Youth Program

4-H Goat Guide

Guidelines for the Snake River Meat Goat Association

 Breeding Doe Program

1. Youth must be nominated to receive a doeling by a member of the SRMGA.

2. The youth must be a junior member of the SRMGA. The cost of a Junior Membership for one year is $5.00.

3. Ages of youth will be 6 years to 16 years of age. This will enable the youth to complete his or her program before turning 18.

4. After the application has been received by the committee a meeting to view the applicants property will be arranged to check for adequate shelter, fencing and facilities for caring for the doeling. At this time pictures will be taken of the property to be placed in the applicants file.

5. Donated does to be four to twenty-three months old and at least 75% Boer, registered and of a quality that they can be shown.

6. Does must be disbudded and tattooed.

7. Pictures of the doe will be taken. Front, and side views, to be kept by the youth program.

8. This is to be a two year program, with a doeling from the first kidding returned to the program. If no doeling is produced the first year, the youth will be allowed to wait until the second kidding. The returned doeling will be distributed to another youth. The registration papers for the first doeling will then be awarded to the youth and doeling becomes the complete property of the youth. If after two kiddings there still is no doeling produced a wether or buckling will be accepted. All doelings being returned to the program must be returned at weaning.

9. The youth will receive a free breeding of the doe for her first kidding. If the doeling is not bred when the applicant receives the doeling the youth’s mentor will assist the youth in arranging for the doeling to be bred.

10. Each youth will be assigned with a mentor to help guide them through raising and caring for the goats and help with any questions which may arise. They will also receive a packet with feeding instructions, information on vaccinations, worming, breeding and other needed information.

11. There will be a $5.00 non refundable application fee when the application is submitted.  

12. If the terms of this agreement can not be met due to some unforeseen adverse circumstance, and the doe is not bred, and a doeling has not been returned to the SRMGA, then (1) the doe will be returned to the association or (2) the youth and parents may come before the committee to develop a plan that would be suitable for both parties.

13. Six months after the contract has been fulfilled, by the return of a new doeling, the youth can re-apply to the program for another doeling. If there are doelings available and the youth continues to meet criteria, he or she will receive another doeling. However first consideration will be given to those who have not received a doeling previously.