Goat Dairy Partnership

While goat dairy is not a primary agricultural sector in the U.S. or in Vermont, Vermont Creamery and several farmstead cheese businesses have premier products, widespread recognition and market growth potential. Recent UVM research (2023 Vermont Goat Dairy Research Report), however, highlighted there is limited expertise and limited services available to support high-level goat dairy management that is constraining the growth of goat milk production in the state. 

This project will bring together partners committed to a long-term goat dairy initiative that will fill key research gaps needed to bolster farm owner livelihoods and increase the milk supply to meet market growth opportunities.  

The team at UVM Extension is convening goat dairy producers and others who want to grow the industry here.  These stakeholders are providing input to Extension on needs like animal genetics, milk quality, grazing, technology needs, business practices, among others.  At the end of this capacity-funded grant period, the partners will recommend short and medium-term plans to drive research, student engagement, and Extension in support of growth in this industry.

UVM Extension Agriculture Business Program Director, Mark Canella, is leading a multi-disciplinary research team in support of this planning stage.

In addition to goat dairy producers, Vermont Creamery is the key community partner on this project. These partners are informing planning with input on their research and technical assistance needs as they seek to build capacity in this promising industry.