Dairy goat production in is an alternative livestock enterprise suitable for many small scale or part time livestock operations. Some dairy goat producers have been successful in pasteurizing goat milk and building an on farm jugging business; others have ventured into processed milk products for retail distribution. Goat’s milk has specialized markets because of its composition. It has higher digestible protein and fat content than cow’s milk. Interest in Dairy Goat Production has been growing recently for a variety of reasons:
- Dairy goats are less costly to buy and feed and dairy goat farming for profit is not very hard to do. Goat farming, in itself, is already a very profitable business. Goats are simple to manage and if given proper attention, they can live healthily.
- They also don’t need too much feed because they eat a variety of foliage, including thorn bushes and high branches that sheep can’t reach.
- Goats also reproduce anytime of the year with a short gestation period of only 150days.
Most efforts to improve dairy goat farming are focused on producing more and better milk. To do this, breed and animal health are given special attention. Particular breeds are more valuable as milk producers.
To add to this, goats are sources of a variety of commercial products. Among the most important are milk and meat.
Other products that we sell to earn income include hides, skins, manure to fertilize soils for growing crops and also to produce biogas, hide, mohair, leather, and cashmere.