Status and Prospects for the Wisconsin Dairy Goat Sector

Authors

Douglas B. Jackson-Smith, Utah State UniversityFollow

Document Type

Report

Journal/Book Title

Program on Agricultural TechnologyStudies

Publication Date

2010

Abstract

The Wisconsin dairy goat industry is a diverse, vibrant and robust sector that has grown rapidly over the last decade. Goat milk output has increased several-fold in the last ten years, and retail markets for goat cheese appear to be increasing at double-digit annual rates. The most recent data shows just over 200 licensed farms in Wisconsin in 2009. According to 2006 numbers, Wisconsin dairy goat farms were milking an average of 118 does that produced 1,416 lbs. On average, Wisconsin dairy goat farms were both larger and more productive on a per animal basis than farms in any other state except Iowa.

Recommended Citation

Jackson-Smith, D. 2010. Status and Prospects for the Wisconsin Dairy Goat Sector. PATS Research Report # 19. Madison, WI: Program on Agricultural Technology Studies.