The awarding of $485,000 in funding for a Centre of Excellence for Goat Research and Innovation will provide new research opportunities for Trent faculty.

The funding announcement took place at a local goat farm near Bobcaygeon on July 5, 2011.

The new centre will research ways to improve goat herd health, fertility and breeding strategies, as well as explore new products and markets.  The Centre was also developed in partnership with the Greater Peterborough Innovation Cluster, Ontario Goat, the Ontario Dairy Goat Co-Operative, Trent University and the University of Guelph.

“Trent University is very pleased to be partnering with the University of Guelph on this project,” said Prof. Neil Emery, Vice President, Research.  “Trent has research capabilities and infrastructure in DNA profiling which we can employ in future goat genetics projects.  We can also use Trent’s leading edge analytical equipment in both our Water Quality Centre and Biomaterials laboratories for potential research projects that make use of the health attributes of goat’s milk.”  Professor Emery noted that the partnerships with the Cluster and the industry groups have made this centre come to fruition.

Faculty from Trent and Guelph will be able to submit proposals to access the centre’s funding for new research initiatives.

“This new Centre of Excellence is an excellent example of the community, government, industry and universities working together toward a worthy goal,” said Jeff Leal, MPP, Peterborough.

There are about 2,000 goat farmers in Ontario that produce milk, meat and fibre, including about 270 dairy goat operations with farm gate sales of $25 million annually. 

An important element of the project is to develop this emerging agriculture sector in eastern Ontario and respond to an emerging, international and regional demand for healthier, goat-related products.