UC Davis welcomes new Goat Dairy and Creamery
UC Davis loves its goats. For more than 100 years, goats have played a starring role in the teaching, research and outreach at the UC Davis College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CA&ES). That connection grew stronger than ever this week with the formal opening of the UC Davis Noel-Nordfelt Animal Science Goat Dairy and Creamery.
“We’re really excited to see this come to fruition,” said Animal Science Professor Anita Oberbauer, CA&ES associate dean for agricultural sciences. “At this new facility, we will be able to produce, market and sell Grade A goat cheese while providing hands-on learning for students.”
Located off Old Davis Road, the 2,420 square-foot building includes a milking parlor, milk room, clean room, aged cheese room and packing room. The facility will help students model common animal husbandry issues facing production goat dairies and provide a space where students, staff, faculty and industry-stakeholders can process milk and make cheese on state-of-the-art equipment.
“Students and faculty in animal science and food science will explore taking milk and cheese products into the campus dining community,” Oberbauer said. “And small-scale homestead cheesemakers will have new opportunities to hone their craft on campus.”
Each year, about 1,000 students study goats in their courses at UC Davis. The herd size fluctuates between 65 and 125 Alpines, Saanens, LaManchas and Recorded Grades goats, all of them registered through the American Dairy Goat Association and housed in pens surrounding the main barn.
And now, those fine furry friends will have their own parlor and creamery.
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Diane Nelson, Communications Specialist, 530-752-1969