The Okinawan people have had a long love affair with goats, and the attraction continues. Okinawa City has held a goat festival five years running, and last year a Japan goat summit was held, attracting many farmers and researchers from around Japan. The Southern Livestock Market in Haebaru Town has created a market to sell goats, the first in Okinawa. Goat meat is eaten raw, as sashimi, or cooked in soup. Due to its strong taste and smell, there are many who actually hate it. However, there is now interest in goat's milk as a health food.Goat's milk is similar to human milk and because the size of the fat globules is smaller than cow's milk, it is more easily digested. Children with allergies to cow's milk or who get skin reactions are able to drink it. Cheese and ice cream are also made from it. The Southern Livestock Market believes there is demand enough to build a plant to process goat's milk in Itoman City.
