. He also covered basic genetics and ways of selecting desirable traits. Andrew Sinclair from the Mohair-Cashmere Warehouse at Tuakau, also

spoke. The Warehouse is the selling organisation of the Mohair and Cashmere Production Associations of . New Zealand. Mr Sinclair gave a general outline of the world market for goat fibres. He explained which fibres were most desired and would fetch the highest premium. In the afternoon at Roke's farm course participants were able to look at variations in fibres on real goats.

Instructors explained fleece characteristics, grades and necessary preparations for sale. The course was very much appreciated, as was one in Wanganui the day before. Rob Gollan, from MAF in Wanganui who organised the day, said that the two experts were good value. This was especially as they were able to present studies of actual fibre returns to counter the extravagant claims sometimes made.