HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Exeter Times-Advocate, 1975-07-31, Page 15Goats friendly, intelligent
Feature story and photo by Janice Middleton
Times-Advocate, July'31, 1975 PagslA
romitaftwv itiiimighiopossa
•
Ladies, if you've a hankering to
try animal husbandry but are
wary of those great awkward
cows, try goats.
Goats are friendly, intelligent,
and responsive to human af-
fection. They are easily managed
and milked by women, in fact
many long time capriculturists
are women,
Philippa Cranston and Dan
Barry, a PHD of Pyschology at
the University of Western
Ontario, joined the back to the
land movement about five years
ago. They purchased a farm
.outside of Denfield. First they
had one goat and then there were
two. Pretty soon they were sold
on the goat.
The Canadian dairy goat is
currently receiving un-
precedented attention as a viable
agricultural entity. Interest in
the goat is being expressed by all
involved sectors including
producers, processors, con-
sumers as well as federal and
provincial governmental
agencies.
The Federal Government is
currently sponsoring an OFY
project for the summer. Involved
in: Opportunities with Goats are
Philippa Cranston, RR 3 Den-
field; Bronwyn Fitzjames of
London ; Toby Garten of
Thamesford; Maureen Mouritzen
of: Lucan; Nancy White, RR 4,
Denfield; John Gerez, RR 3,
Denfield; and Paul Trotter of
London.
The project has received a
substantial grant to do basic
research on the goat. Several on
the project are long time goat
keepers and are dedicated to the
promotion of the dairy goat in
Canada.
More than 75 percent of
Obtario's capriculturists are
wpmen. This project will
examine this unique pocket of
women in agriculture and will
promote through media, film,
speakers and reports a new and
viable role for women in this
traditionally male field.
Roughly 60 percent of the milk
consumed In the world is goat
milk. Properly handled, the taste
of goat milk is indistinguishable
from cow milk. It is nutritionally
similar to cow milk but has a
much higher percentage of low
chain protein, hence it is much
more digestible and does not
curdle in the stomach.
Many people especially infants
who cannot digest cow milk thrive
on goat milk, It is proven to be
effective in the treatment of
various allergic and digestive
disorders.
An estimated six percent of the
population uses goat milk for
therapeutic purposes. Mothers of
celiac children have out of utter
frustration tried goat milk and
for many it has been remarkably
successful.
In one instance a baby could
not tolerate any protein and
broke out in a rash when given
cow milk. "His diet consisted of
rice and vegetables," said his
mother. "The doctor suggested
soya milk, but I had to feed it to
him in such diluted amounts that
he was not getting much nutrition
from it," Searching in health food
stores for food suitable for her
baby she spied a tiny sign on a
bulletin board advertising goat's
milk. Desperate, though it was
never mentioned by doctors, she
decided to give it a try.
After two years on a goat milk
diet the three year old is a very
healthy little boy.Although he
shows an allergic reaction to
foods made with cow milk he
readily digests foods made with
goats milk.
Not only is goat milk good for
humans, many animals thrive on
it as well. The farm acquired a
small sickly piglet some time ago
that was certain to die. On a goat
milk diet the pig was a huge
success and has earned her name
of Amazing Grace.
Many goatkeepers `bootleg'
raw milk to private customers, In
order to create an opportunity for
this pending industry to acquire
legalstatus, Dan Barry, Chair-
man of Ontario Diary Goat
Society made a formal presen-
tation to the Milk Commission.
The Ontario Government
amended its Milk Act in 1973 in
include milk from goats.
Goat herds are now included in
the "Industrial Milk Producers'
Incentive Program." The
program designed to encourage
an increase in production of in-
dustrial milk in Ontario, prior to
1974, included only bovine milk-
producing establishments.
The fledging Goat Milk in-
dustry is receiving assistance
from the Ontario Ministry of
Health and the Food Science
Department of the University of
Guelph has been conducting
research into the properties of
goat milk.
"Legitimize the goat," says
Dan Barry, project consultant,
about the groups major purpose.
"We want to exercise ancient
myths about the animal and
educate people on their
usefulness."
A film is underway on the farm
which will do a lot to dispel old
wives' tales and inform people on
goat husbandry.
Known as the symbol of fer-
tility goats can have two to five
offspring at one time. Their
manure which is dry and odour
free makes excellent fertilizer,
The project will benefit local
cheese and yogurt producers who
have expressed a keen interest in
processing goat milk for many
years but have been unable to
obtain sufficient and regular
supplies. "Cottage cheese made
from goat milk is lighter and
finer in texture, than that made
from cow milk and the ice .
cream and yogurt is delicious,
says project leader Philippa
Cranston, who makes these
products herself, on the Denfield
farm.
Goat's head soup anyone? The
meat is a delicacy. Curried goat
is a national dish in Jamaica and
other Caribbean countries, It is
a deliciously flavoured, lean,
high protein meat unlike either
veal or lamb but without a trace
of "goaty flavour." Goat meat is
in high demand from ethnic and
gourmet markets bringing $2.75
to $3.50 a pound.
These hardy, disease resistant
animals can utilize pasture that
is too rough, too steep or too dry
for cows. The amount of pasture
required per animal per year is
116 acre as compared to two acres
of land," says `Flip' Cranston.
"The goats eat thistles, burdock
and thorn bushes so the pasture
has really improved since we
started keeping them."
More than 60 million skins are
used annually in the manufacture
41M11.—.111111•101111011fli
of kid leather for shoes and
gloves. An additional 60 million
skins are turned into Moroccan
leather for luggage, book,-
bindings and other leather
products.
Musk oil, so popular with men
and women today, comes from
the musk gland in the head of
male goats.
Cashmere wool comes from a
species of goat in the Kashmir.
Believed to be the first animal
to be domesticated, goats are
well known for their com-
patibility with other animals.
They are often chosen as soothing
companions to highly strung
race horses.Allen Scott of Lucan
purchased a goat from the
Denfield farm to run with his
cattle. Other animals follow
goats, so they are often used to
aid the loading of pigs and cattle
into trucks for shipment to the
slaughterhouses.
Contrary to . popular belief,
goats to not like tin cans, old
rubber boots or laundry, They do,
however, like the occasional
newspaper, they love rose
bushes, and are very fond of
young trees and vegetables fresh
from the garden.
In view of what may well be a
significant addition to Canada's
economic prosperity, it is
necessary that an information
and educational service be
established to consolidate and
develop the incorporationiof the
dairy goat into Canada's
economy.
HEY LADY that's my kid! Pretty Nancy White, 18, of RR3, Denfield
holds this cute baby at the Denfield farm where students are employed
on the OFY grant 'Opportunities with Goats'! T-A photo
1•1(.11T
eattraaeetteaft4
GRAND BEND
FLOWERS
on your opening
Friday, August 1
We trust our old friends and
customers will favour
Bill and Melva Rammeloo
with the patronage they have
shown us in the past
Shirley and Ross Smith
SHIRLEY'S
CANADIAN CRAFTS
elINOMP,"".11 411*
pening Friday, August 1
GRAND BEND FLOWERS
(AT THE FORMER LOCATION OF SHIRLEY'S CANADIAN CRAFTS)
Farmer Bill Is Expanding .
INTO TOWN!
Complete Floral Service
For All Occasions
• 4,
That's right! Farmer Bill of Shipka,
opens his new florist shop in Grand Bend
on Friday. To be open year round, the
new shop will feature many flowers
grown by Farmer Bill himself.
Grand Bend Flowers offers
area residents a complete
service featuring flower
arrangements for funerals,
weddings, corsages or
any other occasion.
We carry . . .
House Plant Supplies
Including potting soils, plant
foods, containers and books of
tips on how to care for plants ,
You are invited
Bill and Melva invite
all their old friends and
new to drop in at
their new location
and say hello. The
same friendly welcome
awaits you as at their
Shipka greenhouses.
Don't Miss . . .
The Terrarium Corner
We specialize in planting
all styles of terrariums
sj
k
1 ! Also Featuring . . .
• dried flower arrangements • gift plants including mums
• hanging plants and • large and small tropical
containers plants
kr
,1
,r
Nt;
You'll enjoy
THE CACTI CORRALL
Featuring every type of cactus available
Phone 238-8638 GRAND BEND
I