HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1997-03-19, Page 35THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19, 1997. PAGE A-15.
Agriculture '97
Goat milk provides alternative for lactose-intolerant
Waiting patiently
Unlike dairy cattle which are milked from the sides, dairy
goats are attached to the milking machines from behind.
Eleanor Miller watches over the waiting herd as the first
five are milked.
Continued from A-13
sends them to Dave," says his wife.
One advantage of dairy goats
over cattle is their ability to pro
duce milk year-round, says Miller.
It can also be extended for two
years, without the necessity to
breed each year.
In continuing the comparison
with cattle, Miller says goats are a
little more labour intensive, partic
ularly when it comes to trimming
their hooves.
"That is the worst part about
dairy goats. The hooves have to be
trimmed every three to four
months. Maybe we will eventually
get an electric trimmer," he smiles.
The problem with the hooves is
intensified by Miller's belief that
dairy cattle are not grazing animals.
"The goats get out into the fields,
eat worms' eggs, then can't be
milked when they have a belly full
of worms which need to be treated.
Mine don't go out in the pasture,"
he says.
"I don't think they really like
being away from the herd either,
says Eleanor. "We had a group of
yearlings we pul out and they just
followed us back to the bam."
"They didn't eat well either,"
adds Miller. "Goats really are fussy
eaters."
The Millers are developing their
own purebred Saanen goat herd,
gradually eliminating the Alpines
and Toggenburgs.
We have a purebred billy now
and we are only keeping the Saanen
kids, says Eleanor.
Dairy goats arc inspected the
same way dairy cattle are, says
Miller, and by the same inspectors.
The quality control is the same.
Goat milk has often been touted
as a substitute for human milk for
infants as the nutrient component is
similar, says a Supply and Services
Canada report, from 1987.
Goat milk is more palatable for
those with cow milk allergies
because the protein component is
different and it has 13 per cent less
lactose. ,
Because the fat particles are
smaller, making it more easily
digested, goat milk is ideal for peo
ple with digestive upset of ulcers,
says the Ontario Goat Milk Produc
ers (OGMP).
As for the cheese produced from
goat's milk, OGMP says the soft
cheese has lower calories, choles
terol and fat, when compared to
other soft cheeses such as cream
cheese and Brie. It is also an excel
lent source of calcium.
Ontario accounts for 43 per cent
of the country's dairy goats, with 3
million litres of milk produced by
the 80 commercial operations.
Internet
finds place
in agricultural
management
t
By Bonnie Gropp
Citizen staff
Is it hype or a helpful tool in
farm management?
The internet has become the
catch phrase of the 90s. More and
more people are communicating
less and less by phone or mail and
more and more by e-mail. With its
ever-growing list of contacts and
information web-sites, the internet
has been chatted about as the essen
tial resource tool.
But is not being on-line being
out-of-touch or is it perhaps not for
everyone?
Neil Hemingway of Neloway
Farms, outside of Brussels, got on
board in March of 1995, primarily
for the research capabilities the
internet offered his son. Just getting
up and ready, however, posed some
challenges, and he recommends
that new subscribers should sign on
with an internet provider, on condi
tion that to get your business they
have to get things started.
With a year having passed now,
though he has seen a hint of the
internet's capabilities, he admits he
is still spending a lot of lime dis
covering them. "I think we are on a
learning curve. There is a wealth of
information out there, but you don't
know the answer if you don't know
what the question is."
David Johnston of Agribiz.net,
which specializes in developing
internet plans as a guide to making
appropriate use of available tech
nology, agrees that simplifying
things so those in the agricultural
industry can access specific infor
mation directly is a key project for
internet suppliers. "The best advan
tage for farmers on the internet
right now is the ability to look at a
full version of information from a
magazine or newspaper at the touch
of a key pad. " There are a few
needs specific to Ontario, however,
Continued on A-16
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Cordially invites you to attend our
12th
ANNIVERSARY SALE
To thank you for your support we offer a
ONE DAY CASH & CARRY SALE
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Friday, March 21,1997
Refreshments ~ Open until 9 p.m.
* Some restrictions apply. All items must be paid for the day of sale
No Refunds or Returns