Many goat producers have succeeded in targeting various ethnic markets by planning their production and breeding schedules around specific religious holidays. The traditions of these holidays vary widely between different religious belief systems and can affect the preferred size, weight, sex, and harvesting method of the animals usually consumed. The holiday calendar below is a great resource for producers to plan the breeding and sale of specific animal groups for slaughter at auction or directly to the consumer. Dependent on the number of days within each religious year, the actual timing of these holidays may shift from year to year. Here’s a guide to the preferred size, weight, sexes, and animals preferred at each holiday (courtesy of Ohio State University and Cornell University): Christian Holidays: Western/Roman Easter: Preferred: Milk-fed goat kids weighing 20-40 lbs Acceptable: Milk-fed goat kids weighing 40-50 lbs Less Acceptable: Milk-fed kids weighing less than 20 lbs Eastern/Greek (Orthodox) Easter: Preferred: Milk-fed goat kids weighing 25-50 lbs Christmas: Preferred: Milk-fed goat kids weighing 50 lbs and under Islamic Holidays: Eid ul Adha – The Festival of Sacrifice: Preferred: Unblemished yearling goat kids weighing 60-80 lbs Acceptable: Unblemished yearling goat kids weighing 60-100 lbs Muharram – Islamic New Year: Preferred: Goat kids with milk teeth weighing 60 lbs Acceptable: Goat kids with milk teeth weighing 40-120 lbs Acceptable: unblemished older animals No preference is given to intact or castrated male kids Ramadan: Preferred: Goat kids with milk teeth weighing 60 lbs Acceptable: Goat kids with milk teeth weighing 40-120 lbs Acceptable: unblemished older animals No preference is given to intact or castrated male kids Eid al Fitr – The Breaking of the Ramadan Fast: Preferred: Goat kids with milk teeth weighing 60 lbs Acceptable: Goat kids with milk teeth weighing 40-120 lbs Acceptable: unblemished older animals No preference is given to intact or castrated male kids Jewish Holidays: Chanukah: Preferred: Young milk-fed goat kids

The American Boer Goat Association (ABGA) is now accepting nominations for the ABGA Board of Directors. Applications (completed by the nominee) for the ABGA Board of Directors are due to the ABGA office via electronic form or regular mail. The ABGA Board of Directors represents ABGA members across 14 regions of the United States as the main governing body of the American Boer Goat Association. ABGA Directors volunteer their personal time and effort in service of ABGA’s financial, youth (JABGA), industry development, performance programs, marketing, education, and strategic planning areas. Directors also work in conjunction with ABGA members via committees and the JABGA Board of Directors to further the goals of the Association. Full three (3) year term Board seats are open for the following ABGA Regions: Region 3 - (North Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan) Region 4 - (Kansas, Oklahoma) Region 5 - (California, Nevada, Arizona) Region 7 - (New Mexico, Texas) 1 of 2 seats available Region 9 - (Indiana) Region 12 - (West Virginia, Virginia) A two (2) year term Board seat is open for the remainder of the vacated term for following ABGA Region: Region 11 - (Ohio) In accordance with ABGA Bylaws, applicants must be ABGA members in good standing (renewed for 2024 by January 1, 2024) in order to run for or hold a seat on the ABGA Board of Directors. For more information, see the ABGA Bylaws. Application (Due March 1, 2024) Applications for the ABGA Board of Directors will be due by 5:00 PM CST on March 1, 2024. Applications should be completed in full and submitted to the ABGA office via electronic form (see below) or regular mail. Required on Application: Completed Board Candidate Nomination Form Conflict of Interest Acknowledgement Disclosure Form Certification of Applicant Questions or Concerns? Please contact ABGA Office Manager Porschea Vann at with any questions or concerns regarding ABGA Board of Directors nominations. Ready to Apply? Applicants should complete the ABGA Board of Directors application below via electronic form or regular mail (4258 S Jackson St, San Angelo, Texas 76903) by March 1, 2024. ONLINE FORM: of Download the printable PDF: About ABGA The American Boer Goat Association (ABGA) focuses on protecting, promoting, and recording the American Boer goat breed. The Boer breed was developed by Dutch farmers in South Africa in the 1900s, and the breed was introduced in the United States in 1993. The American Boer Goat Association (ABGA) was founded that same year. Boer goats are prized for their rapid growth rate, excellent carcass quality, and adaptability to many climates. A docile and highly fertile breed, Boer goats have been primarily used for meat production. Over a century later, these traits set the Boer goat apart in the purebred and commercial segments of the American meat goat industry. With over 7,00 members and 45,000 registered goats annually, today’s ABGA offers its members marketing, educational, and commercial industry opportunities, along with youth involvement through the Junior American Boer Goat Association (JABGA).

The Junior American Boer Goat Association (JABGA) is now accepting applications for the JABGA Board of Directors. Applications completed by the nominee for the JABGA Board of Directors are due to the ABGA office via electronic form or regular mail on or before March 1, 2024. The JABGA Board of Directors works alongside the ABGA Board of Directors to represent JABGA members across five areas of the United States as the main governing body of the Junior American Boer Goat Association (JABGA). JABGA Directors volunteer their personal time and effort in service of JABGA programs like the JABGA Regional Show Series and by promoting core JABGA values like scholarship, leadership, good sportsmanship, and character development. The JABGA Board of Directors also serves as youth ambassadors for the improvement and promotion of the Boer goat breed through the breeding, raising, and exhibition of American Boer Goats. Board seats are open for the following JABGA Areas: Area 1 (Washington, Oregon, California, Alaska, Hawaii, Idaho, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, Montana, Wyoming) Area 2 (North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Wisconsin, Illinois) Area 3 (Michigan, Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, West Virginia, Virginia, Pennsylvania, D.C., Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Maine, Vermont, New York) Area 4 (Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina) Area 5 (Colorado, New Mexico, Texas) In accordance with JABGA Bylaws, applicants must be JABGA members in good standing (renewed for 2024 by January 1, 2024) in order to run for or hold a seat on the JABGA Board of Directors. For more information, see the ABGA Bylaws and the JABGA Bylaws. Required: Application (completed) Contact Information page and Certificate of Application (completed) Digital photo Directors Responsibilities page (signed) Responsibility Release, Information Release, Photo Release, Authorization Form Conflict of Interest Statement (completed) Code of Conduct form (completed) Brief statement (less than 250 words) – “Why do you want to be a JABGA Director?” Optional: Applicants may submit a resume that highlights the following: Involvement in JABGA and/or the goat industry School activities 4-H & FFA activities Leadership activities Volunteer work/community service Eligibility Applicants for the JABGA Board of Directors must: Be 16 years of age or older on January 1, 2024 Reside in the JABGA Area for which the applicant is running/elected Have renewed their JABGA membership on or before January 1, 2024 Questions or Concerns? Contact JABGA Youth Coordinator Hannah Jenkins at jabga@abga.org with any questions or concerns regarding JABGA Board of Directors nominations. Ready to Apply? Applicants should complete the JABGA Board of Directors application below and submit it to the ABGA office via electronic form or regular mail by March 1, 2024. ONLINE FORM: DOWNLOAD PDF FORM: About JABGA: The Junior American Boer Goat Association (JABGA) supports ABGA in its mission to improve and promote the Boer breed and encourage the breeding, raising, and exhibition of American Boer Goats. JABGA fosters the personal growth of its youth membership through training in scholarship, leadership, good sportsmanship, and character development as individuals and in groups.

ABGA has blocked off hotel rooms for 2024 National Show exhibitors and attendees. Book your hotel rooms today, because they will go fast! Be sure to let your hotel know you're there for the 2024 ABGA & JABGA National Show!

The 2024 ABGA & JABGA National Show will take place in Louisville, Kentucky from June 7-14, 2024. National Show Superintendents are responsible for the enforcement and adherence of all exhibitors to ABGA National Show Rules. For the 2024 National Show, there will be 3 Ring Superintendents and 1 Barn Superintendent. View the job descriptions below: Ring Superintendent Job Description Barn Superintendent Job Description Click the button below to apply! Apply before January 1, 2024! Questions about the superintendent position, or anything regarding the 2024 ABGA & JABGA National Show? Contact Katherine Klug at nationalshow@abga.org

ABGA Treasurer and Region 8 director, Sam Knott, and Region 12 director, Chuck Fitzwater, join host Drew Williams and guest host Randall White on Boer Goat Nation on December 5, 2023. You can watch the Facebook Live broadcast of the podcast below: Boer Goat Nation, hosted by Drew Williams, is a podcast designed to promote the Boer goat breed, the industry, and the hard-working people that make the industry great. Boer Goat Nation is broadcast via Facebook Live every Tuesday night at 7:00 PM CST. You can find them on Facebook HERE. In an effort to improve communication and open engagement with nearly 10,000 ABGA members and industry partners, the ABGA Board of Directors is excited to be partnering with Boer Goat Nation. The Board of Directors has committed to participating in the podcast once a month to share updates and progress within ABGA and JABGA and share highlights from our published minutes from the monthly meetings of the Board of Directors.

This survey is now closed. Thank you to everyone who participated. ABGA Members, we want to hear from you! Should elf or gopher ears be considered a disqualification in percentage animals? CLICK HERE to take the survey!

With the new year quickly approaching, it's time to renew your ABGA membership. Renew before January 1, 2024, to gain voting rights for new board members, run for a Board of Directors seat, and actively participate in changes to the Bylaws. Check out the tutorial below for step-by-step instructions for renewing your ABGA membership. If you are missing JABGA accounts under your main account, please contact the ABGA office before renewing your account. Prefer to mail in your renewal? Download the form by clicking the link below:

ABGA members with an email address on file should receive an email invite to renew with ABGA for the 2023 year using iCompete. If you are an ABGA member and did not receive an email invite to renew via iCompete, please contact the ABGA office. JABGA memberships cannot be renewed until the associated adult membership is renewed. Adult memberships must renew FIRST through iCompete in order to renew JABGA memberships. If you are an adult member and you are missing an associated JABGA membership in iCompete, contact the ABGA office immediately. Below are instructions to create a new iCompete login and link to your existing ABGA membership: Creating an iCompete Login and Linking to Your ABGA Membership: To link your existing American Boer Goat Association (ABGA) membership to an iCompete login, have your ABGA member number and associated email address ready and follow the steps below: Navigate to https://abga.icompete.net/ in your Internet browser Find the green box "NEW TO ICOMPETE" On mobile, select the red button "Register new account?" Select the green button "Create your iCompete Account Now" In the green box "CREATE ICOMPETE ACCOUNT": Enter the email address associated with your ABGA membership Create a new password to be used for iCompete (This will be the password you use to access iCompete going forward.) Confirm the new password to be used for iCompete (This will be the password you use to access iCompete going forward.) Click the green button "REGISTER" Return to https://abga.icompete.net/ in your Internet browser Find the blue box "LOGIN TO ICOMPETE" Enter the login credentials (email address and password) you created in Step 4. After logging in, you will link your existing ABGA membership with your new iCompete account: Enter your ABGA member number in the blank field "ABGA Member Ident" Select the green button "+Associate" Enter the email associated with your ABGA membership in the blank field "Email" Enter the postal/ZIP code associated with your ABGA membership in the blank field "PostCode" Select the green button "Validate" You will be notified on the screen of any outstanding balances for ABGA work and/or pending ABGA membership renewals at this point. Outstanding Balances for ABGA Work You cannot renew your ABGA membership through iCompete until all outstanding balances for ABGA work are paid in full. Select the red button "Pay Balance" to pay outstanding balances for ABGA work. Pending ABGA Membership Renewals You cannot access the ABGA iCompete Dashboard ("My Membership", "My Animals", Show Entries") until you renew your ABGA membership. Select the red button "Renew Membership" to renew your ABGA membership. Once outstanding balances are paid and your ABGA membership is renewed, you can access your ABGA iCompete dashboard. (You should receive an email invoice confirming your renewal from iCompete. Check your 'Spam' or 'Junk' folders if you do not immediately see your email invoice.) View these instructions in PDF format: If you are an ABGA member and did not receive an email invite to renew via iCompete, please contact the ABGA office to opt into electronic notifications. If you do not know the ABGA member number or email address associated with your ABGA membership, please contact the ABGA office. Outstanding balances for ABGA work must be paid before members can renew in iCompete. Members must renew for the 2023 year in order to access iCompete. JABGA memberships cannot be renewed until the associated adult membership is renewed. Adult memberships must renew FIRST through iCompete in order to renew JABGA memberships. If you are an adult member and you are missing an associated JABGA membership in iCompete, contact the ABGA office immediately. ABGA members will not be able to manage, register, or transfer animals through iCompete until Phase 2 (coming soon). PLEASE CONTACT THE ABGA OFFICE WITH ANY QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS.

Online Live will permanently go offline on Monday 6/19/23 in order to prepare for the launch of iCompete. The expected launch date for iCompete is Saturday July 1, 2023. Members will need to submit their work to the office via our Contact page, email, or regular mail. Please plan accordingly. If you didn't renew your membership on iCompete, and would like to manage your herd and online account, you will need to create an iCompete account. If you renewed your membership on iCompete, there are no additional steps you have to make. Once iCompete goes live, you are ready to go. View instructions to create your iCompete account HERE. We are extremely excited to streamline your ABGA membership experience and improve online usability for our members.

UPDATED KNOWN ERRORS: Currently, iCompete is displaying all Active and Disposed animals in your Owned Animals list. We are working on getting this updated so you will be able to view, sort, and download a list of your active animals. Recently transferred/sold animals are listed in Owned Animals. Some active animals are marked inactive when viewing animal "Details." Recent corrections (name changes, error corrections) are displaying old/original information. Percentage listed incorrectly in "Breed1, Breed2" fields. (Herdbook field should be correct. If not, please let us know). Some registered animals are still displaying temporary RFI numbers, (e.g.: ?12345). We are working with the iCompete developers to have the above errors corrected as soon as possible. We appreciate your help and patience. Dear members, Please login to your iCompete accounts and check your Owned Animals. There have been some discrepancies during the migration of data from Online Live to iCompete. You may see errors with some of your owned animals. You do not have to make any corrections to your owned animals. We have the correct data in the office, and we are working on getting the correct data uploaded to iCompete as soon as possible. Regarding taking Online Live down, during the migration of data, Online Live began allowing members to bypass our rules when registering progeny. This was a software error that was beyond the ABGA office’s control. We were able to find and correct all the errors that were made during this time. In the interest of our members, we chose to take Online Live down to prevent any further mistakes, or intentional rule breaking from occurring. We apologize for any inconvenience this has caused. The original Online Live/iCompete announcement was made via our Office Updates page, which can be accessed from the ABGA Homepage and Member Services tab, and the June 2023 newsletter which was emailed to all subscribers on June 2, 2023. As of July 12, 2023, we are taking seven business days to complete work orders, so please plan accordingly. For the time being, all work sent into the ABGA office will be charged at the discounted online member rates. Members will still need to pay a Rush fee if you need your work completed by a guaranteed date. We appreciate your patience and are excited to streamline your online registry and herd management experience. Sign in to iCompete

It’s been a long process, but we are getting closer! We are still in the testing phase, but some of you have found the green “Register New Goat”. The good news is you CAN register and transfer goats in iCompete, but please understand we don’t have all the kinks worked out yet. Your feedback is welcomed so we can deliver this info back to the programmers to get everything working correctly. (iCompete@abga.org) iCompete Registrations – this testing phase is a TWO STEP process. You will fill out all the required information on the “Register New Goat” page and click submit. If there are no Data Validation warnings, you can then proceed to your cart. Once this is paid, a pending validation number is given (example: ?109008) and an email is sent to ABGA for the SECOND step. The Second step is the office validation. This allows the office to make sure all ABGA’s registration Rules & Regulations are followed, both by the member and the system. If the system allows registrations through incorrectly, the office will contact the member AND send this info back to the programmers to get the system validation corrected. Examples including but not limited to naming rules, tattoos, etc. Once the office has completed validation, we then release the work and the system gives a full 8-digit registration number, the certificate is printed and mailed, and a temporary certificate is available to the member through iCompete. Transfers won’t need the office validation step if goat(s) are fully registered (no question mark in registration number) Once iCompete is running smoothly and validating everything properly according to the ABGA Rules & Regulations, the manual office validation will no longer be needed. The system will simply inform ABGA a certificate is ready to be printed and mailed. So, please remember while in the TESTING phase, you will not get instant certificates or registration numbers. The office is committed to making this turnaround in a timely manner. Instructional videos to come! And as always, thank you for your support and patience.