Goat check: Who’s got your goat?

University of Agriculture Goat show to feature various breeds.

FAISALABAD:

A three-day Goat Show is to commence at the University of Agriculture Faisalabad (UAF) from October 29 to 31.

A UAF spokesperson recently told reporters that various breeds of goats and sheep will be on display at the show. “There will be two main categories for judging the animals and these include quality of milk and beauty,” said one of the proposed judges for the event Rana Javed Qasim.

A UAF spokesperson said that various breeds of goats would be displayed during the Goat Show and hundreds of goat herders were expected to bring the best of their flock to the event.

“It’s a huge event and given that it will take place right around Eid will draw even more attention,” he said.

The event has been divided into various categories including the ‘Two Teeth male goat’ category which will feature the Beetal-Faisalabadi, Beetal-Makhi Cheeni, Beetal-Nuqri, Dera Din Panah and Nachi breeds. “We expect lots of entries in this category considering that Faisalabad has some of the best two-teeth goat breeds,” said a breeder Mujahid Ali.

The second category includes goats with more than two teeth and will feature the Beetal-Nuqri, Dera Din Panah, Nachi breeds.

Goat beauty competitions in the adult males and female categories will feature the Beetal-Faisalabadi, Beetal-Makhi Cheeni, Beetal-Nuqri, Dera Din Panah, Nachi, Teddy and Barbari goats and flock beauty competitions will feature five females to every male.

“Breeders will speak about the key features of each breed and their flock,” said a breeder Malik Khan. “I have three different flocks being featured in the show. Two are of the Nachi variety and the other is the Beetal Makhi,” he added.

Similarly, a milk competition will be held featuring the Beetal-Faisalabadi, Beetal-Makhi Cheeni, Beetal-Nuqri, Dera Din Panah and Nachi breeds. “A group of six judges will judge the quality of milk and there will also be stalls of deserts and bakery items made entirely from goat milk.

A variety of goat cheese will also be put on display,” said UAF volunteer Saad Haroon Khan.

Cash prizes and trophies will be given to winners in each category and UAF officials said that the event aimed to motivate goat breeders and herders.

“All interested farmers and breeders should have their animals registered before October 25,” he added.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 23^rd, 2011.