Saskatchewan goat breeders working to grow sector

Source: Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food

As producers seek new and innovative ways to diversify, the Saskatchewan Goat Breeders Association invites them to “think goat.”

The association’s president is Guenette Bautz, who raises goats for both the meat and milk markets on her Country Log Ranch near Middle Lake in the Humboldt area.

“Saskatchewan is the perfect place to raise goats in terms of land base and cost of production,” says Bautz. “Goats are a good option for diversification.”

The goat industry has three main operation sectors: dairy, meat and mohair, which can add diversification to any agricultural operation.

Bautz and husband Ryan started with a grain and cattle operation. After much research, she concluded goats would be the perfect addition to their farm. Now, some six years later, she is the owner of approximately 130 breeding stock for meat production, and a further 50 animals that produce milk and associated products. In fact, the Country Log Ranch operates the only health-district-approved Category 2 goat milk dairy in Saskatchewan.

“We recognize the need for a processing plant to further develop the milk industry in our province. We are, therefore, currently investigating and submitting plans to expand our operation into a processing plant that would enable us to transform goats’ milk into other dairy products such as yogurt, cheese, butter and ice cream,” Bautz says.

She says consumers are attracted by the health benefits of goats’ milk, which is produced without any additives, hormones or stimulants. It has much lower lactose content than cows’ milk or human mothers’ milk, and is well-tolerated by those who suffer from certain intestinal disorders and infants whose digestive systems have not yet fully matured. Live animals are currently shipped out of province for finishing and processing, with meat distributed at the farm gate or through local stores.

According to the latest available Statistics Canada data, there are approximately 16,000 goats in the Saskatchewan herd. Because there are many hobbyists keeping only a few animals, it is difficult to estimate the total number of producers in the province.

For a milk producer, approximately 40 animals are required to start, with the herd growing to about 50 milking does if the producer wishes to make a living solely on the dairy side. The largest single meat herd in the province numbers some 400 goats. There are currently 63 members in the Saskatchewan Goat Breeders Association, and they are very willing to share what they have learned with producers who may be interested in getting into the sector.

Bautz describes the stock as “easy to manage and safe with kids,” making them a perfect alternative for any family farm. They are browsers of widely available natural pastures, feeding on grasses, leaves, brush and even bark. They also graze well alongside cattle.

On her operation, she has an unusual helper, a llama named “Peace.” “Not only does she herd them back from pasture, but she also patrols the perimeter of their enclosure like a sentry,” said Bautz. While dogs are commonly used to assist in herding, young llamas will bond with the goats and demonstrate strong protective instincts. “She is an effective deterrent to predators like coyotes,” Bautz adds.

Goat breeding offers a great opportunity for new producers to enter the business, with markets still being established in Canada and a shortage of supply to meet demand. Saskatchewan breeders are also members of the Canadian National Goat Breeders Association, which is building education resources for its members across the country, and implementing important initiatives such as on-farm food safety and a national traceability program.

Bautz will be showing her animals at Canadian Western Agribition, and says she looks forward to talking to interested producers about the Saskatchewan Goat Breeders Association and topics like dairy, meat and fibre production.

More information is available through the Bautz operation website, www.milkandmore.ca, and she welcomes customer and producer inquiries via her e-mail address, info@countrylogranch.com.

For more information, contact:

Guenette Bautz
Phone: (306) 367-2404
E-mail: info@countrylogranch.com