The goodness of goats

By ALAN CROWELL
Staff Writer
Kennebec Journal

FAIRFIELD -- Angelo and Dawn Pirri got into the goat-farming business in a small way.
With four growing daughters, Dawn Pirri liked the idea of having a fresh, healthy source of milk, so when a friend was willing to part with two of her own goats, she jumped at the chance.

That was back in January 2000. From there, things just sort of mushroomed, said Pirri, who owns the Sherman Farm in Fairfield with her husband, Angelo.

The family now milks 14 goats and has 15 kids, selling raw milk and soft cheese at the Waterville Farmers' Market as well as replacement does for breeders and male goats for meat.

And for the first time since getting into the goat business as a hobby, the Perri family turned a financial corner last year, going into the black by about $2,000.

"It is huge that we can actually make a profit," Dawn Pirri said.

Goat farming is increasing in Maine, according to the University of Maine Cooperative Extension, because the market for goat milk and cheese is growing and also because the animals are relatively easy to care for.

Goats are easy to please when it comes to pasture land -- they actually prefer eating leaves over grass -- and they require much less land or equipment than cows or many other farm animals.

The rising interest in goat farming is one reason the cooperative extension has organized a series of tours of goat farms.

Saturday, the Sherman Farm, named after the Pirri family's first farm, in Rhode Island, was the first stop on that tour.

Since moving to Fairfield from Rhode Island a little over two years ago, Dawn Pirri has watched as the local market has grown for her family's fresh milk and cheese.

Pirri said she also understands why more people are raising the animals.

"Goats are just terrific. Out of all the livestock animals, they have to be the most personable," said Pirri.

A goat will follow you around like a dog and they seem to know when you are upset, she said.

Then there is the cute factor.

"It is almost impossible not to fall in love with a baby goat," she said.

There is also something special about intimately knowing where your food is coming from, raising the animal yourself and then using the products it provides, she said.

Richard Brzozowski, a University of Maine Extension educator, said goat farming is increasing in Maine but still faces some significant hurdles.

One obstacle is the lack of a commercial slaughtering facility in the state. There are not enough goats being raised to support a commercial facility now, he said.

But as the number of people farming goats increases, it will approach the critical mass needed to support such a plant.

While goats are raised for their meat in many parts of the world, including Europe, Africa and the Middle East, their meat is still relatively unknown in the United States, despite the fact that it is low in fat and calories compared to beef.

Ethnic groups that prize goat meat are creating a market that more Mainers are taking advantage of.

Much of the goat meat to satisfy markets in the New York or Boston area comes from other countries and other parts of the world, said Brzozowski.

Maine farmers have the advantage of being closer and able to provide a fresher product, he said.

And he said the market for goat meat will increase as more people try it.

Before anybody gets into the goat-farming business, however, he suggested they first investigate the market in their area and then develop a plan to meet those needs.

The six remaining tours will take place in farms in Warren, Bradford, Newry, Starks, Dresden and Saco. More information is available at www.umext.maine.edu, or by calling (800) 287-1471.

This was found at Maine Today.