How to legally sell goat milk?

[lucky777]

Where I live, it's legal to sell goat milk (raw) but if you advertise, you have to get a license or get inspected or something? Can anyone tell me what I need to do to sell it legally and how much it will cost? Or does anyone know a website about this?

[Ana Bluebird]

Here in Missouri, I know a lady that sells cow's milk. She has a small in-home, table-top pasteurizer that she uses, then she says she has to have the buyer supply their own container---else that would have to be approved and all that. She does not advertise, using word-of-mouth only. Whether she's totally legal or not, I don't care cause that milk is soooooooooo good and I know her cows are healthy and not getting anti-biotics or chemicals. You might check your state attorney-general's website for legal questions.

[Jcran]

super regulated and illegal here on the north coast of California...anything that gets sold is far far far under the table.

[FarmerChick]

Simple

call your state Dept of Agriculture

or go online

I live in NC. I google NC Dept of Agriculture and you get into that website and it has all you need to know and exactly WHO TO CALL to know all the legal requirements.

So google your state Dept of Agri

don't guess or anything--find the right answer fast

[southerngurl]

Depends on where you are located. Here in Arkansas you can sell up to 100 gallons raw goat milk per month off the farm without a permit. You cannot sell raw cow milk at all.

[Alice In TX/MO]

Milk laws, by state:
http://www.realmilk.com/milk-laws-1.html

[Freya]

Alice beat me to it. Here in CO it is illegal to sell, so I used that site to find my "cowshare" for raw milk... most of the "goat shares" had been taken, not as many goats here.

[Joel12mi]

Could you sell raw goat milk for making soap with out any of the legal issues????

[deetu]

I know someone who leases her goats to people for the purpose of milk. They keep the goats on her property and she feeds, cares for and milks them for the person.

[Carolyn]

Here they say that leasing the goat is jsut a way to get around the law--we have to have a sign posted that says NOT FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION and I have them sign a note that states the milk is not for human consumption and I put stickers on the jars-BUT I can't help what they do with it after it leaves my place.

[dragonchick]

I agree with Carolyn, see if you can legally sell it as animal feed. What they do with it after it leaves your farm is none of your knowledge or concern. And since you know that humans will be drinking it please keep everything safe and sanitary.

[billooo2]

Here in Ohio, "indivisible herd shares" have been upheld in a court decision. (The ODA does not like it, but there is not much they can do about it.) A herd share means that you own a share of the herd, so that the consumer is not "buying" the milk. The milk already belongs to him/her. It involves 2 contracts. The "herd share" contract defines how many shares the consumer owns, and what the consumer is entitled to The second contract is a "boarding contract." This contract defines how much the person taking care of the animals will be compensated per share.
Also, in Ohio, one can sell raw goat milk (not cow milk) as animal feed as long as it is properly labeled. I asked a lawyer what would happen if someone bought "animal feed' milk and then used it for human consumption..... He recommended against it, because the authorities could claim that I actually knew that it was being used for human consumption.

[duckidaho]

We did "donations for feed" for our eggs until we got approved by the state to sell eggs. I wonder if you could give away milk word of mouth and accept donations for feed? We are getting a couple of goats this spring, but we have no plans to ever get more than a few. In Idaho only "commercial" grade dairy operations, mechanichal milkers only, are legal. ie-large scale commercial dairies. The dairy industry in Boise has the lawmakers locked up tight.

[duckidaho]

We laugh about it, it's easier to by a semi-automatic assault rifle in Idaho than a gallon of local farm milk.

[billooo2]

Originally Posted by duckidaho

We did "donations for feed" for our eggs until we got approved by the state to sell eggs. I wonder if you could give away milk word of mouth and accept donations for feed? We are getting a couple of goats this spring, but we have no plans to ever get more than a few. In Idaho only "commercial" grade dairy operations, mechanichal milkers only, are legal. ie-large scale commercial dairies. The dairy industry in Boise has the lawmakers locked up tight.

Here in Ohio.....a couple years ago, the ODA actually sent an undercover drug agent to an Amish man's farm to try to buy raw cow milk. The Amish farmer said that he could not sell him any. The drug agent then went on and on about all the health problems he was experiencing. the Amish farmer finally said that he would GIVE him some milk. The agent went to his car and had the farmer fill his container. The farmer again refused to accept money. The drug agent laid $2 down as a "donation."
Then they took the Amish farmer to court.
(I attended the trial........and was totally disgusted that our tax money was spent on paying some drug agent to lie and, basically, entrap this farmer. Apparently the judge was not too impressed with their efforts either,)

[deineria]

Billooo2, that is so sad to hear! When so many "real" crimes go unpunished, that something like that happens is digusting!

[steff bugielski]

Here in NY you need a permit. But that is easy and free. One must comply with the regulations. They all are very common sense and I would abide by them any way.
Clean equipment, clean floors, clean barn, healthy goats.
I sell milk year round and have a huge demand for it.

[sammyd]

In WI it is illegal to sell raw milk period. Not for human use, not for soap, not for animal use, only to commercial dairies.

[betsy h.]

In TN, we have legal 'pet food' and they just reworded the law to allow 'shares' sales of raw milk.

This is being tested by TDA- I had a carload of them up my driveway last year when I gave info about 'shares' on a yahoogroups list and in the Knoxville paper. So, either someone turned me in or they are monitoring the lists. They said I had been turned in for selling milk and since I have not sold anything, I found it funny and disingenuous that I had indeed been turned in. They left quick when I gave them my info on 'how' I was connected with the State and esp. after I shoved my boobs in their face while talking to them.........LOL!

Anyway, there is an article in a recent Dairy Goat Journal about a young man who is successfully doing herd shares. He sent me copies of his documents and I will tailor them to my needs.

You might say it is similar to syndicating a stallion. Pretty easy if you get all the 'i's' dotted and 't's' crossed.

[chewie]

legally, that site says i can sell, but i must have an 'offical' bottling set up. i can only imagine what that would take??! $$$$. so i give my extra away, and if they leave me a gift, super.