News
2011 kidding had started.....
Our 2011 kidding season is now started, come and see pics of the kids in our photos album section...
http://www.northernkikogenetics.ca/en/our-kikos/photo-album
Kiko's recognition and registration in Canada
Dear Kiko owners,
The end of 2010 has been the signal to start an important project for the Kiko goat breed in Canada; which that means the recognition of the breed by Agriculture Canada as a distinct breed.
To realize this project, it is very desirable to obtain the support from the Canadian Meat Goat Association (CMGA). The CMGA has the objective to represent all the meat goat breeds in Canada. Moreover, the CMGA has committed for a survey about the different Canadian meat goat breeds. In December, a questionnaire was sent to meat goat breeders in Canada. If you did not get it, we will be pleased to send you a copy.
Firstly, the process of recognition of the Kiko goat breed from Agriculture Canada requires that all Kiko breeders come together in order to determine the breed standards and the genetic selection orientations of the Kiko. Afterwards, the Kiko breeders should come together within an association to claim the recognition of their breed. This gathering together might be done within an existing association as CMGA. A first step was got over this week since M. Mario Duchesne from Les Élevages Franc-Nord farm was nominated on the CMGA’s Board of Directors and also as the person in charge of the Kiko breed committee.
The ultimate goal of this recognition is to create a Canadian Kiko breed herd book. In other words, it will possible for breeders to register their Kiko goats in Canada. Besides, they will be the ones that will make decisions for the future of this breed in Canada. This project would consider to maintain a degree of compatibility between Canadian and American registries.
It is as Canadian Kiko breeders, that we appeal your support in that project. To send a strong message, we need as much as possible Kiko breeders to be member of CMGA. Becoming member of CMGA, this means to support and to show solidarity with all the Kiko breeders that will give us the strength to convince Agriculture Canada to recognize the Kiko breed.
For the Kiko breeders that are not member of the CMGA yet and would like to support us in that project, we give you all the links that you need for the membership form and prices. You will see that the inscription has to be done at the Canadian Livestock Recording Corporation (CLRC). The CLRC has been mandated by CMGA to operate the Canadian meat goat registry.
http://canadianmeatgoat.com/index.php/site/join
http://www.canadianmeatgoat.com/uploads/forms/CMGA-memberapp.pdf
http://canadianmeatgoat.com/index.php/site/fees
You are in demand to become true actors for the development of the Kiko breed in Canada. Only Kiko breeders could participate at this project. The Kiko breed has a bright future as a maternal breed… altogether and with your involvement, we could insure to the Kiko breed a choice position in our Canadian meat goat industry.
Thank you for your support.
Northern Kiko Genetics now registering with IKGA
Québec, February 20th 2011
Hello Kiko breeders and/or Northern Kiko Genetics customers,
Northern Kiko Genetics, which is grouping Les Élevages Franc-Nord (Mario Duchesne) and Les Élevages Caprannie (André Lavergne), would like to let you know about its choice for the US registry to register its Kikos.
In the process of recognition of the Kiko breed in Canada, we need to work with a registry that will recognize the registration papers from other registries. The American Kiko Goat Association (AKGA) does not recognize the registration papers from any other registries. Besides, the AKGA is currently in troubles and it is threatening by so many fights. There is a high risk to split AKGA into two different registries. According to these problems and incompatibilities with the project to create a Canadian Kiko Registry, Northern Kiko Genetics has decided to move all its Kikos to the International Kiko Goat Association (IKGA) Registry. We will keep following things with AKGA problems to see what will be the future whit, but we have decided to move now when it still time. The IKGA is accepting other registration papers if the registry is held at the same high standards.
Here are the fees comparison between AKGA and IKGA:
fees | IKGA | AKGA |
Membership ($/year) | 40 $ | 50$ |
Registration | 0 to 6 months older 12 $ 10$ | 15$ |
DNA test | 30$ | 35$ |
Transfer | 8$ (60 days) | 10$ (45days) |
All cost are in US dollars
Until June 1st, IKGA is offering to the IKGA Membership some advantages for transferring their Kikos: $4 / transfer from other registries and $3 / transfer with at least 15 transfers submitted at one time. DNA is not required, but if your goats have been DNA'd through AKGA you may enclose the DNA Marker Report in your demand. Then if you had submitted the DNA report, the IKGA Certificate will show the DNA Status.
You may fill out the IKGA Registration Form and you just let blank info that does not pertain such as IKGA Registration Number.
A copy of the front and back of the AKGA registration certificate must be submitted for each goat.
So for the ones who would like to move from AKGA to IKGA, or want to be on both registries, look at your AKGA registration papers to see if you have animals DNA’d without reports and ask them to AKGA as soon as possible so you may join them to the IKGA transfer. It costs 5US$ each and you just need to print the “AKGA order form” and write the number of animals in the bottom line “DNA without new registration”. Besides you add a list of the animals you are asking the DNA report and also the payment must be in US money.
http://www.kikogoats.com/orderform.htm
Other information for the ones who would not want to quit AKGA.
AKGA registration cost is 50 US$ (DNA test included)
Or do both registrations like this:
First, do IKGA registration with DNA test for 40 US$
Second send DNA report and registration demand to AKGA for 15 US$
So, both registrations will cost a total of 55 US$ (5 US$ more than what we pay just for AKGA right now)
If you have any questions or need assistance for it, feel free to contact us anytime at: http://www.northernkikogenetics.ca/en/contact
And if you know any other breeders that they are not in this E-mail list, please send them the information.
Resistance to gastrointestinal parasites
Parasites are an important limiting factor among goats which might limit performance and profitability. Therefore, parasitism may have an important economical incidence. Kiko goats have been selected in the South island of New Zealand where the climate is temperate and humid in the low lands and it could be quite cold and humid in the region of higher altitude. Kiko goats have been developed in this mountainous region.The instigators of the Kiko breed has always been rigourously selecting for parasites resistance and/or resilience since the beginning. The Kikos from Northern Kiko Genetics undergo great trials for parasites resistance. Besides, they are adapted for pasturing from the most economical as possible and having a great productivity in these difficult conditions of management.