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With an estimated value of $105 million, New Jersey’s livestock and poultry sector is a significant contributor to the state’s agricultural economy. But challenges including rising feed and production costs, drought conditions and a limited distribution infrastructure in New Jersey are leading to fewer and fewer producers.
In addition, as trends in diets change and the states ethnic community grows, so does the demand for livestock products. For example, New Jersey’s goat population is not genetically suited for meat goat breeding and therefore cannot supply the growing local demand. To establish meat goat breeding in New Jersey, a specific breeding stock would need to be introduced.
A healthy industry is also largely dependent upon healthy animals. The New Jersey Department of Agriculture currently administers numerous disease control programs to ensure the health of livestock and poultry throughout the state. The Department is active in avian influenza surveillance and eradication, periodically testing the live poultry markets and conducting educational inspections to ensure the owners are limiting the risk of avian influenza in the markets.
In 2003 the Department worked to protect livestock and poultry from disease threats and developed a “Jersey Bred” logo to assist in the promotion of livestock raised in New Jersey. The Department also received a Federal-State Marketing Improvement Program grant to study the economics of breeding and marketing goats.
In 2004 the Department will continue working to ensure animal health, enhance industry marketing efforts, and encourage production while examining new and non-traditional New Jersey livestock products and markets for those products.
6.1 Ensure Animal Health
54) STRATEGY - Continue working to protect the health of the livestock and poultry industry from the immediate threat of devastating and economically damaging diseases. Work with owners of livestock to assure awareness of disease threats and general animal safety measures.
6.2 Enhance Marketing Efforts
55) STRATEGY- Work to promote the new “Jersey Bred” logo to the livestock industry in the state. Expand the “Jersey Bred” logo program to include meat goats.
56) STRATEGY - Assist farmers in identifying markets for their meat products. Develop a strategy to promote the potential for livestock product sales at community markets and other sales venues.
6.3 Encourage Production of Goat Products
57) STRATEGY – Evaluate the possibility of assembling a Halal Fact Sheet to address some of the major ethnic variations of Halal compliance. Explore the possibility of Halal Certification for New Jersey meat goats.
58) STRATEGY – A Federal-State Marketing Improvement Program (FSMIP) grant awarded in 2003 will study the economics of breeding and marketing meat goats.
6.4 Encourage Production of Grass-Fed Animals – Beef, Sheep, Meat Goats
59) STRATEGY – Apply for a second FSMIP grant to help develop marketing programs for the distribution of fresh and frozen grass-fed products throughout the state. Support efforts toward offering grass-fed New Jersey meat products to farm markets throughout the northwestern part of the state.
60) STRATEGY – Research the feasibility of conducting an economic impact study to determine the benefits of offering fresh meat products to farmers markets statewide by Summer 2005.
6.5 Work With Markets
61) STRATEGY – Encourage the state’s livestock markets to upgrade their facilities and adapt their operations to better meet the particular needs of both traditional and ethnic markets.
6.6 Promote an Annual Market for Sheep, Goats
62) STRATEGY – Consider establishing a seasonal market for live sheep and goats at the Sussex County fairgrounds.
