Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
• Later stages of lactation are associated with an increase in the content of fat, protein, and
many minerals, and with a decrease in lactose, potassium, and citrate.
Selling milk
Laws regarding the selling of raw milk vary from state to state. Some states have delegated
these decisions to cities and counties. This means there are many different regulations regard-
ing the sale of raw milk in the United States. If you are a farmer who wishes to sell goat milk
directly from your goats to the public, you should check your state and local laws. You can
start by checking the Real Milk website ( www.realmilk.com/milk-laws-1.html ) .
If you live in an area where the sale of raw milk is allowed, or if you are able to pasteurize
your own milk, then you can sell your milk directly to buyers who come to your farm. You
may be able to sell milk at farmers markets. Be sure to check with your local officials to find
out if you need any special permits to sell. You may need to check other laws regarding other
dairy products such as cheese and yogurt, as they are not covered under laws regarding milk.
If you plan to sell goat's milk, you need to find a reliable buyer. In many areas of the United
States, there are no companies that process goat's milk for commercial sale. Even where a
processor does exist, it may not need additional milk producers. If you are unable to sell your
goat's milk to a processor, it may be feasible to sell it to individuals raising baby animals or as
pet milk at local farmers markets. Most states have prohibitive restrictions on the sale of milk
or milk products directly to individuals for human consumption. Contact the agency respons-
ible for dairy regulations in your state. The American Dairy Goat Association (ADGA) web-
site lists the contact information for state agencies ( www.adga.org ).
Any dairy selling raw milk to be processed into Grade A milk or milk products must meet a
number of requirements to receive a Grade A dairy permit. The permitting process is carried
out by state regulatory agencies that send out inspectors and regularly test the milk for bacter-
ia and drug residues. State agents typically work with a new dairy farmer during the design
and building of the dairy facility to ensure requirements are fulfilled. Requirements vary from
state to state but, typically, include the building of a separate room for milking and milk stor-
age. The additional cost of building these facilities, application fees, and the time it takes to
complete the application and inspection process must be factored into your business plan.
Individuals who want to purchase raw milk for their families sometimes circumvent legal re-
strictions by purchasing part ownership in a goat. The goat stays on the farm, but the family
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