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Dairy Goats

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General

Dairy goat numbers in the UK have remained constant at around 33,000 over the past two years. Sixty per cent are kept in small herds for house milk production.
The main breeds are British Saanen, British Toggenburg, British Alpine and Anglo Nubian. British Saanen goats produce higher milk yields and are most commonly used commercially. Anglo Nubians produce a higher fat content. Average lactation length is 280 days with average yields of 500 - 1,200 litres (depending on intensity of inputs). At peak this represents 4 litres/day. Main outputs are fresh, UHT & frozen milk, ice cream, yoghurt, cheese, goat meat and breeding stock. Average commercial herd size for milk production is 200 goats or, for cheese production, 100 goats. The largest herd is around 3,000 goats and there is an element of polarisation in the industry because many smaller producers got out of the industry when the Dairy Products (Hygiene) Regulations came into force in 1995.

Please remember that special consideration must be given to the VAT aspects of diversification as the new activity may not be treated the same as the existing farm business from a VAT standpoint.

Market

Goats’ milk is perceived by some as a healthy product and provides an alternative for those who are allergic to cows’ milk. It is known to alleviate symptoms of asthma or eczema. The main products from a dairy goat enterprise are fresh pasteurised milk; frozen milk; cheese, yoghurt and ice cream. there is a well established market with marketing handled by the farmers' co-operative Goat Farmers UK. About 75% of British production goes for cheese making, much of which is sold through supermarkets and specaialist food outlets.

Physical Requirements

Land:
Field shelter is required. Not a major land user, requiring upwards of 70% of forage from conserved feed. Need other livestock to complement goat grazing. 10 - 12 goats per ha with 990 - 1200 kg liveweight of cattle per ha.

Buildings:
Dry, well ventilated (1.7 - 2 m2/animal if housed in loose pens). Milking parlour needed for herds >50. Milk processing rooms.

Labour:
Additional labour required for milking. As a rule of thumb 1 person for 100 goats (although on larger units 1 person could handle up to 200)

Equipment:
Goat-proof fencing, milking machines, processing equipment. One buck per 40-50 does and young goats can be mated after 6-7 months.

Costs

The following costing information is general and current prices should be sought for budgeting purposes.

Capital Costs

Buildings, housing:
Very variable, high if starting from scratch. Generally similar to those for sheep dairying.

Stock:
£175 - £250/head (mature does 50 - 60 kg). Parlour & milking equipment: A single abreast parlour with feed manager for 12 or more goats costs about £13,000 to install. Pasteurising & carton sealing machine costs about £10,000 new

Other:
Fencing, machinery, gates, feeding racks, water supply and working capital (up to one year).

Running Costs

Variable costs range between £110 - £205/head. This includes for concentrates (£40-£75), forage (£40-£80), vet & med (£20 - £25), straw (£10 - £20), miscellaneous (£5 - £10). Additional transport costs to delivery point or retail outlet.

Returns

  • Milk: £0.35 - £0.55 per litre wholesale (retail sales may fetch £1.00 - £1.20 per litre).
  • Cull stock - £20/head.
  • Meat - £25/head.

Gross margins £30 - £160/head (milk only) depending on yeild and milk quality. This will be higher if the milk is processed. Very vulnerable to price variation and having a market for the product.

Constraints

Code of Practice: The hygienic production of goats milk.

The Scottish Government: Code of Recommendation for welfare of goats

DEFRA. Environmental Health: parasites and mastitis must be controlled.

Market.

Trading Standards.

Rates: these become payable on any processing facility.

Capital: set-up costs are high. Susceptible to diseases similar to sheep (worms, liver fluke, clostridial diseases, footrot, etc.)

Training

Various short courses are run in dairying and food processing at Scottish Agricultural College (Auchincruive). LANTRA has a list of courses for which include a variety of farm diversification topics which can be downloaded here

Grants

Through the Scottish Rural Development Programme (SRDP) 2007-2013 funding is now available for rural businesses throughout Scotland for diversification and renewable energy projects. Specifically, support is delivered through Rural Development Contracts – Rural Priorities which was launched in April 2008. For further information about what support is available see the Section on Rural Development Contracts – Rural Priorities.

Further Information

Publications

British Goat Society Monthly Journal

See Landsman's Bookshop Ltd's Dairy Product Section

Contact

Mr Steven Thomson
SAC (Scottish Agricultural College) Work SAC, King's Buildings, West Mains Road,
Edinburgh
EH9 3JG
TelWork 0131 535 4192

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