Arctic Goat Husbandry - Market potential for goat products Is the potential for goat husbandry in circumpolar arias utilized? Can an arctic profile be a competitive advantage for goat products? Is there a niche market for arctic goat cheese? CAC 2007 Odd Arild Finnes Bioforsk Nord Holt
Bioforsk Norwegian Institue for Agricultural and Enviromental Research Bioforsk Nord Arctic Agriculture and Land Use Division Sections: Arctic Agriculture and Quality Environment and Land Resources Northern Norwegian Centre of Expertise Geographical Units: Holt Bodø (Vågønes) Tjøtta www.bioforsk.no
Goat - worldwide position The worlds most common domestic animal? Goat products Meat Milk Fibre (mohair, cashmere) Skin Many different breeds Normally on small scale farms, The poor mans cow Prefer bush lands more than grass pastures
Norwegian goat husbandry - status 45 000 goats spread on 560 farms More than 90% dairy goats 40% of the production in the northern part of Norway Massive structural changes. In ten years the number of farms reduced with almost 50 %. Total milk production is stable Quota system Goat husbandry makes up a small part of the Norwegian husbandry and has a relatively weak organisational position Changing market for goat products
Goat milk production Challenges in Norway: Housing Animal welfare New technology Health Program to eradicate three contagious diseases in the Norwegian goat population (CLA, paratubercolosis, CAE) Grazing and bush control (outlying fields) Positive for keeping the landscape open Conflict with forest cultivation
Goat milk products Products in Norway Brown cheese (Whey Goat Cheese) Dominating position today, decreasing White cheese White cheese production is given priority from the Norwegian dairy industry New products and more diversity of cheeses are required Quality regime Direct consumption More easily digestible fat and protein Less allergenic
Kid meat Kids fed for 6 weeks 7 kg carcass Exclusive food Up till now not paid well enough to give the farmer profit New project to open a high end market in Tromsø
Dairy industry TINE BA is the sales and marketing organisation for Norway's dairy cooperative http://tine.no - Norway's largest food industry. 52 plants all over the country, 6 of them prepare goat milk - Strategy for improving quality and increase consumption of goat products Increasing number of farmers start their own small scale cheese production
Trends in the market Generally more positive attitude towards goats and goat products Exclusive products? Milder taste Norwegian goat milk generally have a tart flavour International products Market influenced by tourism and immigration More diversity Don`t go to the zoo, - go to the jungle Product development and marketing initiative hand in hand
Quality demands The milk from Norwegian goats is of to low quality for the production of several cheese products. Main problems: Flavour Free fatty acids Casein-composition (Alpha s1-casein) Possible actions for quality improvements: Breeding The breeding program must include action to improve milk quality for cheese production Introducing/crossing with foreign breeds Feeding Must be improved Milk keeping and milk treatment Must be improved
TINE Snøfrisk, for eksportframstøt
Research Traditionally low activity compared to other livestock Increasing scientific activity especially on health Farmers in Northern Norway exert pressure for more research and knowledge about goats New scientific project apply: Quality Goat Milk for Cheese Production Collaboration between Tine, Norwegian Sheep and Goat Society (NSG), University of Life Sciences (UMB) and Norwegian Crop and Environmental Research Institute (Bioforsk) Main objective is to establish breeding and feeding strategies that ensure optimal and stable goat milk quality for consumer preferred cheese products Apply decision in December 07
Artic goat products Future aspect: Give several goat products an arctic profile and thereby make them more preferred in the marked
Circumpolar goat? Is the potential for goat husbandry in the circumpolar region utilized? Is there a basis/interest for circumpolar collaboration on goat husbandry (knowledge, development, research)