Good as goat! Expert knowledge yields milk that's second to none

GOAT'S milk doesn't feature highly on most people's shopping lists.

But why has this nutritious product been given the elbow, despite its proven benefits for sufferers of eczema, asthma, psoriasis, migraine and other allergies and disorders?

"Goat's milk has been given such a bad name over the years because of tainted milk," said goat breeder Jackie Welch.

She says the goat's diet is of paramount importance.

"Feeding them green cabbage can give the milk a funny taste," she said. "This is what taints it. Breeders should feed their goats white cabbage or cauliflower for the best results."

The taste difference is astounding. The milk from Jackie's goats tasted gorgeous - as fresh as sipping from a freshly-opened coconut and with a slight hint of the nut flavour.

Jackie, 50, a former teacher of mentally handicapped children, said: "People's reaction to goat's milk now is "Yuk." But it is absolutely gorgeous. Everyone who has tasted milk from my goats is complimentary. They say it is delicious. More and more people are catching on and drink the milk, as well as making yoghurt and cheese out of it. It has so many benefits, one being that it is easier to digest than cow's milk. In research goat's milk comes way above cow's milk for its benefits."

The Goat's Milk Processors Federation also says it is safe for people who have an intolerance to cow's milk.

Jackie bought a pair of goats nearly 20 years ago, keeping them in sheds in her back garden before taking out a loan to buy a shed close to her home on Skipton Road, Trawden

She said: "I always wanted goats.

"I can't explain why.

"I never saw them at shows or knew anyone who had one.

"Maybe it is because my star sign is Capricorn!" She began entering her prize animals in goat shows up and down the country, as well as distributing their milk to shops in the Pendle area.

Jackie said: "I enjoyed meeting people at the shows and my goats won quite a few trophies.

"I used to throw away the milk but kept it in the end because people wanted it."

She ploughed retirement money into renovating the dairy and goat shed, which once housed scores of the animals.

Colne-born Jackie, who has a son and two granddaughters, takes care of just three goats now - milker Betsy, goatling Lizzie and kid Molly.

For more information, contact the Goat's Milk Processors Federation on 0171 394 5439.

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