|
Voice of the BC Goat Industry |
Welcome to the British Columbia Goat Association
News & Updates
BCGA is committed to education and support for all goat owners in BC. Top of our list this year is the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and their pending Animal ID and Traceability program, which we expect to come into effect in 2026, or 2027 at the latest. Traceability includes reporting all livestock movement – to shows, to breed at another farm, to 4-H events, when selling goats as breeding stock or shipping to the auction or abbatoir. Even when a goat dies on your property, for any reason, and is eaten or buried, it needs to be reported. The full text of the incoming program can be found here: Canada Gazette - 2023. It's a lengthy document and introduces a program for goats, and is incomplete because several changes have come to the program. These will be ratified upon second publish in the Canada Gazette in the spring of 2026, at which point this program will become law. If you are baffled by the whole program, you are not alone. We have created a page on our own website devoted to understanding what the program means, how it works and where to get your animal ID tags. https://www.bcgoat.ca/traceability.html There is now a pressing need for all livestock owners (including those with a single pet goat) to register for a BC Premise ID and start thinking about what methods you plan to use to identify your goats and other livestock. There are no exceptions to the leg band or ear tag requirements, except, currently, young goats going straight to auction. ID/Traceability is now a permanent agenda item for our BCGA meetings, so if you have questions, join us tomorrow and we will do our best to help or to direct you to source material. We meet on Tuesday, January 13, 6:00 PM: http://meet.google.com/rfa-mcpg-xuk Is this program... Draconian? Necessary? Desirable? The debate continues among livestock raisers, with the majority bristling at what is seen as government overreach and control. However, what we think as individuals no longer matters, this program WILL SOON BE FEDERAL LAW, enforceable by warnings and fines to start… I am sure criminal prosecution will occur for escalating cases. I have been unable to get a clear answer on how the CFIA plans to enforce the regulations, and suspect they don’t know yet themselves – it will almost certainly start with inspecting the ID and records of animals at auction houses and abbatoirs, as those sites are relatively few and act as aggregators for livestock from around the country. Quarantines and purges of backyard poultry flocks in response to Avian Flu has shown the power of the CFIA and law enforcement, and how futile it is to resist. The recent case involving the complete culling of a large ostrich farm in Edgewood, BC, has further polarized the farming community, and those who own pet livestock must also take note – they DO count as livestock, to the CFIA. You may have seen a petition making the rounds recently, spurred by cattle owners who are just now realizing that their lives are about to get more complicated. Change.org petition: https://c.org/KdZRZqZVvf Western Producer article outlining cattlemen’s concerns, which reflect concerns of all livestock owners: https://www.producer.com/news/cattle-producers-worry-about-traceability-regulations/ Here is the latest update from CFIA, sent to the Canadian National Goat Federation (CNGF), of which BCGA is a member. Thanks to BCGA VP Diana Owens who forwarded this to us: https://www.canada.ca/en/food-inspection-agency/news/2026/01/statement-from-the-canadian-food-inspection-agency-on-proposed-amendments-to-livestock-traceability-regulations.html I do not think it brings anything new to the discussion, but it’s worth reading every word that comes from the agency, because it will affect us ALL. It is also worthwhile clicking on the links in the missive, particularly the “What we heard” document covering feedback from organizations and individual producers, a process that I participated in. Call me cynical, but I do not think they were prepared to make any changes based on feedback. https://inspection.canada.ca/en/about-cfia/transparency/consultations-and-engagement/completed/identification-and-traceability/consultation-proposed-changes-part-xv#a222 Again, if you have questions, reach out to us. WE'RE HERE TO HELP. Linda Carlson, President, BCGA BCGA Annual General Meeting and Edu Weekend
October 18/19, 2025 by Linda Carlson, President: What a great weekend we had in Cowichan, where VIGA (Vancouver Island Goat Association) hosted BCGA for an educational weekend and AGM. Our deepest thanks to all islanders who helped with arranging the meeting space, providing amazing lunches and great coffee aaaaaaaall day long! Special shoutout to Tom Thorbergson, who provided a projector for day 1. We couldn't have done any of this without the hard work of Diana Owens (Pres VIGA, VP BCGA) who was instrumental in continuing to drive this event when I had to spend some time away, and obtaining a grant from the Ministry of Agriculture to pay for our FAMACHA program. HUGE KUDOS! Highlights:
Elections were held and you can see our new Board of Directors at right. We are still awaiting a volunteer Director nomination from FVGBA (Fraser Valley Goat Breeders Association) and someone in our Northern region (from Prince George to the Yukon Border). We would also welcome a Director at Large to represent Meat Goats and also one for Fibre Goats - please email us at [email protected] Now on to 2026! My Action items completed:
At our November 12 meeting, we will decide on the location and date for our 2026 AGM and Goat-Uni weekend - bring your suggestions! |
MeetingsMonthly meetings will be announced on Facebook and are open to all current members and first time guests. Max ONE hour per meeting!
Normally held the second Tuesday of the month, 6:00 PM. We will meet on Tuesday, Jan 13, 2026. Join the call by clicking on this link at 6:00 PM! 2025/26 BCGA BOARD
NEW MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION FORM!
We have a new form that will address some of the clunky issues of the old one, and will make recordkeeping easier. It's time to renew for 2026 - click on the image above to take it out for a spin! Our rates remain the same, $45/single, $60/family. Even if you hate meetings, join us, skip the meetings and your money will go to a good cause - education and support of goats and goat programs in BC. ~Linda |
|
What is M. Ovi? Click here to find out!August 2020- Due to the changes in policy in the Yukon, small ruminant producers may be looking to rehome M. ovi positive animals into BC. It is critical that known M. Ovi animals not be relocated into areas where wild sheep or goat reside. Click here to find out more.
|
|
|
|
The BCGA was founded over a hundred years ago, in 1917!
The BCGA Mission:
To increase public awareness of the value of goats and goat producers, disseminate information about breeds of goats and their care, bring together goat keepers around the province, and encourage young people with their involvement with goats and 4-H clubs.
The BCGA Mission:
To increase public awareness of the value of goats and goat producers, disseminate information about breeds of goats and their care, bring together goat keepers around the province, and encourage young people with their involvement with goats and 4-H clubs.
British Columbia Goat Association (c) , BC Goat Association (c) , bcgoat (c), BC-Goat (c), are copyright of the British Columbia Goat Association.
