Goats are one of the oldest domesticated animals and are bred for milk, fibre and meat production. Goats are social animals, living in herds and an individual goat has an expected lifespan of 8-15 years. Australia has developed a number of new breeds of dairy goats that have received recognition for their milk production.

Goat milk products have been gaining popularity for their health properties and ability to cater for people with cow-milk intolerances. Goat milk has a smaller fat globule and different protein to cow milk and so people with an intolerance to cow milk can often consume goat milk.

The industry body for dairy goats is the Dairy Goat Society of Australia.

Dairy goat facts and figures

• Dairy goat farms are located in every Australian state
• Male goats are called bucks, females are called does and babies are called kids
• Does generally produce two kids from a single pregnancy
• At peak lactation, females may produce 4L of milk per day
• The protein and fat in goat milk is more easily digested than that in cow milk

Goat milk is used for a variety of products and can be substituted for products traditionally made with cow milk. Primarily goat milk is sold as fresh milk, cheese or powder. Goat milk can also be used to produce butter, ice-cream, yoghurt and soap. Goat milk products align with current Western dietary trends towards ‘healthy’ and wholesome foods.

Cheese is the primary use for goat milk. Goat cheese is widely used in cooking and salads. The most commonly known goat’s cheese is chevre. Feta is also a popular type of goat cheese, however is more commonly produced from cow’s milk due to the increased value of goat’s milk. In the past goat’s milk cheeses in Australia were of a French style, which is a strong tasting variety that was not always popular. Most cheeses produced now have evolved to cater for those consumers wanting a milder, more subtle flavour.

Growing regions

Dairy goat farms are located in every Australian state. The majority of production is in Victoria (35%), New South Wales (18%), Queensland (15%) and Western Australia (13%) with minor production in South Australia and Tasmania (each 9%).

There are no real environmental conditions limiting the suitability of different regions for goat dairy production, however, close proximity to wholesalers or factories is recommended to overcome goat milk’s reduced shelf-life when in raw form. Raw milk may be sold legally only in some States, otherwise liquid milk is pasteurised and has a similar shelf life to cow’s milk.

Climate

There is no actual preferred climate for dairy goats as they can and do adapt to a wide range of conditions. However, European-derived breeds generally prefer cooler climes and can tolerate frost. Breeds which originate from the Middle East are tolerant of hot conditions and can tolerate a degree of drought.

Housing

Goats require less land than cows. Dairy goats can be kept free range or in barns, extensively or intensively farmed. All housing types should be kept clean, dry and well ventilated. Indoor housing typically has dirt or straw covered floors and allows goats to access outdoor exercise areas. Feed troughs are open, allowing goats to graze throughout the day. Indoor and outdoor housing both require solid and well maintained fencing. Goats are agile and may jump or squeeze through fencing which other livestock may not. A combination of hinge joint and electric fencing has been found to be an effective solution. Goats kept outdoors will browse pasture, bushes and other field vegetation. Shelter, shade and watering points need to be provided.

Feed requirements

Goats will graze on many vegetation types and can digest fibrous plant materials. Dairy goats may typically be fed concentrated oats, barley and bran alongside vegetation and grazing. Goats prefer not to eat off the ground and instead like browsing bushes, tree foliage and weeds with elevated troughs. Feed dropped on the ground is unlikely to be picked up. As they are a browsing animal a good quality source of roughage such as pasture hay should be available at all times.

Energy and protein are the major considerations when feeding dairy goats. Energy deficiencies are a common reason for reduced productivity and protein deficiencies can limit animal growth, milk production and health during pregnancy. A goats diet directly impacts the taste of their milk.

Kids can be fed in groups or individually. They can drink milk from a teat or directly from a container. Kids require milk for at least six weeks before transitioning to a diet of solids. Refer to the National Kid Rearing Plan, published by Animal Health Australia, for more in-depth information.

Breeds and breeding

There are six recognised dairy goat breeds in Australia. These include the Saanen, Toggenburg, British Alpine and Anglo Nubian. The former three are derived from Swiss breeds and the Anglo Nubian is from Indian and north African stock. The Australian Melaan and Australian Brown are new breeds which have been developed in Australia.

Saanen

Saanens are the most numerous breed of dairy goats in Australia. They are white or cream in colour, have a short, smooth coat and tan skin. Saanens are known for their placid nature and are noted for their reliable production. Australian Saanen stock have been awarded international prizes for milk production. Breeding for tan coloured skin has given this breed a better ability to withstand the strong Australian sunlight and open conditions under which many goats are run.

Toggenburg

Toggenburgs are the oldest recognised dairy milk breed. Animals are light fawn to chocolate in colour, with white facial stripes on their nose and ears and white patches around their tail and lower legs. Toggenburgs are robust and hardy. The breed has long lactation periods, however milk production volumes can be lower than other Swiss breeds. Cool and temperate regions are preferred, however Toggenburgs can be found in a range of Australian climates. The Toggenburgs dark coloured skin serves as protection against skin cancer.

British Alpine

British Alpines have a glossy black coat with white facial stripes on their nose and ears and patches around their tail and lower legs. The breed is active and suited to free range (commercial) farms and are able to cope surprisingly well with the heat. British Alpines have an ability to milk for extended lactations with good quality milk.

Anglo Nubian

Anglo Nubians have short coats which range in colour and markings but they do not have white Swiss markings. The breed’s Indian and North African heritage means Anglo Nubians are highly suited to Australia’s arid climate. The breed is known for its ability to produce both dairy and meat products. Anglo Nubians have a short lactation period and produce less milk than Swiss breeds. Milk is of greater butterfat content than Swiss breeds.

Australian Melaan

The Australian Melaan is a relatively new breed of goat which received official recognition in 2000. The breed has a short, glossy black coat. Australian Melaans are an intelligent breed and are hardy and productive. Australian Melaans are suited to Australia’s variable climate and can tolerate sub-tropical and temperate environments.

The following infrastructure items are required for dairy goat production:

• Milking machinery (specific for goats)
• Shelter and shade (if kept outdoors)
• Barns (if kept indoors)
• Robust wire or electric fencing
• Milk storage facilities
• Effluent disposal systems

Goats are milked mechanically using modified dairy cow milking machinery. Most suppliers of machinery to the dairy cow industry will modify the machinery to suit dairy goats. The main modification is the use of two cups, and for goats, the pulse rate is higher and the vacuum lower than for cows.

Typically, goat milk is chilled on site before being transported to factories in refrigerated trucks. Some producers have processing facilities onsite.

In the factory, milk is pasteurised before being bottled, labelled and quality tested. Pasteurisation is recommended and often the only legal way to sell liquid milk; however many producers argue that consumers are demanding an unpasteurised product due to the perceived health benefits of raw milk.

The Australian dairy goat industry is small but stable. Overall the domestic market is growing at a gradual rate. Demand for specialty cheeses is high, resulting in supply struggling to meet demand. Feta and soft cheeses are the most popular style of goat cheese. Victoria has an established market for goat cheese where supermarkets are the biggest customers although more retail outlets are stocking the products.

Consumer understanding of the flavours of goat cheese varies – education may increase goat cheese sales further. Competition from imported goat dairy products is a continuing challenge despite these products being perceived as poorer quality than Australian products. Demand is increasing for cottage cheese, cosmetics and beauty products made from goat milk.

Goat cheese is commonly sold to restaurants, delicatessens and supermarkets, with farmers markets becoming a popular outlet, particularly for those farmers that value-add their own milk. Health stores are also a common market for goat milk. Fresh goat milk is difficult to market for many producers because of the small quantities produced; wholesalers generally require larger quantities as they are distributed over a large area.

Risks/challenges

Goat milk production is affected by seasonality to a greater extent than cow milk. This means herd production may be surplus to demand or fall short of demand which is exacerbated by the distance between producers and retailers. Some producers mitigate this by managing a number of separate herds and milking them during different seasons. Other producers embrace the break in seasons as time off.

Goats may be more susceptible to stress than cows and this may then affect milk production and quality. Careful management and maintaining a routine can help reduce goat stress. Health complications are more common with dairy animals than other grazing livestock. Careful attention should be paid to how goats are kept and fed.

Dairy production is labour intensive. Farmers embarking on this venture will need to plan and balance their lifestyle around the business. It is often a seven day a week occupation while the does are in milk.

Publications/information

Emerging animal and plant industries: Their value to Australia RIRDC report (2014)

Optimising genetics, reproduction and nutrition of dairy sheep and goats – RIRDC publication (2014)

A guide to starting a commercial goat dairy – University of Vermont Centre for Sustainable Agriculture (2012)

Dairy goat manual: second edition – RIRDC Report (2009)

Farming and marketing goat and sheep milk products – RIRDC Publication (2009)

Performance Benchmarking of Australian and New Zealand Business Regulation: Food Safety, Chapter 11: Food safety in dairy production and processing – Australian Government Productivity Commission (2009)

Adding value to new animal product supply chains: dairy goats, emus, rabbits, turkeys, sheep’s milk and silkworm – RIRDC Publication (2008)

Nutrition and management of goats in drought – RIRDC Publication (2005)

Water quality and provision for goats – RIRDC Publication (2004)

Anglo-Nubian Society of Australia – the industry body for the Anglo-Nubian goat breed.

Dairy Goat Society of Australia – the industry body for dairy goat breeds and breeding.