Producing Goat Milk for Sale

Producers considering off-farm sale of goat milk should be sure to review the full regulations and begin working with a milk inspector as soon as possible to avoid unneccesary setbacks or investments. Following is some basic information to get you started.

Wisconsin Department of Agriculture Trade and Consumer Protection

Goat Milk Producer Quick Reference

• Regulations governing facilities, storage, transport, and sale of milk are the SAME for all types of milk. Regardless of whether you are producing cow, goat, sheep or some other type of milk, you must adhere to the same regulations. Only somatic cell count requirements vary among different animals.
• Requirements for licensing, milk quality, milking barn construction, milkhouse construction, water requirements, cleaning, maintenance, equipment, housing, etc. can be found in ch. ATCP 60, Wis. Adm. Code. Note that facility requirements for goat and cattle dairy operations are the same.
• Equipment installation (bulk tanks and milking systems) requires plan submission and state approval. See attached form F-fd-39 (Rev. 11/2002)
• Milk Producer license applications are processed by the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection through dairy plant representatives and are not accepted directly from producers.
• The sale of Raw Milk and Raw Milk dairy products directly to consumers is illegal in Wisconsin.
• Having milk custom processed by a licensed dairy plant is a viable option for some producers. There are restrictions for the volume of milk that can be custom processed and producers must have an approved method for transporting the milk. Please see s. ATCP 60.02(7), Wis. Adm. Code, for details.
• Division of Food Safety contact information: Call 608-224-4700 and ask the receptionist for the name and phone number of the inspector responsible for the specific geographic area of the farm. Inspector areas are assigned by County and Township.