The New Miracle Meat


I saw a TV news story this morning, stating that goat meat is the most widely consumed meat in the world... except in the U.S., where it amounts to only about 2% of the total meat eaten.

However, they say, that is changing. Goat meat has more of the good stuff, like protein & flavor; and less of the bad stuff, like fat and cholesterol. So, goat meat is now called the new miracle meat and is appearing on more restaurant menus.

About time!

I've liked goat meat ever since the first time I ate it at a Restaurant called The Bahamian Kitchen in Nassau. My wife wouldn't eat it because she doesn't like curry! Her loss!



I've liked goats a lot longer. In fact, I have long insisted that the goat, not the dog, is the animal that should be rated "man's best friend." Goats were one of the earliest animals domesticated for agricultural purposes. Uncounted millions of people have survived on goat milk and/or goat meat, while clothed in garments made from goat fiber or goat skin. I understand kid skin was once used to make 'bottles' for wine and is still used to make fine gloves. Goats eat plant material - any of it, including weeds, and are happy to live in the barn. This little animal, since biblical times, has sustained mankind.

I once owned a goat - a little, white nanny. She was a great pet but got me in trouble when she jumped onto the hood of my Dad's new car to nibble leaves from an overhanging tree limb. As a matter of fact, she loved to jump up onto any elevated surface, be it the dog house or a chicken coop. Guess it was some residual mountain goat genes.

Dogs are, indeed, trainable to be seeing eye dogs, and to work cattle or sniff for drugs, explosives and cadavers. They can do guard duty. But beyond that, they are disgusting animals. They pee on your carpet. Crap on your lawn. They bark and they bite. They love road kill and long to smell like it. They lick the nastiest places then lick your face or hands.

Cats are not readily trainable (I say 'readily' because someone out there has surely trained a cat to do something), but I haven't seen any seeing-eye-cats. But they still make cleaner, quieter companions than dogs.

So when it comes to animal friends of humans, goats should surely be first. Dogs edge cats for second place because of their train ability. But, they should always be housed in a kennel. If you want a house pet - make it a cat.