The sheep and goat dairy sectors in the European Union Present situation and stakes for the future

 

Jean-Paul Dubeuf^1, Jean-Claude Le Jaouen²

¹  CIRVAL-BP5 ; F-20250 CORTE ;

²  Institut de l’Elevage, 147 rue de Bercy ;  F-75013 – PARIS Cedex 12 ;

 

 

 

 

Abstract - The realties and situation of sheep and goat dairy sectors are described from comparative national and regional data on milk production, types and volumes of marketed products and the structural situation of the dairies.

Sheep and goat dairy sectors in the European Union are the more dynamics and the more structured in the world thanks to a general positioning on market of quality products. This general situation covers high diversity, when still very traditional and not well structured sectors still remain in Southern countries. For the last years, the sector has faced important changes: bigger herds, increase of production, withdrawal of smaller farms, general intensification with development of out of soils systems in many regions. Production of new countries for like the Netherlands has increased tenfold thanks to a very innovative politics of development. In the future this rather favourable position could be weakened by several causes: the effect of standardization and the loss of many local know–how, the fall of milk prices due to the competition of cow milk quality cheeses. The competition of Eastern Europe products could occur at a longer term when restructuring  the sector is achieved.

Multifunctionality and relation with non agricultural activities could be also an opportunity for smaller farms in low favoured areas with the development of specific labels or denomination. In all cases, professionalisation of activities and well defined strategies would be necessary to realize them as well as well defined public subsidies. 

 

Key words: European Union; Dairy sectors; prospective forecast; Sheep and goat milks.  

 

Introduction

 

About 4500 Mt sheep and goat milk have been produced in the European Union in 2002. Although this production is only 4% of the cow milk production, the all sector has a high economical importance.

Nevertheless, the global dynamics of the sector is hardly readable: It is difficult to get reliable and up dated official or professional statistics. Data are often scarce or included on those of the cow milk sector and the national situations cover often specific local situations with few links between each of them.

The aim of this communication is to give a clear overview of the present situation and diversity of the sheep and goat dairy sectors; to achieve it statistical data of each country are gathered on production systems, dairy industry, main products, milk pricing, … The present situation and main recent changes are then analysed with references to the global situation of the dairy sector. In a second part we will attempt to forecast the possible scenarios of change for future.

 

The present situation of the sheep and goat dairy sectors in the European Union

 

The dynamics of the small ruminant dairy sectors is largely related with their comparative advantages regarding the cow milk sector. In other words, scarcity and originality could be a winning card to create value (Vallerand, 2001). The diversity of the small ruminant dairy sectors and their regional territorial bases in Europe and in the Mediterranean Basin are the keys to understand the conditions of valorisation of sheep and goat milks.

 

A situation related with an old history but recent changes and innovation.

 

The present situation of the sheep and goat dairy sectors is mainly determined by an old pastoral history: The Southern European Countries around the Mediterranean Basin (Cyprus, France, Greece, Italy, Spain) and Portugal are the most important producers either for goat milk than for sheep milk (see tables in annex). 

The sheep milk is nearly exclusively located in these countries; if they produce about 23% of the world sheep milk production (FAO, 2001), probably more than 80-90% of the sheep milk collected by dairies in the world comes from this area. A specialised and performing ewe milk and cheese sector has been organised in France (Roquefort and Pyrenean, more recently Corsica) or Italy (Sardinia, Tuscany) and more recently in some Spanish regions (Basque Country, Extremadura, Castilla y Leon for instance). In other regions, there is little organization to valorise or develop specifically sheep milk. Goat milk and sheep milk have been often mixed (some times with cow milk) in Spain, Italy or Greece.

 

The history of the goat milk sector is rather different. When mixed with sheep milk, goat milk and goat farming have been under evaluated for a long time and little specialization was observed until the end of the fifties. Europe owns only 2, 5% of the world goat herd but 18% of the world goat milk production. It is the only continent where goat milk has such an economic importance, mainly due the leading and innovative position of France for organization and valorisation of goat milk products (Dubeuf, et al., 2004). Although goat milk production has always been present in non specialised farms, the development of goat milk in France is relatively few related with this tradition but more to innovation in dairy technology (innovative products on lactic cheeses) and goat management. The main innovations in goat management have been developed between the 60’s and the 80’s (mechanic milking, control of reproduction and oestrus synchronisation, artificial insemination, selection, nutrition, artificial suckling, milk freezing, hygienic and sanitary controls and other innovation in cheese making processes).

Specialisation and innovation can be observed in Southern European regions (Andalusia, the main European region for goat milk production or Canary Islands, in Cyprus). But goat production keeps very traditional in other Mediterranean regions (Southern Italy, Greece, and Portugal), with none specialised and none selected breeds that are associated with kid production for meat. In spite of local associative initiatives to promote goats and goat products, the specific development of goat milk production in these regions seems not to be clearly effective.   

 

In Northern Europe, the sheep milk and overall goat milk sector is mainly on small niche markets that have few links with tradition. If Norway has developed a goat milk sector from an old realty with local products (Brunost cheese), the very fast development in the Netherlands, an answer to limitations of cow milk production due to European quota is a way of diversification with the marketing of many innovative products. In the last years, this growth has generated overproduction.   

 

In spite of few goat or sheep milk tradition, the success of goat, and at a smaller scale sheep milk cheeses has led investment for small scale cheese making in countries like United Kingdom, Belgium or Germany on niche markets.

 

The sheep and goat dairy industry: Coexistence of big private firms and cooperatives with small cheese units with a recent investment of cow milk cheese societies; the small scale and farm cheese making realty.

 

The situation of the sheep and goat dairy industry is very diverse according to the countries. Once a very traditional sector with hundreds of small cheese units, the industry has faced an important restructuring everywhere for 20 years.

 

Its main problems are

-                        a seasonally of  production with its effects on the competitiveness of processing units and the ability to supply the markets all along the year

-                        The small size of many regional sectors and its difficulties to get an access to broader markets. Joint ventures with larger structures have been proposed to solve this problem mainly for farm cheese makers (IDF, 2000). In the future a possible development of Internet commercial sites could help the regional producers to reach new customers.

 

In France, the sheep and goat cheese industry has been largely concentrated in the hands of some private (Lactalis, Bongrain) or cooperative (3A, GLAC, Poitouraine …) groups. An other main realty is the farm made cheese sector that has been recognized for itself and is involved in modernization with specific agreement procedures for hygienic sanitary regulations thanks to a strong mobilization of technical and professional organizations[1]. In other countries, the farm made cheese units are either not acknowledged or included in the small scale cheese sector (< 2millions litres/year).

In spite of investments of big cow milk international dairy firms in the sheep and goat sectors in some countries, (Spain, Italy, Greece), concentration of the cheese industry is lower than for cow milk. For instance, in Sardinia, the main European sheep milk region, mainly dedicated for export, the sector is in the hands of more than 35 cooperatives and 23 private societies. In the Manchego Spanish sector, we can count 37 industrial dairies and 43 small scale dairies.  Such a situation can be observed in other countries with a high atomisation of the sector. On an other hand, small milk processing units could be an advantage for local traditional products.

 

In Greece, the number of local and regional cheese units has decreased from 1200 to 600 in 20 years (Vallerand, 2001). In Spain, the goat milk sector has developed recently with the export of frozen goat curd for French market when a large part of ewe and goat milks are still mixed with cow milk for cheese making. 

 

The position of sheep and goat cheeses on the market of quality products: real winning cards with high quality located cheeses but still few valorisation of high volumes traditional cheeses

 

The market of sheep and goat milk is different from the global market of cow milk that is dominated by milk for consumption, butter and milk powder. Although we observe a recent development of the UHT goat milk for consumption or yogurt with sheep and goat milk, nearly all the sheep and goat milk production is processed in cheeses. These cheeses are generally a high source of valorisation for sheep and goat milks.

 

Several cheeses are related with National or Regional food tradition. A part of the Mediterranean diet, these cheeses are often included in cooking and have some difficulties to get a good value for the local or the export market (Feta cheeses, Pecorino, pressed Manchego type Spanish cheeses, Halloumi cheeses) and although they are well known, their prices are often low. 

 

More than 70 European cheeses with sheep or goat milk have got the PDO certification but the impact of this certification on valorisation is very diverse according to the situations. The total production of 14 PDO Portuguese cheeses is only 460 t with high prices; meanwhile the more successful PDO cheese, Roquefort cheese is about 21 000 t for national and export markets where it has a rather luxury image. The other main PDO cheeses are Pecorino Romano (32000 t), Pecorino Sardo and Fiore Sardo in Sardinia, Manchego cheese in Spain (4800 t)  and Feta cheese in Greece (70% of the national cheese production) but their impact on sheep or goat milk prices keeps often low in absence of marketing innovation. The case of Feta cheese keeps partly unsolved as it has been withdrawn of the PDO list by official decision (1070/99) following a position of the European Court of Justice. The Feta case is also a good illustration of the tendency of some groups to use famous sheep and goat milk denominations for generic cow milk industrial cheeses. 

On the other hand, the market of lactic goat cheeses has grown regularly for 20 years with rather high prices and regional goat or sheep cheeses got a good success. A study ordered by the French professional goat Association has confirmed the positive natural image of Goat cheeses for the consumers comparatively with the image of cow milk cheeses (Repères, Market research and Opinion, 2001)  

 

Consequently, the prices of sheep and goat milk still remains generally higher than those of the cow milk in Europe but the guaranteed specific income tends to get lower as shown in Annex 2

 

WHAT SCENARIOS FOR THE FUTURE:

 

The recent and constant growth of the production of sheep and goat milk and cheeses has shown that the prospect for sheep and goat milk sectors are presently rather favourable. Nevertheless they are facing several challenges.

The internal challenge is the challenge of organization: The future of each regional sector will depend on its ability to develop or perpetuate collective organizations, to support services for the sector (for extension, research and economic intelligence). In many regions, these services are still not very numerous and without this structuring, the danger for marginalization and withdrawal are real.

 

The external factors will be probably still more important for the future of the sector:

The European Common Agricultural Policy will have a major impact, not so easy to define but determinant on the level of milk prices and on the subsidies for farmers. It will be determinant on the non European competition and this of the cow milk products. A major stake will be the real impact and level of support for rural development (and mainly of Less Favoured Areas). In the present situation, the sheep and goat dairy sectors are not supported for themselves, unlike the cow milk sector. The sheep and goat meat only gets subsidies from the U.E.

An other factor will be the consumer’s attitude and the changes of the market

 

We have built several hypotheses for each of these factors, a base to build several scenarios thanks to a process derived from the exploratory prospective method (De Jouvenel, 1999) to enlighten decision making for the future.

 

Table 1 : Possible scenarios for the future of the sheep and goat dairy sectors

	Hypothesis  1	Hypothesis 2	Hypothesis 3
Consumer’s attitude	The consumer’s are more oriented towards generic cheeses	The consumers diversify their tastes	local sheep and goat cheeses are more and more appreciated
Market situation	Contraction	Stability	Development and Non European export
Financial support for rural and agricultural development	Few subsidies for farming		High support  for rural development
general standard of living	Lower	Stable	Higher
Attraction for agricultural jobs	Low replacement rate	Decrease of the number of farms	Young people are attracted by S & G farming
Non European Competition	Few development of sheep and goat milks outside Europe	Few changes	Development of sheep and goat milk outside European Union
Competition of cow milk products			Development of quality cow milk cheeses

 

 

From these hypotheses, we have built several scenarios.

 

 

Scenario 1: A very positive economic situation for Sheep and Goat sectors  

Significant subsidies are allocated to rural zones and new settlements are supported

The sheep and goat local dairy products are more and more appreciated with many well characterized and guaranteed new denominations.

Young people are attracted by rural and pastoral jobs including in Low Favoured rural Areas.

Restructuring of the cheese processing sector has favoured the competition of cheese units. The external competition has little influence on the high valorisation of sheep and goat cheeses. Many traditional regions are developing.

 

Scenario 2: Some regions only preserve their positions 

 

The Common Agricultural Policy keeps supporting the European farmers with direct subsidies.

The now tendency is carrying on: decrease of the number of farms, modernisation of units, and marginal situation  of the more traditional regions.

Niche products are developing in specific areas but only a few region strengthen their positions (Western France for goats, Roquefort region for sheep in France, Sardinia, some regions of Spain,). The prices of milk could keep high and innovation is developing.      

 

Scenario 3: General decline of the sheep and goat milk sectors  

 

The sector could not have preserved its specificity with a general development of non diversified out of soils systems. The professional organizations can not preserve the cohesion of their profession. The prices decrease dramatically .

The image of sheep and goat cheeses is captured but generic cow milk or import products. The concentration of the sector by cow milk societies is nearly complete. 

The suppression of many subsidies has strengthened the size of farms and concentration of industry. The sector is less and less competitive including in the main sheep and goat milk regions.

 The European Policy has reduced dramatically the support for Agriculture and the European market is facing the world competition.

 

CONCLUSIONS

 

These scenarios are before all milestones to understand between what boundaries will be positioned the sector for the future. They are elements to enlighten discussion on the future changes of the sheep and goat sectors.

An important question will be the respective positions of innovation and traditional products. In the future, will the sheep and goat dairy sectors been organised specifically or included in the cow milk sectors.

Is the development of sheep and goat milk a problem of rural development or a problem of market? If politics for rural development could come with a good market tendency, the present situation has shown that for the past 20 years, market realities are prevailing for development of sheep and goat milk sectors.

 

 

 

REFERENCES

 

De Jouvenel, H. La démarche prospective. Un bref guide méthodologique. Futuribles, 247 : 47-68 (1999)

 

Dubeuf, J-P; Morand-Feh,; P., Rubino, R. Situation, changes and future of goat industry around the world; Small Ruminant Research  51 : 165-173 (2004)

 

FAO, Official statistics (2001). http://apps.fao.org/page/form?collection=Production.Livestock.Stocks&Domain=Production&servlet=1&language=EN&hostname=apps.fao.org&version=default

 

Groupe Economie du Bétail. L’Espagne laitière en pleine restructuration. Une menace ? In :Dossier « Economie de l’élevage » ; n°295 :22 pp. (2000)

 

 Groupe Economie du Bétail . L’Elevage bovin, ovin et caprin-lait et viande- au recensement agricole de 2000 In : Dossier « Economie de l’élevage » ; n°318 : 22 pp. (2002).

 

Repères, Market research and Opinion, 2001."Usages et aptitudes à l'égard du fromage de chèvre; étude 4349; ANICAP, , Paris, France.  

 

Vallerand, F. Les filières lait de brebis en Europe Méditerranéenne ; éléments de développement comparé in « Actes de la Conférence Méditerranéenne de Coopération pour la Recherche Agronomique» ; NAGREF (ed.itor) , Athens ; pp 581-600. (2001).

 

IDF.Proceedings of development strategy for the Sheep and Goat sector; IDF Bulletin of the International Dairy Federation; 354 : 44 p. (2000)

 

Anonymous . Faits et chiffres du secteur agro-alimentaire et du mlieu rural espagnol 2001. ; MAPA éditors Madrid ; 106 pp. (2001)

 

Working group FAO/CIHEAM. The monitoring body on sheep and goat production systems in the Mediterranean: Key figures and indicators of functionning and evolution. In Options méditerranéennes, n°39;  Etudes et Recherches; IAM –CIHEAM ; pp. 25 -31. (2002)

ANNEX 1

DATA ON SHEEP AND GOAT DAIRY SECTORS IN EUROPE

 

FRANCE

		Sources/Comments
Production : - ewe milk (million litres) - goat milk  (millions litres) Collected and farm processed milk: -    ewe milk (millions litres) Roquefort Pyrénées Atlantiques Corsica -    goat milk (million litres) Total production of  S&G cheeses (t) (farm processed)	304 520     170 48,2 10,5 farm processed 514 53 300 S / 85 000 G (6000 S /15 000 G)	GEB-IE 2002         of which 7 Ml are farm processed of which 2 Ml are farm processed 120 Ml are  farm processed
Type of dairy S&G products: Sheep cheeses :     Goat cheeses	Roquefort PDO (21000 t), Feta pressed cheeses and specialities 75 000 t industrial  cheeses 6400 t (11PDO cheeses) 14 000 t are raw crude milk cheeses of all S@G	mainly are lactic cheeses
Number of dairy S&G farms  Goat farms Sheep farms	14500 4800
Market	National market dominant Export 6000t S /9000t G	Roquefort is the main exported  cheese in France
Average dairy productivity (l/lactation): sheep   goats	Roquefort > 200 l Pyrénées 100-200l Corsica < 100l more than 500l Corsica:<200l	Lacaune Manech/Basco/béarnaise  Corse Alpine/Saanen Corse
Milk collection of sheep and goat Quality control of milk	YES YES (see annex)
Milk price (average price in €) -    sheep milk Roquefort (mean CI, II, III)   Corsica -    - goat milk	0,85   1,10 0,51	(2002)   Confédération générale de Roquefort ILOCC Anicap
Number of (non farm) dairies collecting Sheep and goat milk :   Number of milk processing S& G farms	40 sheep Milk dairies 45 goat milk dairies 1000 with sheep milk 3500 wth goazt milk
Identify the main regions : sheep milk   goat milk	Roquefort, Pyérénées Atlantiques and Corsica Central Western Rhône –Alpes Centre and Southwest
Short description of the recent changes (10 l max)	less farms m increase of the size of herds intensification of systems	innovations products growth of industrial cheeses more consumers

CYPRUS

 

		Sources/Comments
Production : - ewe milk (million litres) - goat milk  (millions litres) Collected milk: Farm processed milk Total production of  S&G cheeses (t)	22,5 37,2 28,3 23,8 (5,3 S°18,5 G) 16139	National Statistics, 2002
Type of dairy S&G products: Sheep cheeses : Sheep milk Halloumi Goat cheeses Goat’s milk Halloumi (cow milk halloumi) Fetta cheese Yogurt Kefalotiri Anari ( ricotta cheese)	3416   4078 (3817 1120 6925 600 2380
Number of dairy S&G farms	4325
Market	national/export 4000 t for export	Europe 2453 – Arab countries 1401
Average dairy productivity (l/lactation): sheep   goats	120   145
Milk collection of sheep and goat Quality control of milk	YES YES (see annex)
Milk price (averageproducer  price in €) -    sheep milk   -     goat milk   -    cowmilk	0,684   0,410   0,376
Number of (non farm) dairies collecting Sheep and goat milk : Total milk processed (t)	71
Identify the main regions :	All the country	Statistics for Southern part direct collection by CMIO in Pafos district
Short description of the recent changes	recent growth of export since 1999	An integrated dairy sector including sheep and goast

 

 

GREECE

 

		Sources/ Comments
Production : - ewe milk (million litres) - goat milk  (million litres) Collected and farm processed milk: ewe milk - (million litres) goat milk (million litres) Total production of  S&G cheeses (t)	678 459   435/231 234/204 118 437  76 600	Greek Ministry of Ahriculture 2001     Collected and farm processed respectively Industry farm made cheeses
Type of dairy S&G products:	Feta and teleme 18 PDO cheeses with sheep and goat milk in Greece	70% of the total cheeses processed .
Number of dairy S&G farms   Number of dairies S&G	121 631 sheep milk  farms ~600	-54% in 25 Years
Market	Mostly national market. Export of Feta is developping
Average dairy productivity (l/lactation): sheep goats	Less than 100 l Less than 250l	mainly local greek breeds mainly local greek breeds
Milk collection of sheep and goat Quality control of milk	YES some dairies are beginning to integrate milk quality
Bacteriological quality	average quality and standard deviations.
Milk price (average price in €/l) - goat milk -    sheep milk	0,52 0,82	(2000)
Number of (non farm) dairies collecting Sheep and goat milk :   Number of milk processing S& G farms	~600   not officially recorded	decreasing from 1200 to 600 in 20 years. 32% of milk directly sold or processed by producers
identify the main regions	the all country
Short description of the recent changes	stability of production. decrease of the number of breeders increase of the size of farms	Few collective organization     foregin labour

 

 

SPAIN

 

		Sources/Comments
Production : - ewe milk (million litres ) - goat milk  (million litres) Marketed and processed milk: -    ewe milk (million litres) -    goat milk (million litres) Total production of  S&G cheeses (t)	342 320   269 320 10 000 t pure goat cheeses  About 150 000 t sheep milk cheese	MAPA 2001 and Institut de l’élevage 2001       50000 t cheeses with goat milk -
Type of dairy S&G products:	Mixed milk cheeses are predominany 124 000 t manchego type cheese 13 AOP cheeses	Manchego DOP 4800 t     4 mixed – 5 pure sheep milk – 4 pure goat milk
Number of dairy S&G farms	33173
Market	National Export 4000 t cheeses	Andalusia goat milk exported
Average dairy productivity (l/lactation): sheep   goats	Less than 100 l more than 200 l Less than 250l 250-500l more than 500l	Latxca – Churra Assaf Serrana Malaguena – Canaria Murciana- Granadina
Milk collection of sheep and goat   Quality control of milk	YES    YES (see annex)
Milk price - goat milk -    sheep milk	0,42 € 0,79 €	200) goat milk price has decreased 20% in 2003 ( overproductivity)
dairies collecting Sheep and goat milk : Total milk processed (t)	Manchego sector 37 industrial dairies, 43 small scale dairies
identify the main regions	Goat milk : Andalusia – Murcia – Canary Islands – Extremadure Sheep milk : Castille Leon and La Mancha Navarra – Basque Country
Short description of the recent changes (10 l max)	Growth of sheep milk production Growth of the size of farms

 

ITALY

 

		Sources/Comments
Production : - ewe milk (million litres) - goat milk  (million litres) collected milk: -    sheep milk (million litres) of which Sardegna (million litres) of which Tuscanna / Lazio (million litres) - goat  milk (million litres) Total production of  S&G cheeses (t)	741,9 94,7   523,8 364 112 29,5 90 000 t (sheep cheeses) 8600 T (goat cheeses)	Assolatte 2001 and  “ the milk market 2003”   + 138 Ml for  farm made cheeses     + 40 Ml farm made cheeses
Type of dairy S&G products:	Pecorino Romano Fiore Sardo, Pecorino Sardo .14 AOP with sheep and goat cheese	32 000 t     8 AOP with mix of milk
Number of dairy S&G farms	90 947 ( sheep farms) 41 815 (goat farms)	AIA, 2000
Market	Export predominant National	20 000 t pecorino exported US
Average dairy productivity (l/lactation): sheep goats	100-200l Less than 250l	Sarda/Cominsana Maltese and cross; local breeds
Milk collection of sheep and goat Quality control of milk	YES /NO Yes
Milk price - goat milk -    sheep milk	0,44 € 0,51 €	2000  2003
Number of (non farm) dairies collecting Sheep and goat milk :   Number of milk processing S& G farms	about 35 industrial and  35 cooperative dairies in Sardinia
identify the main regions	Sardinia Toscana /Latium Sicilia
Short description of the recent changes (10 l max)	development of niche products increase  of the size of farms market problems for Pecorino

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PORTUGAL

 

		Sources/Comments
Production : - ewe milk (million litres) - goat milk  (million litres)   collected milk: -    sheep milk (million litres) -    goat  milk (million litres) Total production of  S&G cheeses (t)	97,27 29,5     80  15,5 16211t	of which  1231 t. goat cheeses
Type of dairy S&G products:	.14 AOP with Sand G cheese	only  462 t
Number of dairy S&G farms	4316	1999
Market	local and national
Average dairy productivity (l/lactation): sheep goats	less than 100 l 250-500l	Merinos Serrana;Algarvia
Milk collection of sheep and goat Quality control of milk	YES N0
Milk price - goat milk -    sheep milk	0,45 € 1 €	2002
Number of (non farm) dairies collecting Sheep and goat milk :   Number of milk processing S& G farms	small cheese making units farm cheese making dominant	86 dairies producing S/G DOP cheeses.
identify the main regions	Beira interior, Alentejo, Tras os montes
Short description of the recent changes (10 l max)	General stability of production and processing	a good market for DOP S and G cheeses

 

GERMANY

 

		Sources/Comments
Production : - goat milk  (million litres) collected milk: -    goat milk (million litres) Total production of  goat cheeses (t)	5-7   3 400 1500	Bundesvberband Ziegenzüchter eV DREE DUSSELDORF    pure goat milk cheese cow+ goat  milk cheese
Type of dairy S&G products:	.Local pure goat cheeses Altenbuger Ziergenkaäse	mixed cow+goat milk cheese
Number of dairy goat farms	15 000
Market	local  and direct sale  Bioproduct
Average dairy productivity (l/lactation): goats	more than 500l	Friesan goat/Alpine
Milk collection of sheep and goat   Quality control of milk	YES   YES
Milk price -    goat  milk	***
Number of (non farm) dairies collecting goat milk :	mainly Zimmermann and Jüllich Andescher Molkerei
Short description of the recent changes (10 l max)	development

 

 

 

NETHERLANDS

 

		Sources/Comments
Production : goat milk  (million litres) collected milk: goat milk (million litres)	121    100	VIPL- ME/CFCE 2004
Type of dairy S&G products:	Gouda type goat cheese and specialties ( 60%) Milk for consumption/ Feta/Quarks/Frozen Curd
Number of dairy goat farms	400 farms >400 goats. 327 000 l. several hundreds are less than 20 goats	70 big fam cheese makers
Market	National market  and export	export of curd in New Zealand
Average dairy productivity (l/lactation): goats	more than 500l	800 l/goat
Milk collection of sheep and goat Quality control of milk	YES YES
Number of (non farm) dairies collecting goat milk :	60% by 10 dairies 40% cooperative	Almathea /CBM are the biggest
Short description of the recent changes (10 l max)	recent fast increase; over production

 

 

NORWAY

 

		Sources/Comments
Production : goat milk  (million litres) collected milk: goat milk (million litres)	28   26	SSB 2003 / Rault 1998
Type of dairy S&G products:	.Local pure goat cheese (Brunost and Gjetost cheese)
Number of dairy goat farms	7650
Market	National market  and export
Average dairy productivity (l/lactation): goats	more than 500l
Milk collection of sheep and goat Quality control of milk	YES YES
Number of (non farm) dairies collecting goat milk :	a small farm made cheese sector 1 cooperative collecting milk (Tine Co-op)
Short description of the recent changes (10 l max)	increase of the size of farms with a decrease of livestocks

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ANNEX  2

THE PRICES OF SHEEP AND GOAT MILK IN EUROPE

 

Goat milk prices 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                                                                                                                                          

 

Sheep milk prices