Thinking of going after a licence

[Cannon_Farms]

To sell raw pet grade milk for the pet/livestock market not really caring what folks do with it after they leave here.
The rules I can find specify that it has to be a clean area but nothing about it having to be santatizable. Before I build and since I cant get anyone on the phone, what do you think regulations would be? I had hoped to build a floor from a pallet and build half walls with screened tops for airflow and a metal roof but thinking more of it do I need to make everything easy to be sanitized? Wood is not considered something that you can use in a kennel type environment because you can not sanitize it.
For our use clean teats and a clean bucket is good enough but I doubt the state will call that good enough.

Our other thought its to get a small storage building but thats kinda costly for us right now, but I can lay material down so the floor can be sanitized as well as the walls if required. That seems more like a higher class of license than Im seeking though.

[eclipchic]

I'll be watching this, I'd love to consider selling "pet milk" in the future

[madness]

Our milk inspector doesn't like folks like us - those that already have the infrastructure and are trying to get licensed after the fact. He would much much prefer full drawings before hand - then he can nip any problems in the bud. Each state, and each inspector in that state, is going to do things differently. I highly suggest you get the inspector on the phone and go over things. There are things that are NOT in our code, but he acted like were completely enforceable items. It's too confusing to try to interpret on your own!

We have issues with screens in the milk room and storage room. It depends on what they open to as to whether or not they are acceptable.

Good luck!

[saanengirl]

For the pet license in GA, you don't need much. I don't know anyone who has been inspected after getting that license... The main thing is to have milk that YOU feel comfortable selling. That means, even if you are selling it to the local vet hospital for orphan animals, it still needs to be human-quality milk. Your responsibility is to label it "Not For Human Consumption" in large letters, you have no control over how it will be used.

[JJFarmer]

Around here the drill is:

call for a consultation
draw up plans
get drawn plans approved
build said plans
have building inspected
purchase license

[Cannon_Farms]

I cant see it taking much as I know one couple who sell it in Ga, and a couple years ago I bought something from them and I swear i would have been more comfortable in the ghetto, my dad asked me if we where in the movie deliverance
I have actually email a couple folks without response, Im hoping to get to go the Montage farms soon and see her set up.
I would never sell milk that we wouldnt drink ourselves, even my ob dr loves our milk, im very particular how its handled. My current method involves me and my husband or kid at hand, I milk then hand the pail off to one of them, they strain and put the jugs in the fridge while Im milking the next goat.

[Cannon_Farms]

finally got some one on the phone, there is no facility requirements but they do test the product, the label is the most important thing she said, and of course the "fees", I have to have a commercial feed license. Saanen Girl, if you know of any other benifits that license has in Ga lmk.
So, as soon as I can find a place to get labels made I think i may be business.

[Cannon_Farms]

label requirements
A B C Ranch

Raw Cow Milk For Pets
or
For use in feeding orphaned animals
Guaranteed Analysis:
Crude Protein (min) …. 3%
Crude Fat (min) ……… 3%
Crude Fiber (max) …… 1%
-Moisture (max) ..….…. 88%


* WARNING: NOT FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION
THIS PRODUCT HAS NOT BEEN PASTEURIZED AND-MAY CONTAIN HARMFUL BACTERIA

A B C Ranch
123 Main Street
Hometown, GA- 33333
1-800-123-4567


Keep Refrigerated--------------------------- Net Content:- 1 gallon

[Alice In TX/MO]

You can print labels on your computer printer.

[Cannon_Farms]

yea, but now I gotta go buy a printer, the old one I have the ink cost more than the printer did new, and you cant do the refill thing with them
Im kinda excited about it, and the lady sounded easy to work with.

[saanengirl]

Some of the benefits include: letting the state know that this is an important industry so that we can ask for more concessions in the future; having a legal outlet to sell milk without going through the hassle of a grade A facility, and having the ability to advertise.

I know the owner of Montage farms quite well. She has a nice set-up. If you want the contact info for more people with the license, PM me.

[Cannon_Farms]

I was so upset, I was supposed to buy a lamancha from her but a $170 in vet bills and an unexpected trip across the state kinda ate that money up, still hoping to get one from her soon, Just about every year prior to this I would go to the show and take her show milk home to practice making cheese and she also would let me milk her goats. All in all Angie helped me make the leap from meat to dairy goats. My husband really liked her Alpines so I have a feeling we will be gathering a few of those next season.

I didnt know if a commercial feed license would help me get breaks on feed from wholesalers or not, not even so sure why its required but hey, its the requirement so we will do what they ask.

[Cannon_Farms]

Now, for my next thread.

[saanengirl]

You get breaks on feed prices based on volume. Some feed stores require a half ton, some require a ton purchase at a time. If you buy feed bulk from a mill, you can get a lower price.

[Cannon_Farms]

I dont have enough to currently do that, I wish TSC would get some more purnia goat feeds in, I hate the ones we carry, I save 15% with my employee discount but nothing their does the job.

[madness]

I reread the thread - didn't realize it was for pet grade...so you don't have to dye the milk blue in Ga, huh? I've even heard the blue dye makes it taste bad, but I've never tried it!

[saanengirl]

Originally Posted by madness

I reread the thread - didn't realize it was for pet grade...so you don't have to dye the milk blue in Ga, huh? I've even heard the blue dye makes it taste bad, but I've never tried it!

They had a hearing on dying the milk blue last year, and there was so much outcry from producers and consumers that they dropped the whole idea.

[mekasmom]

I didn't realize you had to have a license to sell goat milk for pets? It must be different state by state.

[saanengirl]

Every state has different laws regarding the sale of milk. The only way you can sell raw milk to the public in the state of Georgia is if it is labled as animal feed and not for human consumption.

[billooo2]

In Ohio......raw goat milk for animal consumption has no regulation other than the label, which needs to state "Raw Goat Milk," the amount, and the farm where it came from.

Every state has their own requirements.