BC Dairy Production
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BC Dairy Production British Columbia ranks first in Canada for the highest* provincial herd, milk quality and average milk production according to annual national summaries and milk quality statistics. Most B.C. dairy herds are located in the Lower Mainland, southeastern Vancouver Island, and the north Okanagan-Shuswap area.
For an overview of the BC Dairy industry:
*refers to dairy cattle only
Milk consumption in British Columbia (BC) has been declining over time, along with the rest of Canada
Per capita consumption
In 2017, BC had the lowest milk consumption per capita in Canada at 64.68 liters. In 2022, Canada's per capita consumption was around 58.2 liters, a decrease of over 10 liters since 2015.
Trends
While demand for fluid milk has decreased, demand for cream, cheese, ice cream, and butter has increased. BC's dairy industry is the largest land-based agriculture industry in the province by farm cash receipts. The Lower Mainland produces 75% of the milk in BC.
Facts about BC's dairy industry
The Milk Industry Act and its regulations govern the production, storage, transportation, processing, and sale of milk.
All milk, except for raw milk used in some specialty cheeses, must be pasteurized.
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency ensures that the food supply in Canada is safe.
BC has 28 provincially licensed processors, making it third in Canada for processor numbers.
On the Horizon
There is an emerging dairy goat milk industry in BC. In 2018 a number of goat farmers, mainly from the BC Interior and Fraser Valley proposed to create an association in support of dairy goat milk production.
It is unclear at this time if the start of an industry association will get started.Dairy goat farming is a common practice in British Columbia, Canada, with the province leading the country in milk quality, average milk production, and herd size.
Here are some things to know about dairy goat farming in BC:
Breeds
The most popular milk breeds are the Sanaan and Alpine, while the Nubia goat can be used for both milk and meat.
Herds
Dairy goat herds are usually larger than other goat herds, but are still typically small in size.
Milk production
A high-producing goat can produce over two gallons of milk per day, but a home dairy goat will likely produce less than a gallon.
Kidding
Goats are usually bred in the fall and kid in the spring, but some breeds can breed year-round. The gestation period is about 150 days.
Farm practices
Some farms sell their kids at about one week old to be raised on other farms for meat. Goats need protection from predators like coyotes and dogs, and some producers use Pyrenees dogs to keep them away.
Farms
Most dairy herds in BC are located in the Lower Mainland, southeastern Vancouver Island, and the north Okanagan-Shuswap area.
Cheese
Some dairy farms, like Forrest Farm in Salmo, BC, make cheese from their goats and sheep. You can find more information from some of the goat dairy farms in BC and other parts of Canada here:
Goats Milk
Digestion
Goat milk is easier to digest than cow milk because it contains less lactose and has smaller fat globules. Goat milk's fat is also made up of more medium chain triglycerides, which are easier to convert into energy and less likely to be stored as fat.
Protein
Goat milk has more protein per serving than cow milk, and the protein is more easily digested. Goat milk proteins may also help manage allergies to cow's milk.
Minerals
Goat milk is higher in calcium, magnesium, iron, copper, and phosphorous than cow milk.
Cholesterol
Goat milk may help reduce cholesterol levels in people with high cholesterol.
Lactose intolerance
Goat milk contains less lactose than cow milk, so it may be a better option for people with mild lactose sensitivities.
