Great tasting meat….no kidding!

Gourmet restaurants in London are now following the menus of eateries in Northern Ireland in listing dishes featuring goat meat from Will Haire, a pioneering local farmer.

Will runs the Tynedale Goat Kid's business at the family farm on the windswept slopes of Divis Mountain overlooking a distant Lough Neagh. As well as farming a herd of pedigree Herefords and suckler cows on 160 acres, he's recently diversified successfully into the production of goat meat, reckoned by experts to be the most nutritious red meat available today.

Additionally, goat meat has higher levels of iron when compared to a similar serving size of beef, pork, lamb, and chicken. Comparatively, goat meat also contains higher potassium content with lower sodium levels.

"Goat meat is far leaner than beef, which means it is excellent for those watching their waistline. It's naturally lean, meaning it is much lower in saturated fat and cholesterol, having a naturally higher HDL count (the good cholesterol) and a naturally low LDL count (bad cholesterol).

"It is also lower in calories than other meats. Since the molecular structure of goat meat is different than that of beef or chicken, it is much easier to digest," he says.

He has already begun supplying goats meat to Mark Hix, the leading London chef and restaurateur.

"The interest being shown in our meat by Mark Hix is tremendously encouraging. There's clearly a demand for the meat and it's growing rapidly as more people become aware of its nutritional benefits and its succulent flavour," he adds. "We've also had interest from another up market restaurant in London."

Winner of a Nuffield Farming Scholarship, Will Haire began raising goats a year ago. His initiative offered farmers raising goats for milk an option for male kids. He now has a herd of around 100 goats on the farm. "Goat meat is recognised worldwide as being very nutritious. Seventy per cent of the world's population is very familiar with goat meat, and prefer it to all other red meats. It currently comprises 63 percent of all red meat that is consumed worldwide. Currently, goats are the main source of animal protein in many North African and Middle Eastern nations. Goats are also important in Southeast Asia, the Caribbean, and other tropical regions," he adds.

Pic caption: Will Haire, a pioneering farmer on the Divis Mountain farm, near Belfast