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The
Williamson Farm and Nursery was established in 1988 in the rolling hills
along the South Anna River in rural Hanover County, Virginia. The original
farm was 25 1/2 acres of part wooded and part open pastures. The farm
is used to grow nursery stock in greenhouses for the Williamson's landscaping
business in Richmond, as well as being home to River Farm Kikos. The
farm is divided into small paddocks of 3 acres+ which the animals are
rotated through as needed. Located on the property is an old clapboard
homestead from the early 20th century, as well as an old graveyard with
stones dating back to the Civil War. Water is plentiful with irrigation
coming from the river and water troughs filled with clear, clean water
from a deep artisian well. Some of the pastures wind along the river
providing the energetic Kiko browsers ample opportunity to feed amongst
the varied vegetation of rich bottomland. The South Anna River is a
clean, rural river that works its way through the countryside and woodlands
of central Virginia. During winter and spring heavy rainfalls make the
river flood, depositing rich topsoil along the bottomlands of the Williamson
Farm. Recently the grazing and forage producing areas of
the farm was increased with the addition of more acres of pastureland
for the use of River Farm Kikos. This extra land will allow River Farm
Kikos to continue to expand and raise more top-quality Kikos, based
on a forage-only production system. The goats at River Farm Kikos are
raised with careful attention to health needs with goat mineral/protein
blocks provided in winter, free choice access to quality orchard grass/lespedeza
hay but with little or no grain or concentrate provided. Our goal is
to raise a breeder goat that will forage for its needs while raising
multiple kids without any assistance.
The farm has ready access to the markets of the north
and east with that areas myriad ethnic groups. The demand for goat meat
has increased substantially since the mid-1980's when Williamson Farm
and Nursery was established. Although the regions predominately white,
middle class population consumes relatively little goat meat, the growing
immigrant population prefers goat meat. Nationwide goat is always sold-out
at small, ethnic corner markets as well as in large chain grocery stores.
This trend is indicative of greater things to come for the leanest,
cleanest and - perhaps surprisingly - the most popular meat in the world.
Goat
breeders in the United States have been quietly increasing their herds
to meet demand from our country's growing Hispanic and Muslim populations.
More than 1 million goats will be processed for meat in the United States
this year, an increase of 955,000 goats from 1977. Also additional demands
for quality goat meat is coming from the "health food" sector
and the yuppie community now beginning to consume goat meat as a gourmet
item. "Eat More Goat!"
The future of River Farm Kikos at the Williamson Farm looks bright with the amazing Kiko goat at the helm!
