Abstract #130

# 130
Exploring the market for goat milk products.
L. Scott*1, 1Clemson University, Clemson, SC.

The goat milk product market is growing in some parts of the world but others remain at a standstill due to unfamiliarity with goat products. The market potential of goat milk products is high but only as people become more educated and acquire the taste for these products. A systematic literature research was conducted to further investigate this topic. Databases used included Google Scholar, Science Direct, and Pubmed. Keywords included goat milk, benefits, and market. There are many benefits in consuming goat milk, yogurt, or specialty cheeses. Many reports show that these products have a tendency to reduce allergies and asthma to people in all stages of life: sick, elderly, or young. Babies and toddlers have the potential to gain the most benefit from goat milk when compared with cow and human milk. Goat milk soaps have been known to reduce sunburns significantly. Research shows many differences in goat milk composition in terms of vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and fatty acids but this information can only be viewed through trends due to the lack of research and consistency between breeding goat breeds and herds among farms. Another market that has been weakly explored is that of third world countries who stand to gain the most by using goats. Goats are easily kept in areas with little shrubbery and produce more efficiently than other dairy animals. A few milking goats are enough to provide a family enough nutrition to survive and make profit off the dairy products. Goat milk products have many known advantages but the surface has just barely been scratched. Based on this review, there is an opportunity in this market for much more concrete research but unless there is an increase of education and interest in this market then the products may never reach their greatest potential.

Key Words: goat milk, benefits, market