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Planning a Dairy Goat Barn:

Key Decisions for Long-Term Success

10:00 AM
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Building a dairy goat barn is a major investment that will influence the animal performance, labour efficiency and profitability for many years. This talk will cover key planning decisions that should be considered before construction begins. Whether you are considering a new build, expanding your herd, or upgrading existing facilities, this session will help you make informed decisions that set your operation up for long-term success.

Angie Wilson

Dairy Specialist

OMAFA

Angie Wilson is a Dairy Specialist with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness (OMAFA). She holds a BSc in Animal Biology and a PhD in Animal Biosciences from the University of Guelph. Her research background focuses on livestock housing and animal behaviour, including alternative housing systems and best management practices to support animal health, welfare and productivity. Angie works with producers on housing, facility design, and management practices that promote the health, comfort, and performance of dairy animals, including dairy goats.

Interpreting Somatic Cell Counts in Dairy Goats

Update from the International Dairy Federation

11:00 AM
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Somatic cells are normally shed in the milk of lactating dairy goats. There are many factors affecting the level of somatic cells; high levels may indicate presence of mastitis causing pathogens and these affect milk quality. The International Dairy Federation has recently developed a publication to help producers, veterinarians, processors and regulatory bodies determine appropriate SCC levels for goat milk when milk is produced for human consumption. Factors affecting SCC will be reviewed .

Dr. Paula Menzies

University Professor Emerita

University of Guelph

Paula Menzies has been a teacher, practitioner, and researcher in sheep and goat health management for over four decades as a member of the Ruminant Health Management group at the University of Guelph, Canada, currently as Professor Emerita. She obtained her DVM from the University of Guelph, with post-graduate training and education at the University of Saskatchewan and University of California � Davis. She is currently a Diplomate and Board Member (Secretary) in the European College of Small Ruminant Health Management, Past President of the International Sheep Veterinary Association, and Board Member of the International Goat Association. Awards include the Carl Block Award for contributions to Canadian agriculture, Don E. Bailey Small Ruminant Practitioner of the Year (American Association of Small Ruminant Practitioners), the OVC Zoetis Research Award in Animal Health, the inaugural Small Ruminant Veterinarians of Ontario award for Excellence, and most recently, International Sheep Veterinarian of the Year as awarded by the Australian Veterinary Association (2025). Research areas include control of gastrointestinal nematode parasitism of sheep, Coxiella burnetii (Q fever) infections in small ruminants and people, paratuberculosis in small ruminants, lamb and dairy kid mortality, on-farm adult small ruminant mortalities, toxoplasmosis, scrapie, coccidiosis and vector-borne viruses such as Cache Valley virus. She is a member of the Advisory Committee to the WOAH UN FAO Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR) Global Eradication Program. The PPR GEP is a One Health initiative with the goals, in addition to eradicating PPR, to strengthen veterinary services and to control other important diseases of small ruminants - with the purpose to fight rural poverty, ensure food security and nutrition, and to strengthen resilience and national economies. She is the main author of the UN FAO PPR Preparedness virtual learning course, helping veterinarians across Europe, Africa and Central Asia understand this disease and how to eradicate it. She has been on numerous small ruminant national and international small ruminant committees including developing NFACC Codes of Practice, CFIA Biosecurity standards and guides, and the International Dairy Federation bulletin on goat somatic cell counts. Additionally, she has developed health management programs for sheep and goats and has written many guides for veterinarians and producers including the Handbook for the Control of Internal Parasites of Sheep and Goats and Guides for Udder Health of Dairy Sheep and Dairy Goats. She continues to be very active in providing continuing education to veterinarians and small ruminant producers.

An Update from Dairy Goat Farmers of Ontario

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1:15 PM
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Dairy Goat Farmers of Ontario website: https://dairygoatfarmers.ca/

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Biosecurity and Ontario Goat Farms

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1:35 PM
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This talk will focus on results from a research project which used Glo-Germ, an inert particle that flouresces under UV light, to track potential spread of disease throughout Ontario goat farms. We will also share future research plans in this area that are underway.

Dr. Charlotte Winder

Professor

University of Guelph

Charlotte is a veterinarian and epidemiologist at the University of Guelph. She teaches in the DVM program and works in OVC's Farm Service. Her research focuses on applied solutions to improve animal health and welfare in goat and sheep farms in Ontario.

Ontario Goat Update

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2:40 PM
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An update from Ontario Goat.

Ontario Goat Executive

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PANEL

Kids These Days: Raising Healthy, Thriving Goats

3:00 PM

The early stages of a kid's life can have a lasting impact on health, growth, productivity, and long-term profitability. Join experienced goat producers as they discuss the management practices that set kids up for success, from newborn care and feeding programs to housing, health management, and weaning strategies.

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Panelists will share practical insights from their own operations, including lessons learned, common challenges, and the approaches they use to raise healthy, thriving kids. The discussion will explore how management decisions may vary depending on production goals, market demands, and operation type, while highlighting key factors that support strong growth and overall performance.

Coming soon!

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Natalie Miltenburg

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Pascal Bouilly

Ontario Sales Manager

Grober Nutrition

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Thank you to our premier sponsor!

Contact:

Grey Ag Services

info@greyagservices.ca

519-986-3756

Conference location:

Carriage House Events Centre

265 5th St, Hanover, ON N4N 3X3

Map

Mailing address:

Box 463 

Markdale ON

N0C 1H0

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