Dairy Goat Farming

To start producing and selling goat’s milk in commercial quantity, one has to start raising goats, such as the Saanen dairy goats of Australia. Once the goats arrive, it will take about a year to acclimatize the dairy goats to the tropical climate of the Philippines. The first year’s main objective is to produce breeders to increase the breeder base.

Investment

For the first year, the initial investment could go as high as Php 3 million just to acquire dairy goats from Australia, repairing of building to house the goats, pasture improvement and working capital. At the end of the first year, the target number of dairy milking does is 150 heads.

For the second year, another Php 2 million is needed for the milking line, milk processing equipment, additional breeding goat and working capital. At the end of the second year the projection is that there will be about 250 heads of dairy goats in the farm. Also, it is expected that a Grade A milk plan with a target production of 500 liters of fresh goat per day would have been set up. As the milking does mature, the milk produce per day is expected to increase by 50 percent, which means that each of the 250 dairy goat will be producing at least 3 liters per day for 300 days a year.

Marketing

It is advisable that during the first few years of operation, the farmer should link up with a marketing company for the distribution of the milk product. This is to ensure that farm operation during the crucial stages does not get bogged down by the marketing details, but instead focus only in producing more milk and increasing the number of breeding dairy goats.

Prospects

Acquiring dairy goats may not be as costly as before once local goat farms have started their commercial production of breeders. One source of quality dairy goats could come from the Alaminos Goat Farm in San Juan, Alaminos, Laguna.

Development of technology to produce dairy goat breeders adaptable to the tropical condition of the country and capable of producing milk in commercial quantity is already on-going. Initial application of this technology can already be shared to those interested to invest in dairy goat farming.

Government research and policy-making agencies such as the National Dairy Authority, PCARRD are providing technical and marketing support for dairy goat farms. The support provided would be worth tapping into to minimize the risk on investing in this kind of business.