How Is Raising Milk Goats Profitable?
Raising milk goats can be profitable. Much of it depends on what products you sell from the goats and how good you are at marketing. Before you begin any goat business, check into your local laws about selling food items, livestock requirements and other rules that may apply to your dairy goat business.
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How Many Goats
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You will need at least a small herd if you intend to sell milk products. You can raise six goats on an acre of pasture. Each milking doe will need to be bred once per year to produce milk. Each breeding can produce one or more kids. Goats produce about half a gallon of milk per day per doe.
Milk
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Goat milk can be digested easily, even by people who are usually lactose intolerant. It is naturally homogenized and contains more calcium, B6, vitamin A and selenium than cow's milk.
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Cheese
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Cheese made from goat's milk, sometimes called chevre, can be mild or strong flavored. You can serve it in salads, spread it on bread or crackers or serve it with wine. It takes practice to make good goat cheese, but it is a great way to make more profit from your milk.
Soap
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Goat milk soap is very gentle on the skin. It is often used by people who have sensitive skin. This also takes practice and time, since soap needs to cure. Soap is another great way to maximize your profits.
Milk-fed Meats
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If you have enough land to raise other animals for meat, goat milk can help you produce gourmet results. Milk fed pork is tender and juicy, commanding a premium price from consumers.
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References
- Photo Credit goat on the farm image by Ivonne Wierink from Fotolia.com
