Dairy Goats — FarmPal

Dairy goats produce rich, digestible milk perfect for drinking, cheese, soap, and yogurt. They're personable, intelligent, and sized right for homesteads. Two good dairy does can supply a family of four with all their dairy needs year-round with proper breeding schedules.

Space/Animal

15-25 sq ft per goat in shelter; 200+ sq ft outdoor exercise area per goat

Fencing

4-5 ft woven wire fence (not field fence kids escape). Add electric hot wire at nose height and top. No gaps larger than 4". Goats will test every weakness in your fence.

Feeding

Daily Ration

Hay: 2-4 lbs/day (alfalfa for milkers, grass for dry does). Grain: 1 lb per 3 lbs milk produced. Browse: unlimited when available. Fresh water: 2-3 gallons/day (more when milking).

Loose goat minerals free-choice (NEVER sheep minerals goats need copper)

Baking soda free-choice (rumen buffer)

Kelp meal for trace minerals and iodine

Selenium/Vitamin E supplement before breeding (if in deficient area)

Apple cider vinegar in water (1 tbsp/gallon parasite prevention)

Copper bolus 2x/year (if not in mineral mix)

Maturity

7-10 months (but breed when doe reaches 80% of adult weight usually 8-12 months for standard, 7-8 months for Nigerian)

Gestation

150 days

Litter Size

1-4 kids (twins most common, triplets common in Nigerians)

Frequency

Once per year (seasonal breeders: fall breeding for spring kids). Nubians and Nigerians can breed year-round.

Primary Product

Milk fresh drinking, cheese, yogurt, kefir, soap, lotion, ice cream

Yield

Standard breeds: 1-3 gallons/day at peak (1,500-3,000 lbs/lactation). Nigerian Dwarf: 1-3 quarts/day. Lactation: 10-12 months. Two does staggered = year-round milk.

Market Value

Raw milk (where legal): $8-16/gallon. Goat milk soap: $5-8/bar. Chèvre: $12-20/lb. Feta: $10-15/lb. Breeding stock: $200-800+ for registered, tested does. Buck kids (meat): $100-200.

Startup Cost

Two registered does: $400-1,600. Buck or buck service: $100-500. Fencing: $1,000-3,000. Shelter: $500-2,000. Milking stand: $100-300 (or build). Total: $2,100-7,400.

Annual Cost/Animal

Feed: $300-600. Vet/health: $50-150. Breeding: $50-100 (if using outside buck). Supplies: $50-100. Total: $450-950 per milking doe.

Revenue/Animal

Milk value (at home use value): $2,500-5,000/year. Soap sales from one doe's milk: $1,000-3,000/year. Kid sales: $200-800/year. Total potential: $3,700-8,800.

Break Even

Cash-flow positive within first lactation if selling soap or dairy products. Break even on startup within 1-2 years.

Breeds (6)

🐐 Nubian

🐐 Alpine

🐐 Saanen

🐐 LaMancha

🐐 Nigerian Dwarf

🐐 Toggenburg