Bill Niman left Niman Ranch, the natural meat company, in August 2007 after a new management team brought changes he did not agree with. Since then, he’s been raising goats, heritage turkeys, and entirely grass-fed beef. When he was at Niman Ranch his cattle went to “finishing” lots to eat grain before they were slaughtered, a practice that caused Alice Waters to eventually drop his meat in 2002 after 20 years on the menu at Chez Panisse. Now Niman, who doesn’t own the rights to use his name on meat products, has started over with new animals, staying true to his ideals of how animals should be raised. The goats are the risky new addition and he’s hoping they will anchor his comeback. Kim Severson looked into his goat operation in the N.Y. Times last year, noting the taste was like “lamb with a big personality.” An article in Sunday’s S.F. Chronicle goes into more detail on Niman’s battles with the new Niman Ranch owners.