Goat Enterprise Tour Continues in Dresden Aug. 26
Contact: Richard Brzozowski, 800-287-1471, rbrz@umext.maine.edu
DRESDEN, Me. — The sixth tour in University of Maine Cooperative Extension’s series of Goat Enterprise Farm Tours will take place on Sunday, Aug. 26 from 2-5 p.m. at Dragonfly Cove Farm, 5 McCobb Road in Dresden. Those who attend can tour the newly licensed kitchen, sample goat-meat dishes and learn about forming a marketing group for goat producers. Dragonfly Cove Farm is a member of Thyme for Goat, a collaboration of goat-meat providers made up of five small Maine family farms. Farm owners Marge Kilkelly and Joe Murray would like to have folks pre-register so that they can anticipate numbers; please call UMaine Extension’s Cumberland County office at 800-287-1471 or e-mail aherr@umext.maine.edu to sign up for the afternoon.
UMaine Extension’s series of goat enterprise tours is taking place through September at farms around the state. Designed for anyone who wants to learn more about raising goats for meat, milk or fiber, these tours aim to teach sound goat husbandry and help support the growing Maine market for local cheese and meat. All tours are free and open to the public. No registration is required, but people should arrive at the designated tour start times. The last tour of the summer will take place at Liberty Farm in Saco. Visit https://extension.umaine.edu/ or call UMaine Extension’s Cumberland County office at 800-287-1471 for details.
Goats have been a traditional farm animal around the world for centuries. Considered browsers rather than grazers as they prefer leaves over grass, goats are known for their productivity and resourcefulness in grazing brush land. Raising goats is becoming increasingly popular in Maine, and it’s not hard to understand why. According to the American Dairy Goat Association, the fat and protein in goat milk are more easily digested than that in cow milk, and goat milk is often tolerated by people allergic to cow milk. Goat milk is also naturally homogenized. Goat meat, called chevon, is lower in fat than beef or even skinless chicken, and is one of the most commonly eaten meats worldwide.
For more information about raising goats, contact UMaine Extension Educator Richard Brzozowski, at 800-287-1471 or rbrz@umext.maine.edu. To be placed on UMaine Extension’s statewide goat mailing list, contact Melissa Potts at 800-287-7170 or mpotts@umext.maine.edu.