The most important decision to make about dairy goats is whether they will suit your lifestyle. They need to be milked twice a day for most of the year. If you are prepared to adapt your life to the milking routine, goats are very affectionate, intelligent animals that are very rewarding to work with.
Do Dairy Goat Suit Your Lifestyle ?
Depending on the type of operation you intend to run you may be affected by government regulations.
There are five broad categories of dairy goat production. These are -
* producing milk for your own consumption on the property.
* produce vendor producing milk, using a small milk shed and supplying a market.
* licensed milk producer who milks in a dairy and regularly supplies milk to a processing factory.
* stud breeding operation producing animals for hobby farmers to milk.
* production of meat goats targeted at people of European background (Mainly Anglo Nubian goats are produced for this purpose).
Both the second and third categories will require a licence. Check with your local council about the various health and production licensing requirements before you start.
Housing Requirement:
Housing requirements will vary depending on the size and nature of the operation. Where one or two goats are kept in a confined area, they should be provided with shelter and an exercise yard and ample feeding and water facilities.
Dairy:
Gazing Goats
If a full scale dairy is to be built, it is essential that you visit some operational dairies to have a look at their setup.
Just like a cattle dairy they must allow for easy movement of animals through the system, yards 1400-1500 mm high, that can withstand pressure, hose down and effluent storage, and refrigerated milk storage.
Specialist goat milking equipment can be purchased and occasionally it is available second hand. Complete setup costs can range from less than $20,000 to more than $150,000.
Land Availabilty:
Where land is available for grazing, good fences are needed. Fences need to be constructed to prevent goats getting under or over them.
Prefabricated fences with electric outriggers would be a fence of choice, or plain wire electric are also suitable. The fence height should be about one metre. A good water supply is essential as lactating does require good quality water, and the dairy will also have a high water requirement.
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