10 Best Dairy Goat Breeds For Milk Production

Dairy goat breeds are those goats which are very good for milk production. These goat breeds are raised and mainly used for milk production. Goat milk is healthy and a great source of nutrition.

You can raise one or a few dairy goat for having constant supply of nutritious milk for your family. You also need to choose best and highly productive dairy goat breeds if you want to start goat milk production commercially.

Goat milk is actually very healthy and easy to digest. And the milk contain higher fat content and less amount of lactose than other types of milk, such as cow milk. Goat milk is easier to digest for the people who are suffering from Lactose Intolerance.

For these reasons, the demand of goat milk is increasing gradually. And starting a goat farming business for milk production is a good decision today.

Whether you are planning for a large scale commercial production or just want to raise one or a few goats for your family consumption, you have to select the best quality dairy goat breeds for getting maximum milk production.

10 Best Dairy Goat Breeds

Actually all goat breeds produces some amount of milk. But in some breeds the amount of milk is just enough for feeding the kids, and not suitable for collecting for other purpose.

dairy goats, dairy goat breeds, best dairy goats, best dairy goat breeds, to dairy goat breeds, top 10 dairy goat breeds, highly productive dairy goat breeds, commercial dairy goat breeds

So, you have to select highly milk productive breeds for starting your dairy goat farming business. Here we are shortly describing about top 10 dairy goat breeds.

1. Alpine Goat

The Alpine is a great dairy goat breed with an average daily production of around 1-2 gallons of milk. The breed was actually originated from the French Alps.

dairy goats, dairy goat breeds, best dairy goats, best dairy goat breeds, to dairy goat breeds, top 10 dairy goat breeds, highly productive dairy goat breeds, commercial dairy goat breeds, alpine goat

Average butterfat content in the Alpine goat’s milk is about or higher than 3.5 percent.

2. Saanen Goat

Saanen is a popular dairy goat breed from Switzerland with an average daily milk production of around 1 gallon. And average butterfat content in their milk is between 2.5 and 3 percent.

dairy goats, dairy goat breeds, best dairy goats, best dairy goat breeds, to dairy goat breeds, top 10 dairy goat breeds, highly productive dairy goat breeds, commercial dairy goat breeds, saanen goat

Saanen is among the biggest dairy goat breeds with the males growing over 200 lbs. Saanen goats are also of very good temperament and they can be raised as pets.

3. LaMancha Goat

The LaMancha goats are noted for their distinct appearance with small or no visible ears. They are very friendly and also very good for meat production.

dairy goats, dairy goat breeds, best dairy goats, best dairy goat breeds, to dairy goat breeds, top 10 dairy goat breeds, highly productive dairy goat breeds, commercial dairy goat breeds, lamancha goat

They originated from Spain and average butterfat content in their milk is about 4.2 percent.

4. Jamunapari Goat

The Jamunapari is an Indian dairy goat breed with an average production of around 1 gallon daily. The breed has a very beautiful appearance with long ears.

dairy goats, dairy goat breeds, best dairy goats, best dairy goat breeds, to dairy goat breeds, top 10 dairy goat breeds, highly productive dairy goat breeds, commercial dairy goat breeds, jamunapari goat

It is a very popular dairy goat breed in India, and also in some other South Asian Countries.

5. Toggenburg Goat

The Toggenburg goat is one of the oldest known dairy goat breeds, first seen in the 1600s. The breed has distinct appearance with straight face and full beards.

dairy goats, dairy goat breeds, best dairy goats, best dairy goat breeds, to dairy goat breeds, top 10 dairy goat breeds, highly productive dairy goat breeds, commercial dairy goat breeds, toggenburg goat

Average butterfat content in the milk is around 3.3 percent.

6. Nubian Goat

The Nubian goat is a fantastic dairy goat breed that can produce milk throughout the year. Average daily milk production of the breed is between 0.5 and 1.5 gallons.

dairy goats, dairy goat breeds, best dairy goats, best dairy goat breeds, to dairy goat breeds, top 10 dairy goat breeds, highly productive dairy goat breeds, commercial dairy goat breeds, nubian goat

Butterfat content is relatively higher in the Nubian goat’s milk, which is around or up to 5 percent. Along with milk production, these goats are also very good for meat production.

7. Oberhasli Goat

The Oberhasli goats originated from Switzerland and produce great tasty milk (milk is very sweet). Average daily milk production is between 0.5 and 1.5 gallon.

dairy goats, dairy goat breeds, best dairy goats, best dairy goat breeds, to dairy goat breeds, top 10 dairy goat breeds, highly productive dairy goat breeds, commercial dairy goat breeds, oberhasli goat

And on an average, the milk contain around 3.6 percent butterfat content. Like the Nubian goat, the Oberhasli goats also produce milk throughout the year.

8. Golden Guernsey Goat

The Guernsey, aka Golden Guernsey is a small to medium sized dairy goat breed. On an average, the daily milk production of Guernsey goat is around or less than 1 gallon.

dairy goats, dairy goat breeds, best dairy goats, best dairy goat breeds, to dairy goat breeds, top 10 dairy goat breeds, highly productive dairy goat breeds, commercial dairy goat breeds, golden guernsey goat

The milk contain around 3.72 percent of butterfat content. And the breed is also considered as good for commercial milk production purpose.

9. Sable Goat

The Sable goats are similar in appearance to the Saanen goat, except the coloring. They are of medium sized animal with an average body weight of around 145 lbs.

dairy goats, dairy goat breeds, best dairy goats, best dairy goat breeds, to dairy goat breeds, top 10 dairy goat breeds, highly productive dairy goat breeds, commercial dairy goat breeds, sable goat

Their milk is of good quality containing between 3 and 4 percent of butterfat content.

10. Nigerian Dwarf Goat

Nigerian Dwarf goats are the smallest of dairy goat breeds, and they were originated for Africa. They generally don’t grow more than 23 inches, but their milk production is very high compared to their body size.

dairy goats, dairy goat breeds, best dairy goats, best dairy goat breeds, to dairy goat breeds, top 10 dairy goat breeds, highly productive dairy goat breeds, commercial dairy goat breeds, nigerian dwarf goat

Nigerian Dwarf goats can be raised for milk production for family consumption, and the breed is actually not suited for commercial production. Average butterfat content in the milk is around 6.1 percent.

Frequently Asked Questions

Many people ask questions about different types of dairy goat breeds (especially the beginners). Here we are trying to list the most common questions about these goat breeds which are good for milk production, and trying to answer them. Hope you will find your answer. Don’t hesitate to ask us if you have more questions.

Is dairy goat farming profitable?

Yes, commercial milk production with the best dairy goat breeds is very profitable. Some dairy goat breeds are highly milk productive and it’s very easy to make good profits from them.

How to start dairy goat farming?

Starting commercial dairy goat farming is very easy and simple. You just have to make a good shelter for them, feed them good quality food, provide them with adequate medication and always try to take good care of them.

What type of goat is best for milk?

Alpine, Saanen, Oberhasli and Toggenburg are considered as the best dairy goat breeds for high milk production.

What are most common dairy goat breeds?

Most common and popular dairy goat breeds are Alpine, Saanen, Oberhasli, Toggenburg, LaMancha, Jamunapari, Nubian, Golden Guernsey, Sable and Nigerian Dwarf gaots.

What is the most common breed of dairy goat?

Alpine, Saanen, Oberhasli and Toggenburg are the most common dairy goats.

What is the smallest breed of dairy goat?

The Nigerian Dwarf is the most common dairy goat breed.

Which goat has the creamiest milk?

The Nigerian Dwarf goat has the creamiest milk.

Can you drink goat milk raw?

No, you should not. Because raw milk from goat is not pasteurized to remove bacteria. And taking raw milk can cause infection by harmful bacteria including E. coli, S. aureus, and salmonella amongst others.

dairy goats, dairy goat breeds, best dairy goats, best dairy goat breeds, to dairy goat breeds, top 10 dairy goat breeds, highly productive dairy goat breeds, commercial dairy goat breeds, goat milk

Which goat is known as the Queen of milk?

The Saaned goat is called as the queen of milk. It is a highly productive dairy goat breed and very suitable for commercial milk production.

How many years can you milk a goat?

You can milk a goat for about 2 years after it’s kidding.

What goats milk make the best cheese?

Milk from Saanen, Nigerian Dwarf, Alpine, Nubian and LaMancha goats make the best cheese.

How many goats do you need for milk?

1-2 goats will be enough for your small family consumption.

Can you milk a goat without breeding?

No, it’s not possible. But goats can produce milk without being pregnant if they’ve given birth to kids recently and haven’t ended their current lactation period.

What do you do with goats milk after milking?

You can either heat the milk for consumption or refrigerate the milk. You can also sell the milk to the customers directly.

Is goat milk healthier than cow milk?

Cow milk considered as best as compared to goat milk.

Who is known as poor man’s cow?

Mahatma Gandhi described goats as “Poor man’s cow” since they are key in ensuring the socio-economic sustainability in villages of developing countries like India.

Do you have to milk goats daily?

Yes. Twice daily in some goats. You need to milk daily in order to keep the doe’s udder from getting too full.

How much housing space does a dairy goat need?

Generally, a dairy goat will require about 15-20 square feet housing space.

Do you have to milk goats twice a day?

Yes, milking of a goat should be done twice a day, approximately 12 hours apart.

Can you make butter from goat milk?

Yes, sure you can. Actually, butter made from goat milk is every bit as good as the same spread made from cow’s milk.

How to milk a goat by hand?

Please review our guide about milking a goat by hand.

dairy goats, dairy goat breeds, best dairy goats, best dairy goat breeds, to dairy goat breeds, top 10 dairy goat breeds, highly productive dairy goat breeds, commercial dairy goat breeds, how to milk a goat by hand

What age do you start milking goats?

You can start milking your does when the babies are about two weeks old.

How do you know when to stop milking a goat?

Most dairy goat producers have a planned length of lactation. The dry off process should start 2-3 weeks before the planned dry off time with milk secretion stopping three days after the last milking. Timing for dry off is based on goat milk production goals and breeding practices.

What do I need to start milking goats?

You will need milk stand, milk bucket, strip cup, udder supplies, teat dip, milk filters and storage containers for milking goats.

What to feed goats while milking?

You can provide them with some grains or grass or whatever your goats like most. Providing them with high quality hay balanced with a grain ration containing enough protein, minerals and vitamins will be very good for their health.

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Scroll to Top