Scopes Goat & Sheep Farm is the subsidiary company that concentrates on the goat, sheep, and lamb rearing business in our operations. The company will focus on producing high quality, pasture-raised meats, and grass-fed mutton. We want to make goat and sheep farming to take a big part of the Sierra Leone’s economy and thereby impacting the livelihoods of the people positively. We know that goat and sheep farming has traditionally been sparse and carried out mainly for meat.
In Sierra Leone, over 59% of the population is Muslim. Ramadan and Eid al Fitr month – Muslims observe full month of Ramadan by fasting every day from sunrise to sunset. Goat or lamb meat is usually part of the menu for the evening feast. Eid al Fitr is the last day of the month when Muslims celebrate the end of Ramadan. During Eid al Fitr families meet and greet throughout the day and traditional foods are served to the guests. Lightly finished goat kids and lambs are usually in high demand, but the supply is always limited, which causes the price to skyrocket.
Eid al-Adha (Sacrifice Day) – On this day also, all adult Muslims who do not have any financial constraints are obligated to sacrifice a goat or a lamb and distribute the meat to the needy. Sacrifice day lasts for one day in Sierra Leone and yearling goat kids and six-month-old lambs are in high demand before this holiday. However, large market kids/lambs and older goats/sheep are also used. The animals must be healthy, non-pregnant and blemish free (no broken horns, no open wounds, intact ears, and no lameness etc). Some consumers prefer intact male animals. Age of the animal is more important than the weight however younger and heavier animals are preferred.
While the demand for these animals has always been on the increase due to the above mentioned reasons, the current increase in demand for goat and lamb can be, in part, attributed to the popularity of the meat and mutton. Believe it or not, the market for goat meat is on the increase. In Sierra Leone today, most restaurants, bars, or clubs, sell goat soups to their clients. These businesses need more supplies of the goat meat. While the demand for the meat and mutton is on the increase, the production for this food is shrinking. Goat farming in Sierra Leone is generally carried for subsistence purposes but Scopes Goat and Sheep Farm is now venturing into commercial goat farming because of the many income streams it has. Goats offer plenty of income opportunities for a smart farmer. Not only can Scopes Goat and Sheep Farm sell the animals meat and milk, but the company can also sell the milk, manure, skin, and fiber.
GOAT
Goat Meat is one of the most nutrient dense foods on the world. On a global scale, 65% of meat consumed in the world is goat.
Goat meat is a healthy alternative to beef and chicken because it contains fewer calories, fat, and cholesterol. Goat meat is a staple in many cultures including Sierra Leone
Besides the taste, there are several reasons why you should consider eating goat, if you have access to it.
- Three ounces of goat meat has about 122 calories, 0.79 grams of saturated fat and 3.2 milligrams of iron. This is compared to 179 calories, three grams of saturated fat and 2.9 milligrams of iron in beef.
- Goat meat has more iron, comparable protein and lower levels of saturated fat, calories, and cholesterol compared to beef and chicken. Goat meat is definitely superior nutritionally.
- Goat meat is lower in fat content and has less marbling in its meat, it is very tender and can be prepped over low heat to preserve tenderness and juiciness.
Apart from being delicious, goat meat is a high protein healthy red meat full of vitamins and minerals. Not only is it a great source of protein, but Goat Meat is also full of Vitamins B12, C, E, A, and K, as well as Iron, Calcium, Phosphorus, Zinc, Copper, Manganese, Selenium, Potassium, and Sodium. This combination of very high protein, vitamins, and minerals makes Scopes Farms Network to focus attention in this market.
Sheep and Lamb
Sheep in Sierra Leone are often raised under traditional range conditions, where flocks graze unfenced pastures under the watchful eye of shepherds or sheepherders. Some range flocks graze public lands, while others graze privately owned land.
While the Sierra Leone sheep industry is still dominated by small numbers of large operations, these operations continue to decline for various reasons. At the same time, small flocks are shrinking, especially in the north and north-east part of Sierra Leone, where the majority of lamb is consumed.
Scopes Goat and Sheep Farm strives to raise wholesome and healthy sheep and lambs, mostly grass and forage fed.
- Lamb is mainly composed of protein but also contains varying amounts of fat.
- The protein content of lean, cooked lamb is usually 25–26%
- Lamb meat is a high-quality protein source, providing all nine essential amino acids your body needs for growth and maintenance.
- Therefore, eating lamb — or other types of meat — may be especially beneficial for bodybuilders, recovering athletes, and people post-surgery.
- Eating meat promotes optimal nutrition whenever muscle tissue needs to be built up or repaired.
- High-quality protein is the main nutritional component of lamb. It also contains varying amounts of fat — mostly saturated fat but also small amounts of CLA, which has several health benefits.
LAMB
Vitamins and minerals
Lamb is a rich source of many vitamins and minerals, including:
- Vitamin B12. Important for blood formation and brain function. Animal-derived foods are rich in this vitamin, whereas vegan diets lack it. Deficiency may cause anemia and neurological damage.
- Selenium. Meat is often a rich source of selenium, though this depends on the feed of the source animal. Selenium has various important functions in the body.
- Zinc. Zinc is usually much better absorbed from meat than plants. It’s an essential mineral important for growth and the formation of hormones, such as insulin and testosterone.
- Niacin. Also called vitamin B3, niacin serves a variety of important functions in your body. Inadequate intake has been linked to an increased risk of heart disease.
- Phosphorus. Found in most foods, phosphorus is essential for body growth and maintenance.
- Iron. Lamb is rich in iron, mostly in the form of heme iron, which is highly bioavailable and absorbed more efficiently than non-heme iron found in plants
Lamb contains several bioactive substances — such as creatine, CLA, and cholesterol — that may benefit health in various ways
Other meat compounds
Aside from vitamins and minerals, meat — including lamb — contains a number of bioactive nutrients and antioxidants that may affect health:
- Creatine. Creatine is essential as an energy source for muscles. Supplements are popular among bodybuilders and may be beneficial for muscle growth and maintenance.
- Taurine. This is an antioxidant amino acid found in fish and meat but also formed in your body. Dietary taurine may be beneficial for your heart and muscles.
- Glutathione. This antioxidant is present in high amounts in meat. Grass-fed beef is particularly rich in glutathione.
- Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA). This family of ruminant trans fats may have various beneficial health effects when consumed in normal amounts from food, such as lamb, beef, and dairy products.
- Cholesterol. A sterol found in most animal-derived foods; dietary cholesterol does not have significant effects on cholesterol levels in most people