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HISTORY
Goats have been associated with man for centuries, and are considered to be the oldest of domesticated farm animals.
Many people in industrialised nations, for whom cow milk is often part of the standard diet, would not appreciate that the goat population of the world is significant and that, in fact, more people in the world drink milk from goats than from any other animal.
Goats are particularly populous in the continents of Asia and Africa, where their easy-going nature, low maintenance and size has seen them become a low-cost ally in the provision of meat and milk for a large portion of the population. It is estimated that over 80% of the world's goat population is located in these two continents.
Dairy production from goats has become more of a commercialised operation in regions such as Europe, Oceania and North & South America, with cheese production being a significant industry in countries such as France.
The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations published a book "Observations on the Goat" in 1970, which provides many useful insights in to the history and benefits of goat milk. For example:
- "Archaeological evidence suggests that the goat is one of the oldest, if not the oldest, of the domesticated farm animals that has been associated with man for up to 10,000 years."
- "In Greek mythology, the infant Zeus was reared on the milk-filled teats of the goat-nymph Amalthaea, whose image was commemoratively established among the stars of the Capricorn group."
- "In the literature at the beginning of the century, it was not uncommon to see the goat recommended as a foster mother for children and books gave illustrations of children lying on a cushion to suckle the obliging nanny."
The goat played an important role in providing a vital part of the diet for early sailors and explorers. It is recorded (Horwitz, 2002) that a goat accompanied Captain Cook on the Endeavour and wore a silver collar which said "The globe twice encircled, this the Goat, the second to the nurse of Jove, is thus rewarded for her never-failing milk."
In addition, according to Chinese medicine, goat milk is believed to be of particular benefit to the throat and trachea. As described by Lee Su-Tan during the Ming dynasty and now published in "Pen Ts'ao Kang Mu" by the National Institute of Chinese medicine, goat milk is a mild tonic food suitable for general good health.
The nutritional value of goat milk has been acknowledged by many cultures for centuries. However, the cow milk industry around the world has developed in a more sophisticated manner in terms of production, marketing and research compared with the goat milk industry. The key benefit which the cow milk industry enjoys is that cow milk can be produced more economically than goat milk, largely due to the greater productivity of the cow. However, the economic advantages do not necessarily mean that cow milk is more suitable for human consumption. In fact, many consider that goat milk is closer to human milk.
Commercial goat milk industries around the world largely focus on production of cheeses, especially in Europe. In countries such as France and the Netherlands, the goat cheese industry is very large. DGC in New Zealand, on the other hand, has focused on the manufacture of nutritional products based on goat milk.
There has been less research in to the nutritional benefits of goat milk compared with the millions spent on cow milk, but now more research is being undertaken. This research is starting to explain the advantages of goat milk, and is providing a scientific basis that supports the many centuries of anecdotal evidence.
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