Major award for Northern Irish goats' meat producer
Broughgammon Farm, a Northern Irish producer of goat kids' meat (Cabrito), has been recognised in the prestigious Countryside Alliance Awards.
The small company, which operates from a family-owned farm at Ballycastle in county Antrim, has been named Irish Champion in the awards for its enterprise in developing the market for goats' meat developed from its own 300 strong herd.
Broughgammon Farm is run by two brothers, Charlie and Sandy Cole, who together run the 48-acre farm on the North Antrim coast. They also harvest and process seaweed for sale to cosmetic and food companies as an ingredient.
The awards are the Countryside Alliance's annual celebration of rural produce and enterprise. Broughgammon Farm will now go forward to the UK and Ireland final.
The decision to focus on goats kids' meat was taken by the brothers, both in their twenties, following extensive market research to find a way to develop a sustainable business.
They have grown the goat herd from 30 to 300 over the past two years and now sell meat through markets and other outlets. They are also rearing Holstein bull calves for veal, as well as harvesting seven different types of seaweed from the shore near the farm.
Praising the enterprise of the duo, Lyall Plant, chief executive of the Countryside Alliance of Ireland, says: "The Cole brothers have demonstrated the vigour and innovative thinking to improve their business while at the same time proving to be a valuable asset to the local community.
"There is no doubt that Broughgammon Farm will go from strength to strength as the business continues to grow and develop and this, in turn, will only enhance the local community and economy."
The company has developed a range of value-added products including a cabrito burrito.
The family introduced the herd in 2011. The hand-reared goat kids are raised on a mixed diet of milk, haylage and cereals. The result is a delicately flavoured meat, that is lean, tender, low in cholesterol and sweeter alternative to lamb.