Goat Farming
Description
The establishment primarily involved in the raising of goats constitutes a distinct segment within the broader animal production sector. These operations focus on the systematic breeding, feeding, and care of caprine livestock for various purposes including meat, milk, fiber, and breeding stock. Unlike general animal husbandry, goat farming often requires specific management practices such as rotational grazing and specialized feed formulations to ensure optimal growth and lactation rates. Typical business activities include procuring breeding stock, constructing or maintaining housing and fencing, administering veterinary care, and managing inventory for feed and supplements. Many farms also engage in seasonal tasks like lambing and kidding, which demand skilled labor and vigilant monitoring. Some operators process their own milk products locally or sell live animals at farmers markets, adding value before distribution. The industry attracts a diverse range of stakeholders, from large commercial agricultural conglomerates with dozens of herds to small family-run enterprises managing single families of animals. In terms of scale, the sector varies significantly in output, yet most operations share a commitment to sustainable land management and animal welfare. Ultimately, these businesses contribute to rural economies by providing essential food sources and supporting niche markets for dairy and meat products derived from goats across different regions.
Hierarchy
| Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 11 | Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting 2-digit sector | The Sector as a Whole The Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting sector comprises establishments primarily engaged in growing crops, raising animals, harvesting timber, and harvesting fish and other animals from a farm, ranch, or their natural habitats. The establishments in this sector are often described as farms, ranches, dairies, greenhouses, nurseries, orchards, or hatcheries. A farm may consist of a single tract of land or a number of separate tracts which may be held under different tenures. For example, one tract may be owned by the farm operator and another rented. It may be operated by the operator alone or with the assistance of members of the household or hired employees, or it may be operated by a partnership, corporation, or other type of organization. When a landowner has one or more tenants, renters, croppers, or managers, the land operated by each is considered a farm. The sector distinguishes two basic activities: agricultural production and agricultural support activities. Agricultural production includes establishments performing the complete farm or ranch operation, such as farm owner-operators and tenant farm operators. Agricultural support activities include establishments that perform one or more activities associated with farm operation, such as soil preparation, planting, harvesting, and management, on a contract or fee basis. Excluded from the Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting sector are establishments primarily engaged in agricultural research (e.g., experimental farms) and government establishments primarily engaged in administering programs for regulating and conserving land, mineral, wildlife, and forest use. These establishments are classified in Industry 54171, Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences; and Industry 92412, Administration of Conservation Programs, respectively. |
| 112 | Animal Production and Aquaculture 3-digit subsector | Industries in the Animal Production and Aquaculture subsector raise or fatten animals for the sale of animals or animal products and/or raise aquatic plants and animals in controlled or selected aquatic environments for the sale of aquatic plants, animals, or their products. The subsector includes establishments, such as ranches, farms, and feedlots, primarily engaged in keeping, grazing, breeding, or feeding animals. These animals are kept for the products they produce or for eventual sale. The animals are generally raised in various environments, from total confinement or captivity to feeding on an open range pasture. The industries in this subsector are grouped by important factors, such as suitable grazing or pasture land, specialized buildings, type of equipment, and the amount and types of labor required. Establishments are classified in the Animal Production and Aquaculture subsector when animal production (i.e., value of animals for market) accounts for one-half or more of the establishment's total agricultural production. Establishments with one-half or more animal production with no one animal product or family of animal products of an industry accounting for one-half of the establishment's agricultural production are treated as combination animal farming classified in Industry 11299, All Other Animal Production. |
| 1124 | Sheep and Goat Farming 4-digit industry group | This industry group comprises establishments primarily engaged in raising sheep, lambs, and goats, or feeding lambs for fattening. |
| 11242 | Goat Farming 5-digit NAICS industry | See industry description for 112420. |
| 112420 | Goat Farming 6-digit U.S. detail | The establishment primarily involved in the raising of goats constitutes a distinct segment within the broader animal production sector. These operations focus on the systematic breeding, feeding, and care of caprine livestock for various purposes including meat, milk, fiber, and breeding stock. Unlike general animal husbandry, goat farming often requires specific management practices such as rotational grazing and specialized feed formulations to ensure optimal growth and lactation rates. Typical business activities include procuring breeding stock, constructing or maintaining housing and fencing, administering veterinary care, and managing inventory for feed and supplements. Many farms also engage in seasonal tasks like lambing and kidding, which demand skilled labor and vigilant monitoring. Some operators process their own milk products locally or sell live animals at farmers markets, adding value before distribution. The industry attracts a diverse range of stakeholders, from large commercial agricultural conglomerates with dozens of herds to small family-run enterprises managing single families of animals. In terms of scale, the sector varies significantly in output, yet most operations share a commitment to sustainable land management and animal welfare. Ultimately, these businesses contribute to rural economies by providing essential food sources and supporting niche markets for dairy and meat products derived from goats across different regions. |
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Index Items
Angora goat farming
Dairy goat farming
Goat farming (e.g., meat, milk, mohair production)
Milking dairy goat
Mohair farming
How Item Can Help
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External Resources
Census.gov NAICS Detail
Official US Census Bureau definition and scope for NAICS 112420.
National Cattlemen's Beef Association
Resource hub offering market data and industry news for goat producers.
United States Department of Agriculture Animal Welfare
Government guidelines outlining animal husbandry standards and health regulations for goat farmers.
Goat Journal
Industry directory featuring educational articles and connections for small and commercial goat farmers.
