Fairview`s Billy Goat Help Save The Rhino

Fairview Wine and Cheese farm in Paarl has recently been awarded the highly respected Golden Horn Trophy by the International World Horn Foundation (IWHF) for the independent research they had conducted on their goat horns that could help save the rhino.

The project, otherwise known as The Big Horn Research Trust came about when Fairview’s Head Goat keeper, Dick Hardy decided to trim and clip the goat’s horns so that they could easily manoeuvre in-and-out of the infamous Goat Tower at Fairview. After clipping the goats horns successfully for months, Dick noticed that the local goat keepers were collecting these off- cuts, grinding them and creating a powder-like substance which they believed if they created a shake from it and drank it, it would boost their immune systems and strengthen their bones. Soon after drinking the shake they discovered that the goat’s horn powder contained aphrodisiac-like properties. Dick immediately brought this to Fairview Wine and Cheese owner Charles Back’s attention.

“Concerned for the welfare of our staff we immediately sent the goat horns away for in-depth analysis. Shortly after the research showed that the goats horns contained epimedium (directly translated to horny goat weed) which is the same substance found in Viagra,” says Charles Back

True to his reputation for being innovative and a visionary, Charles immediately saw an opportunity in the market. As goat horns regrow like nails do, the powder is a renewable source and therefore extremely profitable. Fairview and the Goat Herd workers erected the Big Horn Research Trust which will be aimed to uplift the local community.

The Big Horn Research Trust is responsible for harvesting the horns and set-up a facility where the horns are sent through a washing process, followed by hot air drying and finally through a very fine industrial graters, resulting in a powder like product, which is odourless and can easily be mixed with a variety of drinks and shakes. Small shipments to various markets, especially the Far East, commenced about a year ago, and today Fairview can hardly keep up with the demand.

“We can’t keep up, as China is taking all our stock,” says Head Goat Keeper Hardy Dick. As goat horn is cheaper and renewable, Back hopes that in future there will be no demand for rhino horn.