SYSTEMS-BASED INTEGRATED APPROACH TO DEMONSTRATING, PROMOTING AND ENHANCING THE SUSTAINABILITY OF DAIRY GOAT PRODUCTION IN THE UNITED STATES

The goal of our research, education, and extension efforts is to improve and assure the sustainability of dairy goat production. In our view, reaching this goal would allow for environmentally-sustainable intensification of dairy goat production while assuring continued access to value-added markets (e.g. on farm cheese, soap or lotion processing and marketing) that support a diverse population of farmers and small rural farming communities. The system under study for this project takes a strategically broad view of US commercial dairy goat production including: (1) the milking herd, (2) offspring of the milking herd, (3) replacement does, (4) meat bucks derived from the milking herd, (5) farm assets, (6) land/environment, (7) any on-farm value-added efforts, (8) any on-farm marketing and, (9) the local social and environmental impacts of this system. Due to the significant differences in how meat and fiber goats are raised compared to dairy goats (ie. dairy goats more intensive and fed harvested feedstuffs versus meat goats being more pastured; similar to how dairy cattle production is unique and very different to beef cattle production) it is not appropriate to include them in this study and they are not part of the system of study. The five objectives of our project, detailed below, are based on extensive input from stakeholder advisory panels from other USDA-funded dairy goat focused grants, and the experience of the PD as a consultant for the industry for the past two decades.Specific ObjectivesDevelop a dynamic farm system mode and LCA for dairy goat production.Address high-priority health challenges to dairy goat production while improving antimicrobial stewardship. Support rural community development and broaden the farm workforce by evaluating the ability of dairy goat production's relatively low land requirement, low capital investment, and high potential for local value-added sales to promote new farm development and gender and racial diversity. Develop novel educational programs for dairy goat producers and veterinarians that emphasize sustainability and antimicrobial stewardship principles (Obj. 2) while building effective science communication skills for veterinarians tasked with working with dairy goat producers. Integrate extension outreach focused on dairy goat production and sustainability.