Sources of Meat

The most common sources of meat are domesticated animal species such as cattle, pigs and poultry and to a lesser extent buffaloes, sheep and goats. In some regions other animal species such as camels, yaks, horses, ostriches and game animals are also eaten as meat. To a limited extent, meat is also derived from exotic animals such as crocodiles, snakes and lizards.

For thousands of years, poultry supplied meat and eggs, cattle, sheep and goats provided meat and milk, and pigs provided a source of meat. These species are the main sources of animal protein for humans. The meat derived from cattle is known as beef, meat derived from pigs as pork and from chickens as poultry. Pork is the most widely eaten meat in the world accounting for over 36% of the world meat intake. It is followed by poultry and beef with about 35% and 22% respectively.

Estimated world livestock numbers (million head)

	1990	2000	2012	% change 1990-2012
Cattle and Buffaloes	1445	1467	1684	16.5
Pigs	849	856	966	13.8
Poultry	11788	16077	24075	104.2
Sheep and Goats	1795	1811	2165	20.6

The utilization and subsequent consumption of different animal species vary as cultural preferences and religious beliefs are observed.

http://www.fao.org/ag/againfo/themes/en/meat/backgr_sources.html


Jan Soloven
Jan Soloven, Trained chef, organic gardener, and experienced eater.
Answered Jan 19, 2017

Yes indeed. It’s not only a healthy alternative to other meats, it’s also quite tasty, very similar to lamb. Here’s what Livestrong has to say about it:

“Goat meat is a healthy alternative to beef and chicken because of its lower calorie, fat and cholesterol totals. A staple in North African and Middle Eastern cuisine, goat meat comprises 63 percent of red meat consumed worldwide, according to the Alabama Cooperative Extension Service. If you're looking for a leaner alternative to traditional meats, goat meat could be the answer.”

Goat Meat Nutrition Facts

https://www.quora.com/Is-it-healthy-to-eat-goat-meat