Many potential consumers of goat meat are from different ethnic and religious groups that have specific requirements and rules for food. Many of these groups want to know the person who produces their food or to produce it themselves. Often they have specific requirements for processing meat so it qualifies under their religious rules. If you wish to market to them then you will need to better understand these differences. People practice Islam need animals to be …
by Yi Yang; Ohio Cooperative Development Center
Russ Wolford served as the facilitator for the Somalian focus group, which consisted of two meat market owners, one male and one female; a male consumer of halal meats, and a woman who works with Somalian women and is a consumer. The group indicated that goat meat and lamb meat are used interchangeably in their diets, but 85 percent of Somalians would prefer goat meat if a good quality …
Background
Interest in meat goats has grown rapidly over the past 10 years. Goat is the most frequently consumed meat in the world. In the United States, meat-goat production is increasing because of goats’ economic value as efficient converters of low-quality forages into quality meat, milk and hide products for many specialty markets. Preference for goats is growing in populations of health conscious, ethnic and faith-based consumers. National estimates indicate there is …
