Dairy Goats

Table of Contents

Getting Started in Dairy Goat Farming and Milk Production

Are you interested in starting a dairy goat farm? Getting Started Producing Goat Milk outlines the steps to become a registered goat milk producer that can ship Grade A milk.

The Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) is responsible for inspecting dairy goat farms. Dairy Goat Farm Production Requirements is a guide for producing safe, high-quality milk in Ontario. Goat milk is regulated by the Milk Act, which means all regulatory requirements must be met to ship milk.

Whether you currently own farmland, or are looking to purchase, rent or lease acreage, starting a new farm business requires planning. Visit our Starting a Farm in Ontario web page for more information.

We have many resources to help you with raising healthy goats and producing high-quality, healthy milk:

Ontario Goat has numerous resources on their website, including:

Visit the Ontario Goat website to see all of the resources they have available.

Dairy Goat Housing and Environment

Barn and pen design are key factors in providing an environment for your dairy goats that promotes optimal milk production, good animals welfare and labour efficiency. The following section covers barn construction, pest control, nutrient and manure management.

Barn Construction:

Pest Control:

Nutrient & Manure Management:

Ontario Goat has numerous resources on their website, including:

Abattoirs:

External Links:

Dairy Goat Herd Management

In this section you will find information on dairy goat reproductive management, milking herd management, genetics, kid rearing and business management. Keeping accurate records will help improve overall production and will help you make better decisions for your operation. OMAFRA's Kidding Diary and Dairy Goat Management Journal are two free resources that can help you with recordkeeping.

Business Management:

Kid Rearing:

Milking Herd Management:

Reproduction Management:

Ontario Goat has numerous resources on their website, including:

External Links:

Goat Feeding and Nutrition

The feeding and nutrition of the herd is critical to the overall success of your operation regardless if you're producing milk products, meat or fibre. The information below will help you :

Feed Analysis:

Corn Silage:

Molds and Mycotoxins:

Water Quality:

Ontario Goat has numerous resources on their website, including:

Feed case studies:
Nutrition:

Visit the Ontario Goat website to see all of the resources they have available.

Goat Milk Quality, Milk Sampling and Testing and Milking Equipment Maintenance

Producing high quality milk is crucial to maintaining a high quality end product (e.g. cheese) and consumer confidence. On this page you will find resources that relate to maintaining milk quality, milk sampling and testing, and milking equipment maintenance.

Milk Quality

There are few key aspects to maintaining milk quality which include low bacterial counts, preventing antibiotic residues, and proper milking procedures.

Milk Sampling and Testing

Regular sampling and testing is a routine part of the raw goat milk quality program. Sampling and testing of milk can also help you improve your milk quality.

Milking Equipment Maintenance

Milking equipment maintenance and cleaning prevents the growth of bacteria that can reduce your milk quality. In this section you will learn about some of the ins and outs of maintaining and cleaning milking equipment.

Goat Herd Health and Biosecurity

Creating and following a herd health plan will help you maintain individual animal health, good animal welfare, milk production and establish a relationship with a veterinarian. The information below will provide you with information on disease, herd health plans and animal welfare. Ontario Animal Health Network provides quarterly reports on disease trends in the small ruminant sector along with support material. For general information on animal health and welfare visit the Animal Health and Welfare Branch.

The On-Farm Euthanasia of Sheep and Goats web page provides information on how to humanely kill goats on your farm when necessary.

Ontario Goat has numerous resources available on their website, including:

Visit the Ontario Goat website to see all of the resources they have available.

Other external resources


For more information:
Toll Free: 1-877-424-1300
E-mail: ag.info.omafra@ontario.ca