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Goats are incredible animals. They’re bright, inquisitive and full of character. They are very sociable and get depressed when separated from other goats. Goats still live wild in countries from Turkey to Afghanistan, and there are many feral populations living elsewhere in the world. Sadly, these wonderful creatures are exploited and killed all over the world for their meat, milk and skins.
Do People Eat Goat in India?
They do. Just as people right across Asia, Africa and the Middle East eat goats. In India – where both beef and pork consumption are restricted by religious beliefs – goat meat is eaten in roughly the same quantities as chicken.
What Is Goat Meat Called In India?
Indians tend to call goat meat mutton, but that word can also mean the meat of sheep. The word chevon means the meat of goats only.
What Is The Price Of Goat Meat In India?
The meat of goats tends to be more expensive than either beef or chicken in India – and can be up to $24 for a kilo.
Why Is Goat Meat So Expensive In India?
There are a few reasons. Other animals like chickens are easier to farm and are slaughtered at a much younger age. This means cheap meat can be turned out more quickly and easily. Goats require more space, cannot survive in the appalling conditions chickens are reared in, and they take longer to reach slaughter weight. Plus demand tends to outweigh supply, and so the price rises.
Does India Export Goat Meat?
India has around 35 percent of the world’s farmed goats, and 95 percent of the meat produced is consumed locally. It does export some, but compared to many other nations, very little.
Is Eating Goat Meat Healthy?
The World Health Organization has said that all red meats are ‘probably carcinogenic’ so no. The meat of goats may have less fat and cholesterol than beef but it has a lot more fat than many plant-based alternatives, which have no cholesterol at all. The diet that is best for our bodies is one that puts plants front and center, and avoids animal products as much as is possible.
Disadvantages Of Goat Meat
Eating goat meat is connected to a host of health issues, just like eating any red meat. There is clear scientific evidence showing a link between high intake of red and processed meats and a higher risk for heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and premature death.
Heart Disease
A 2021 study of 20,000 people recently found that larger intakes of red and processed meat are associated with worse heart function. Those who ate more red meat had smaller ventricles (the pumping chambers of the heart), poorer heart function, and stiffer arteries. Previous studies have shown links between greater red meat consumption and increased risk of heart attacks and dying from heart disease.
Cancer
Red meat is associated with cancer and particularly bowel cancer. Haem, the pigment that makes blood red, can damage cells and cause bacteria in the body to produce chemicals that damage our DNA. This can lead to cancer. There are also other chemicals produced when meat is cooked at high temperatures, such as roasting or grilling, and these are linked to cancer, too.
Type 2 Diabetes
Research has found that eating just one serving a day of red meat could raise the risk of type 2 diabetes. The study analysed the diets of more than 200,000 people, and found that eating unprocessed meat could increase the risk of diabetes by up to 20 percent.
Premature Death
A 2019 study of more than 53,000 women and 27,000 men found those who ate more red meat had a higher overall mortality rate. They found that an increase of just half a serving of unprocessed red meat per day increased the risk by 9 percent. For processed red meat, it was 13 percent.
What Can You Do?
To protect our health and to protect animals we should avoid eating goats and all other animals, too. We don’t need to eat them. Our diets are healthier without meat, and they are no less tasty. In February, Million Dollar Vegan gave out plates of vegan mutton biryani to visitors to Vetal Hill in Pune, India. Not only were they incredibly popular, no one could tell the difference between the faux meat and the meat from goats.
Conclusion
There are now a billion goats being farmed in the world. Each individual will be slaughtered for a product that none of us need, and which could cause us to suffer from heart disease, cancer, diabetes and premature death. Why would we choose this when there are delicious plant-based meats made by companies like Good Dot, that give us all the flavors we love without any of the suffering?
