Thank A Farmer: Jeff and Amber Lamote say the protein they raise at A Triple J Ranch is the G.O.A.T.

Nov. 16—When it comes to protein, beef has been the undisputed reigning champion in America, but a couple from Cullman County have been on the forefront of an industry which could end up giving big-cattle a run for its money.

Jeff and Amber Lamote have operated A Triple J Ranch, located just outside of Good Hope, since 2010 and for the last eight years they have been advocating for the advancement of America's meat-goat industry.

While Jeff described himself as an avid beef lover, he said America's dominating cattle industry makes it a bit of an outlier on the global stage. The majority of countries primarily raise cattle, mostly as part the dairy industry, and rely more heavily on smaller livestock as their main meat source.

There are a number of reasons goat has been a staple protein source in Mediterranean and Middle Eastern countries, but one of the primary benefits Jeff said, is that it is much healthier than other meats. He said goats are unique in the way their bodies store fat around vital organs rather than intramuscularly. Excess fat is stored between the skin and meat, meaning that even plus-sized animals deliver a lean source of protein. He said goat meat is also higher in iron and lower in cholesterol than other traditional proteins.

"Basically, when it comes to the main meats that we consume — beef, pork, chicken and even lamb — goat is higher in everything that's good in every case and lower in everything that's bad in every case," Jeff said.

Goats can also be raised on a much smaller plot of land with the USDA listing the meat goat industry as one of the fastest growing segments of livestock production in the country. Jeff said a family could feasibly raise and produce enough meat to become self-sustaining with only a few acres of land.

Despite these benefits, the U.S. imports more than 60 percent of the goat meat it consumes each year. Jeff said one of the largest contributing factors for this is that parasites found in North America are much more deadly to goats than those in other parts of the world, especially those found in the Southeastern states.

"We import over half of the goat meet we consume in America even though we have plenty of resources to be self-sustaining. But, there is a weakness in goats which is internal parasites. It's really hard to have a big commercial goat operation like it is for cattle, hogs or poultry," he said.

Jeff said the solution could potentially be found in the Kiko breed of goats raised at A Triple J Ranch. Native to New Zealand and brought to the U.S. in 1995, Kikos are known for their hardiness and substantial weight gains, even without supplementary feeding. A study conducted at Tennessee State University in 2004 has also indicated Kikos are more parasite-resistant than other breeds.

Jeff said he and another local goat farmer developed a performance protocol which would help identify certain genetic traits to produce the most viable goats for meat production and began pitching the protocol to universities across the Southeast eight years ago. Mississippi State was the first university to complete the study earlier this year with 45 goats observed from 14 different states.

"The Southeast is the worst area in the country for parasites, so having that test down here shows us which goats perform well down here. Those goats will perform well everywhere and can actually grow into big commercial herbs on the central plains and western plains without the health issues. That's the key for this to be a viable industry here," Jeff said.

The Lamotes have also made strides to expand their operation into the dairy industry with the recent acquisition of Humble Heart Farms. Jeff said since relocating the farm from Elkmont, Ala. he has been working towards preparing the herd and his facilities to begin producing goat cheese as soon as February of next year.