The most prized goat in the town of Al-Majma'a north of Riyadh died Saturday from a disease which has afflicted a number of display goats in the region causing both dismay and monetary losses to their owners. Mazen Al-Muzayyini, owner of the deceased goat, said the beast was worth SR75,000, and that he had also lost some 50 other goats worth SR250,000 to the illness. “I went to the authorities who gave me medicine for the animals, but unfortunately many had already died,” Al-Muzayyini said. “We haven't received any reports of abnormal numbers of cattle deaths,” an official from a local agriculture authority said. “We often conduct precautionary inspections in the region, and that is what we did a few days ago upon the appearance of the ruminant illness.” Meanwhile, a goat breeder in the town of Al-Leith has reported the birth of a baby goat that gives milk. Farm owner Mohammed Bin Shaman says he noticed a few days ago changes in a female goat in his herd which was developing small teats, and upon further investigation a day later was able to produce from the animal more than half a liter of milk. A local veterinarian said he had never seen the likes of it in all his years working in the profession. “I believe it is due to a hormone defect in the baby goat,” the vet said. – Okaz/SG (Hamid Al-Iqbali contributed to the report from Al
