National goat organization to join livestock alliance

Wednesday, February 3, 2016

by SUSAN MANN

The Saskatchewan-based Canadian Meat Goat Association is moving its head office to Ontario and joining two Ontario-based livestock groups to share office space and staff at an office in Guelph.

Ontario Goat and Veal Farmers of Ontario already share office space and staff as part of their strategic alliance that was formed in 2010. Ontario Rabbit was also part of that alliance but left about two years ago, says Jennifer Haley, executive director of Ontario Goat and Veal Farmers of Ontario.

The alliance also provides administrative services to the Canadian Veal Association and the Centre of Excellence for Goat Research and Innovation.

The alliance was originally called the Ontario Livestock Alliance, but with the arrival of Canadian Meat Goat, the partnership has changed its name to Livestock Alliance to reflect the industry association’s national standing, says Haley.

Each of the groups in the alliance has its own board of directors, governance structure, decision-making processes and finances, Haley explains. Canadian Meat Goat joining the alliance will be like “all other organizations in our partnership. We share in the office and staff resources.”

This isn’t an amalgamation or a “condensing of organizations,” she says. Canadian Meat Goat will still be a completely separate group. It was incorporated in 1995 under the Animal Pedigree Act and supports the development of a profitable meat goat breeding stock and meat industry in Canada. It provides animal registration, member education and industry promotion for members along with partnering with other groups to sponsor research and market expansion.

Decisions about whether Haley will have the title of executive director for Canadian Meat Goat haven’t been made yet. “We’re still in transition and we’re still trying to figure out the needs of the organization,” she says.

Stuart Chutter, president of the Canadian meat goat association, says in a Jan. 28 news release joining the alliance allows the organization “to utilize our limited resources to deliver greater value back to our members across Canada.”

The partnership will also enable Ontario Goat and Canadian Meat Goat to collaborate and cooperate on projects and services. “There is so much opportunity for the goat industry to improve and develop,” Chutter says.

The goal of the livestock alliance is to bring greater efficiencies and cost savings to its member organizations. Examples of services the alliance provides include: project implementation, communication, financial management, board or project management, taking notes, meeting minute taking or “any of the work that an organization would require,” Haley says.

Canadian Meat Goat is in the process of moving files to the livestock alliance office in Guelph and setting priorities in advance of its annual meeting scheduled for April 9 in Ancaster, the release says. BF