All Things Goat

Ontario Invests in Goat Dairy Expansion

Martha Ann — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 03:27:48 +0000

ST-EUGENE, Canada — Ontario is investing $350,000 in the $1 million expansion of a goat dairy that’s grown from 20 goats to more than 3,000 since 1975.

The 500-acre family-owned Skotidakis Goat Farm is expanding its equipment to produce 30,000 cases of cream cheese bars and 21 million of liters of milk annually for major grocery chains in Ontario and Quebec.

The expansion will create 10 new jobs, boosting the dairy’s workforce to 55 employees, John Skotidakis told The Review.

“We’ve been hit hard by the economic breakdown and this is our way of bouncing back,” Skotidakis said. “I am optimistic about the future of our business.”

Oregon’s Mountain Goats On The Move

Martha Ann — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 03:13:48 +0000

BEND, Ore. — Oregon’s once nearly extinct mountain goat population now ranges from the northeast corner of the state in the Elkhorn Mountains to several hundred miles away in central Oregon.

Most of the region’s estimated 800 mountain goats roam the crags of the Elkhorns but more are being seen around Bend and north of the Elkhorns into Washington State, KBOI2.com reported.

Biologists recently captured a 2-year-old goat east of Bend, attached a radio collar and released him back into the wild to trace his wanderings.

“This male is dispersing, and that is what Rocky Mountain goats do, looking for new habitat and for other goats,” said biologist Steve George. “Goats tend to stay put in the winter, but we expect this one to continue moving once it gets warmer.”

Why Goats Have Twins

NJ — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 17:27:10 +0000

For a lighthearted look, albeit with merit, at why goats have twins, stop by Cadence Dairy Goats.

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Goats, Music and More

NJ — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 15:41:02 +0000

LEWISBURG, Tenn. — Goats, music, food and fun all in one place. What could be better? According to the Southeast Tourism Society, not much.

Goats, Music and More is a festival held in Lewisburg yearly. Starting as a small local festival, it now brags visitors from 50 states and four countries who attend for the music, the goat related products and, of course, the goats themselves. Slated for October 8-10 in 2010, make sure you make your calendar.

Interview with Brad Kessler

NJ — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 19:11:56 +0000

The author of Goat Song has some interesting things to say about his life in goat-dom in this interview by Manuela Hoelterhoff found at Bloomberg News.

A Place to Talk Goats

NJ — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 18:15:57 +0000

If you can’t enough of talking and reading about goats, take a click over to The Goat Spot. The forums provide a place to chat with other goat people about just about anything goat related. From questions to photos to how to cope with the loss of a goat, it’s an active site but you’ll need to register for access.

More Urban Goats

NJ — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 17:48:12 +0000

USA Today has joined the crowd in discussion of the merits of goats in urban areas. While the ASPCA is still tentative about encouraging the keeping of goats in town, the current climate is favorable. However, while some communities are allowing goat keeping, others like Elgin, Illinois, have recently banned goats within the city limits

Mafe

NJ — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 17:09:24 +0000

For something a bit different try goat meat with peanut sauce, a popular dish in West Africa.

6 to 8 servings

Oil — 2 tablespoons
Goat, cut into cubes — 2 pounds
Onion, minced — 1
Garlic, minced — 3-6 cloves
Ginger (optional), minced — 1 tablespoon
Tomato paste — 2 tablespoons
Tomatoes, peeled, seeded and chopped — 2 cups
Water or stock — 1-2 cups
Natural, unsalted peanut butter — 1 cup
Salt and pepper — to taste

Method

Heat the oil in a large pot over medium-high flame. Add the meat and sauté until lightly browned on all sides, 5-6 minutes. Remove to a bowl and set aside.
Add the onion to the oil in the pot and sauté until translucent, 3-4 minutes. Stir in the garlic and ginger and sauté another 1-2 minutes.
Return the meat to the pot, stir in the tomato paste and cook for about 1 minute. Stir in the chopped tomatoes and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer for 8-10 minutes to reduce the volume of the tomatoes somewhat.
Add enough water or stock to loosen the dish to a stewlike consistency. Simmer for another 10 minutes.
Stir in the peanut butter, salt and pepper and simmer for another 40 minutes, or until the meat is tender and oil rises to the surface of the dish. Add water as necessary to keep the dish stewlike.
Adjust seasoning and serve over rice or couscous.

Variations

Use beef or chicken instead of goat.
When you add the water or stock, stir in some vegetables such as cabbage, yams, squash, okra, eggplant, potatoes, peppers or carrots if you like. Vegetarian versions are made with only vegetables.
Some recipes call for cooking the peanut butter with the tomato paste, before adding the chopped tomatoes.

Starter Tips for Raising Goats

NJ — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 16:47:27 +0000

You’ve been reading ATG and you think you might want to try your hand at goat tending. Well, Locate Your Nest has a 5 point list for the prospective goat herder. It’s simplistic but simplicity is best when you’re first checking things out. We’d like to add a 6th point: fencing. Fencing will make or break a goat farm so definitely keep in mind your location and ability to build and maintain goat proof fences.

Spanish Cheese

NJ — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 17:19:56 +0000

As My Gourmet Connection puts it, “the cheeses of Spain may not be as well known as those from France and Italy…”, but if you aren’t familiar with goat’s milk cheeses produced in Spain, Cheese Plates 101 is a fine place to start.

While not an inclusive list, examples of Spanish cheeses made of goat’s milk offers a glimpse of tasty bits you may not come across every day.

Small Goat Wins Big Prize

NJ — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 15:00:42 +0000

SAN ANTONIO, Tex. –

It might not be fair to say the goat won the prize but the generosity of the people of San Antonio was definitely proven. Ten year old Dustin Mangus and his father, David, worked together raising a Boer goat which Dustin planned to show.

Sadly, Dustin was seriously injured in an auto accident which took his father’s life in December, 2009. Three facial surgeries later, Dustin’s goat entered competition and placed fifth. While normally a fifth place goat when sold would expect to bring around $3000, the people of Texas decided that just wasn’t enough.

The unnamed goat with a penchant for nibbling clothing brought a remarkable $150,000 at auction. While it won’t bring back Dustin’s father or help to overcome his loss, the proceeds will go far to offset medical bills and may leave enough for a college fund.

(Ed. note – our deepest sympathies go out to the Mangus family and friends)

Tidbits on Mountain Goats

NJ — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 19:21:29 +0000

Pricilla, spokesgoat for Happy Goats Soap, wants to educate us all about her cousins, the mountain goat. Weather hardy and weighing up to 300 pounds, Pricillia thinks the males are pretty hot and wishes they lived in more places than mountain ranges.