Does anyone know how profitable it is to raise goats for milk?
Question by Shandee: Does anyone know how profitable it is to raise goats for milk?
I was thinking of starting a goat farm or an alpaca farm and am trying to see if I could earn enough money to live. Is there anyone that can give me some advice/pointers?
Add your own answer in the comments!
One Response to Does anyone know how profitable it is to raise goats for milk?
Leave a Reply
Dairy goats are wonderful animals and a great deal of fun. I know a number of people who milk commercially but very few that have the dairy as their only income.
First, goat dairying is very regional. There are few outlets. If you find a cheese plant that will pick up your milk you need to be aware that it may not pick it up next year. Some goat milk cheese plants will pick up milk from 300 miles away but only until there are enough producers closer.
Second, raising goats properly has a pretty long learning curve. If you aren’t already raising goats starting with the numbers you need to actually make money is asking for trouble. Most commercial dairies milk at least 100 goats.
My advice is to start very slowly and find good mentors. You may want to contact the American Dairy Goat Association.
As to alpacas I can give only this advice. There again aren’t many outlets for your product. I’m starting to see alpaca offered for sale for $ 100 or less. I was just offered a free one. Hand spinners like alpaca but they want it cleaned and carded usually and that’s a big added cost.
Dairy goats and alpacas are wonderful hobbies and you’ll want to have them as a hobby, get to know the movers and shakers in those worlds before you even think of making a living with them.
Everbely
October 5, 2011 at 4:24 pm