# Why don't we eat more goat meat? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 16, 2013, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-we-eat-more-goat-meat/653102 "2013-03-16T17:38:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2013, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-we-eat-more-goat-meat/653102/21 "2013-03-16T23:19:06Z")
> [@gaffa](#): > > In Chicago, any decent Mexican restaurant (i.e. one where the majority of the diners are Hispanic) has goat on the menu, as do most non-vegetarian Indian ones I’ve been to. It’s delicious. The cheapest way to try it would be to get a goat taco at a good taquería. It will probably cost less than $2. Are you sure? Goat is popular in India but rarely served in Indian restaurants. ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2013, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-we-eat-more-goat-meat/653102/22 "2013-03-16T23:36:57Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > Do you have a cite for that? I would have guessed pork. I wouldn’t, given pork is verboten for many people. > [@Really Not All That Bright](#): > > Are you sure? Goat is popular in India but rarely served in Indian restaurants. I’ve found goat dishes at many Indian/Pakistani restaurants in Metro Detroit, even in the buffet. Maybe has to do with availability. This area has a substantial south Asian population so goat is not hard to find; Hiller’s Market in Commerce Township has it. Bought it several times. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2013, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-we-eat-more-goat-meat/653102/23 "2013-03-16T23:58:10Z")
That might be it. There is a substantial South Asian population in Chicago, too. ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2013, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-we-eat-more-goat-meat/653102/24 "2013-03-16T23:58:30Z")
> [@jz78817](#): > > I’ve found goat dishes at many Indian/Pakistani restaurants in Metro Detroit, even in the buffet. I see at least one goat dish, usually the _halel_ choice, at various Indian/Pakistani buffets in Chicago and even at the regular ones I go to in Kansas City. The only problem is that it is usually a chopped-up bony cut, so you have to eat it carefully. ---
**Author:** ![mascaroni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/dc4da7/32.png) [@mascaroni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mascaroni)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2013, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-we-eat-more-goat-meat/653102/25 "2013-03-17T00:21:47Z")
_“Ram goat liver, good fe mek Mannish water Billy goat teet mek de earrings for your daughter Curry goat lunch put some bite in your bark It mek your daughter walk and talk.”_ Pluto. Curry Goat with rice and peas is a traditional Jamaican meal. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2013, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-we-eat-more-goat-meat/653102/26 "2013-03-17T00:28:59Z")
The few times I’ve had goat was at Indian/Pakistani restaurants, and it tasted like gamey lamb. I’m glad to hear that it isn’t always that way. ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2013, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-we-eat-more-goat-meat/653102/27 "2013-03-17T00:32:25Z")
> [@needscoffee](#): > > The few times I’ve had goat was at Indian/Pakistani restaurants, and it tasted like gamey lamb. I’m glad to hear that it isn’t always that way. _shrug_ I’ve taken a liking to things like lamb, goat, and venison. at least they taste of something. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2013, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-we-eat-more-goat-meat/653102/28 "2013-03-17T00:36:43Z")
> [@jz78817](#): > > _shrug_ I’ve taken a liking to things like lamb, goat, and venison. at least they taste of something. Agreed - I love lamb, but the goat I had was much gamier. ---
**Author:** ![dolphinboy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dolphinboy/32/330_2.png) [@dolphinboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dolphinboy)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2013, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-we-eat-more-goat-meat/653102/29 "2013-03-17T00:44:26Z")
Since goats have been raised since biblical times I assumed they were about as domesticated as an animal can get, but it sounds like they are a lot harder to raise than sheep or cattle, which makes sense. And since there isn’t a big demand for goat, at least in places where I have lived, it makes sense that there isn’t much supply in a mainstream supermarket. Ignorance fought. ---
**Author:** ![harmonicamoon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/65b543/32.png) [@harmonicamoon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/harmonicamoon)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2013, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-we-eat-more-goat-meat/653102/30 "2013-03-17T00:50:02Z")
We raised Nubian goats for milk. They are beautiful creatures with long floppy ears. They are very efficient milk producers. Compared to a cow, they give much more milk per quantity of food. Feed them good groceries, and they reward you with great tasting milk. We kept or sold the females. The males were castrated soon after birth and eaten at 6-8 months. Quite delicious. The females were like pets. The males we kept at a distance, because we knew their fate. ---
**Author:** ![KarlGrenze](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/dbc845/32.png) [@KarlGrenze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGrenze)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2013, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-we-eat-more-goat-meat/653102/31 "2013-03-17T00:55:52Z")
Yea, goats have been bred enough to have dairy goats, meat-type goats, and wool goats. Although, in essence, most goats (and cattle) do end up being “meat-type” at the end of their productivity. I’ve had goat and lamb at Indian restaurants, I love it. ---
**Author:** ![Ulfreida](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ulfreida/32/8014_2.png) [@Ulfreida](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulfreida)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2013, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-we-eat-more-goat-meat/653102/32 "2013-03-17T00:57:25Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > Do you have a cite for that? I would have guessed pork. And I’m distinguishing between “meat” and “poultry”, so chicken doesn’t count. I was quoting a goat book, so my source may be biased. Certainly in the middle east, Mexico, the drier parts of Africa, etc. There are many cultures that shun pork, but China of course is a gigantic consumer. I will do a bit of research. Goats are NOT harder to raise than sheep, or cattle. They are just a bit different. It really depends on the situation. They are certainly one of the very oldest domesticated animals. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2013, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-we-eat-more-goat-meat/653102/33 "2013-03-17T01:27:49Z")
> [@Ulfreida](#): > > Goat is the most commonly eaten meat, world-wide. I’d imagine that would mean goat is the most widely eaten food, not that more goat is consumed than other meats. ---
**Author:** ![chris.denning.1961](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f14d63/32.png) [@chris.denning.1961](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chris.denning.1961)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2013, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-we-eat-more-goat-meat/653102/34 "2013-03-17T12:53:08Z")
tastes like chicken! ---
**Author:** ![chris.denning.1961](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f14d63/32.png) [@chris.denning.1961](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chris.denning.1961)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2013, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-we-eat-more-goat-meat/653102/35 "2013-03-17T12:57:23Z")
I am amazed that no one has pointed out that the most likely explanation is a conspiracy by big agribusiness!🙂 ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2013, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-we-eat-more-goat-meat/653102/36 "2013-03-17T13:08:13Z")
When in the Caribbean, I eat a lot of goat. I’ve never seen it for sale in western PA, but I would buy it if available. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2013, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-we-eat-more-goat-meat/653102/37 "2013-03-17T15:44:41Z")
> [@chris.denning.1961](#): > > I am amazed that no one has pointed out that the most likely explanation is a conspiracy by big agribusiness!🙂 _ahem_ See post #17. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2013, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-we-eat-more-goat-meat/653102/38 "2013-03-17T15:53:34Z")
> [@needscoffee](#): > > Agreed - I love lamb, but the goat I had was much gamier. Interesting. I’ve actually found it less gamey than lamb, although lamb itself ranges in gaminess. It’s been reported, but goat isn’t difficult to find in Chicago, though I don’t agree that any decent Mexican place has it here. In my experience, it tends to be a specialty of birrerias (which specifically do goat). I live in a Mexican neighborhood where the restaurants are almost 100% composed of Mexican diners, and you have to know which places serve goat. It certainly isn’t even a majority of them. ---
**Author:** ![yabob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yabob/32/2821_2.png) [@yabob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yabob)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2013, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-we-eat-more-goat-meat/653102/39 "2013-03-17T19:32:51Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > I’d imagine that would mean goat is the most widely eaten food, not that more goat is consumed than other meats. Yes. Here’s an article with chart breaking down meat consumption by type for the top meat-consuming countries: > **[Kings of the carnivores](https://www.economist.com/graphic-detail/2012/04/30/kings-of-the-carnivores)** > > Who eats most meat? That has a link to full data for all countries, and worldwide. For “world”, they have: Beef: 9.5 Pork: 14.9 Poultry: 12.5: Mutton and Goat: 1.9 Those figures are Kg/year, per capita. In spite of the fact that pork is forbidden by religious stricture for many, we have populous nations like China where it is very popular, with the per capita consumption going up along with Chinese affluence. China currently produces and consumes about half the world’s pork. * * * In the US, you do find BBQ places serving goat on occasion. ---
**Author:** ![sidhechaos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e47c2d/32.png) [@sidhechaos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sidhechaos)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2013, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-we-eat-more-goat-meat/653102/40 "2013-03-17T20:21:21Z")
I wish farming them would become more popular, especially sine I’ve developed digestion issues with cows milk, have the same problems with soymilk, but tolerate goat milk fairly well. however, when I can actually find it here in outer redneckistan, its 5 bucks a quart. ☹ If I had enough land I’d build a little shed and stop having to mow the damn lawn. maybe get me a chicken or three while I was at it. (neighbor would prolly have a stroke, though it’s okay for them to have 8 big mouthy ass hunting dogs tearing up the place all the time) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-we-eat-more-goat-meat/653102.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-we-eat-more-goat-meat/653102.md?page=3)