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With an estimated value of $ 40 million, New Jersey’s livestock and poultry sector is a significant contributor to the state’s agricultural economy. The competitive pricing of the U.S. commodity market structure combined with New Jersey’s higher than average feed and production costs can be disadvantages for our state’s livestock industry. New Jersey’s livestock industry is currently approaching a new marketing era with fewer commercial size operations and a trend toward alternative livestock and production methods. Direct or value-added marketing will be a driving factor for the livestock industry in New Jersey. The Department has worked to ensure that the existing structure of the industry is maintained and has facilitated growth in the emerging market structure.
The Department continues to work to protect livestock and poultry from disease.
A healthy industry is also largely dependent upon well cared for animals. The New Jersey Department of Agriculture administers numerous disease control programs to ensure the health of livestock and poultry throughout the state. As a part of the Garden State Dairy Alliance, the Department offers voluntary animal health programs such as, “New Jersey Cattle Health Assurance Program” and the “New Jersey Sheep and Goat Health Assurance Program.” These programs improve the management of livestock operations as well as assuring a safer food product for the consuming public.
Through education and inspections, the Department is active in avian influenza surveillance and eradication, periodically testing the live poultry markets, livestock auctions, and backyard flocks while helping owners to limit the risk of avian influenza in the markets.
With the introduction of the “Jersey Bred” logo, the successful Jersey Fresh brand has been extended to the livestock industry. The “Jersey Bred” brand will be promoted to the livestock industry in 2005.
In 2005 the Department will continue to implement the Federal-State Marketing Improvement Program grant to study the economics of raising and marketing goats. A significant new pool of goats, supported by marketing and educational programs, will result from this project.
In 2005 the Department will continue working to ensure animal health, enhance industry marketing, and encourage production while examining new and non-traditional New Jersey livestock products and markets for those products.
Livestock and Poulty Strategies
6.1 Ensure Animal Health
51) STRATEGY – Through the implementation of best management practices for bio-security, the department will 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
52) STRATEGY- Evaluate the branding of goat meat products under the Jersey Fresh program.
6.3 Encourage Production of Goat Products
53) STRATEGY - Assist farmers to develop and promote the quality of meat goats and to identify markets for their products. Complete the marketing component of the Federal-State Marketing Improvement Program grant to study the economics of breeding and marketing meat goats. Work with dealers to coordinate the sale of goats to major retail distributors.
54) STRATEGY - Work to match the life style of the new and beginning farmer in New Jersey to feed out goats on a seasonal basis to maximize inputs and reduce costs associated with feeding these ruminant animals. This will also aid in maintaining the open space of rougher grasslands as well as maintaining water quality.
55) STRATEGY - Implement a Halal Certification program for New Jersey meat goats.
6.4 Encourage Production of Grass-Fed Animals
56) STRATEGY – Apply for a second Federal-State Marketing Improvement Program grant to help develop marketing programs for the distribution of fresh and frozen grass-fed and organic grass-fed livestock products throughout the state. Support efforts toward offering grass-fed New Jersey meat products to farm markets throughout the northwestern part of the state.
57) 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 2006.
6.5 Work With Markets
58) STRATEGY – Continue the progress being made with 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. Initiate a dialogue with the auction markets to conduct graded sales.
59) STRATEGY – Support the marketing of locally produced poultry meat and eggs.
Review the laws and regulations that affect this industry to ensure that they address current industry models of production and distribution.
6.6 Promote an Annual Market for Sheep, Goats
60) STRATEGY - Evaluate the possibility of establishing a livestock sale at the Horse Park and other locations in New Jersey
61) STRATEGY - Evaluate methods to enhance support for the sale of market lambs and 4-H animals.
