How Much Milk Does a Goat Produce Per Day? Breed-by-Breed Chart

“How much milk does a goat produce?” is the first question almost everyone asks us, and it is also the one with the most misleading answers online. Some sites quote show-ring records as if every backyard doe will match them; others lowball the numbers so badly that people decide goats are not worth keeping.

At Pure Goat Farms we weigh every milking on a hanging scale and log it. This guide uses those real-world numbers alongside published breed averages, so you can set honest expectations for your goats — per day, per week and over a whole lactation.

If you are specifically wondering how much you will get in the pail at a single milking, start with our companion guide, how much milk can a goat really give at once. This article zooms out to the full day and the full season.

Goat Milk Production Per Day by Breed

Breed is the single biggest predictor of daily milk. The chart below shows typical daily production for healthy, well-fed does averaged across a full lactation, plus the higher figure you can expect around peak.

Breed	Average per day	Peak per day	Per 305-day lactation	Butterfat
Saanen	8–10 lb (≈1–1.2 gal)	12–16 lb	2,500–2,900 lb	3.0–3.5%
Alpine	7–9 lb (≈0.8–1 gal)	11–14 lb	2,300–2,600 lb	3.3–3.6%
Toggenburg	6–8 lb (≈0.7–0.9 gal)	10–12 lb	2,100–2,400 lb	3.0–3.3%
LaMancha	6–8 lb (≈0.7–0.9 gal)	10–12 lb	2,100–2,300 lb	3.8–4.2%
Oberhasli	6–8 lb (≈0.7–0.9 gal)	9–12 lb	2,000–2,300 lb	3.6–3.8%
Nubian	5–7 lb (≈0.6–0.8 gal)	8–10 lb	1,800–2,000 lb	4.5–5.0%
Nigerian Dwarf	2–3 lb (≈1–1.5 qt)	4–5 lb	700–850 lb	6.0–7.0%

A few notes on reading that table:

• Saanen goat milk production per day is the highest of any common breed. A mature Saanen in her second or third lactation regularly fills a gallon jar every day, and top does exceed 12 pounds at peak.
• Alpine goat milk production per day is only slightly lower than Saanen, but Alpines are famous for holding their production longer into the lactation, which evens out the season total.
• Nubian goats produce less volume, but their milk is noticeably richer and sweeter. Many cheesemakers prefer them because more butterfat and protein means more cheese per gallon.
• Nigerian Dwarfs give the least milk by volume but the richest by far. For their size — 60 to 75 pounds — they are remarkably efficient.

Want to compare these breeds on temperament, size and climate too? Our full guide to the best dairy goat breeds for milk goes breed by breed.

Pounds, Gallons and Liters: Converting Goat Milk

Dairy goat records are kept in pounds because a hanging scale is faster and more accurate than measuring jugs. Goat milk weighs about 8.6 pounds per US gallon (about 1.03 kg per liter), so:

Pounds	US gallons	Quarts	Liters
2 lb	0.23 gal	0.9 qt	0.9 L
4 lb	0.47 gal	1.9 qt	1.8 L
6 lb	0.70 gal	2.8 qt	2.6 L
8.6 lb	1.00 gal	4.0 qt	3.8 L
12 lb	1.40 gal	5.6 qt	5.3 L

Skip the mental math with our goat milk unit converter, which handles pounds, gallons, quarts, liters and cups in one place.

How Goat Milk Production Changes Through the Lactation

A goat does not produce the same amount every day. Her output follows a predictable lactation curve that starts when she kids (or “freshens”):

1. Days 1–4: colostrum. Thick, yellow first milk for the kids. It is not kept for the house.
2. Weeks 1–8: the climb. Production rises quickly as the kids nurse and/or you begin milking.
3. Weeks 6–10: peak. Daily yield tops out — often 30–50% higher than the season average.
4. Months 3–8: the long plateau. A slow, steady decline of a few percent per month in a well-managed doe.
5. Months 9–10: late lactation. Yield tapers off and the doe is usually dried off about two months before her next kidding.

That is why a single day’s weigh-in can be misleading. A first freshener that gives 5 pounds at week two may well give 8 pounds at week seven. To see a full curve for your breed — and to project a season total from today’s milk weight — use the Goat Milk Production Estimator.

How Much Milk Does a Goat Produce in a Year?

Most dairy records use a standard 305-day lactation, which leaves room for a dry period before the next kidding. Multiply an average day by 305 and you get a realistic yearly figure:

• Saanen or Alpine: roughly 2,300–2,900 lb, or about 270–340 gallons.
• Nubian or LaMancha: roughly 1,800–2,300 lb, or about 210–270 gallons.
• Nigerian Dwarf: roughly 700–850 lb, or about 80–100 gallons.

Does that are “milked through” without rebreeding can extend production well beyond 305 days at a lower daily level. We explain how that works in do goats produce milk without being pregnant.

What Affects How Much Milk a Goat Produces Per Day?

Genetics and milking lines

Within any breed there is a huge spread. A doe from a line with recorded milk production (DHIR or a milk star) can out-milk an unrecorded doe of the same breed by 50% or more. When buying, ask for the dam’s milk records, not just her photos.

Age and number of lactations

First fresheners usually give 20–30% less than they will as mature does. Production typically climbs through the second and third lactations and peaks around ages four to six.

Feed, water and minerals

Milk is about 87% water, so a doe that cannot drink freely cannot milk well. High-quality forage — especially alfalfa — supplies the protein and calcium milk production depends on. We cover feeding in depth in how to increase goat milk production.

Milking frequency

Twice-a-day milking, 12 hours apart, is the standard for good reason: once-a-day milking typically produces 15–25% less milk per day. Read more in how often do you milk a goat.

Kids on the doe

If kids are dam-raised, they drink a large share of the milk — often half or more in the first two months. Many keepers separate kids overnight and milk in the morning, sharing the day with the kids.

Health and stress

Parasites, mastitis, heat stress, a new herd member or a change in routine can drop milk overnight. A sudden decline is a signal to check the doe, not just the feed bucket.

How Much Milk Does a Goat Give Per Day Compared With a Cow?

A Holstein cow can give 6 to 9 gallons a day, so on paper goats look small. But a dairy goat eats roughly one-eighth of what a cow eats and needs far less space. Relative to body weight, a good dairy doe produces as much milk as a cow, which is why a pair of goats is such a good fit for a family homestead.

How Many Goats Do You Need for Your Household?

Work backward from what you use. A family drinking a half gallon a day and making yogurt on weekends needs about 4.5 gallons a week — one average Alpine or two Nigerian Dwarfs. Add regular cheese-making and that number grows fast; our guide to how many goats you need to make cheese includes a calculator for exactly that.

Remember that goats are herd animals and should never be kept alone. Two does, or a doe and a wether, is the realistic minimum.

How to Measure Your Own Goat’s Daily Milk

Charts give you a ballpark; your own records tell you the truth. This is the simple routine we use at Pure Goat Farms:

1. Tare the pail. Hang the empty pail on a digital scale and zero it.
2. Weigh every milking. Write the morning and evening weights on a whiteboard in the milk room.
3. Add the two together for the daily total, and note anything unusual — heat, a feed change, a doe in season.
4. Weigh one full day each week if daily logging is too much. Weekly numbers are enough to spot a trend.
5. Compare each doe to herself over time rather than to the herd average or to a chart.

After one season you will know exactly which does are worth keeping kids from, which need a feed adjustment, and how much milk your household can count on.

Final Thoughts

So, how much milk does a goat produce per day? For most full-size dairy breeds, plan on about a gallon a day at peak and around three-quarters of a gallon averaged over the season. Nigerian Dwarfs give about a quart or so of very rich milk. Genetics sets the ceiling; feed, water, routine and health decide how close your goats get to it.

Weigh your milk, keep simple records and compare each doe to herself over time. That habit will teach you more about your herd than any chart — including ours.

FAQs

How much milk does a goat produce per day?

A typical full-size dairy goat produces about 0.5 to 1.5 gallons (roughly 4 to 12 pounds, or 2 to 5.5 liters) of milk per day. Miniature breeds such as Nigerian Dwarfs give about 1 to 2 quarts a day.

How much milk does a goat produce in a year?

Over a standard 305-day lactation, a good full-size dairy doe produces roughly 1,800 to 2,800 pounds of milk — about 210 to 325 gallons. Nigerian Dwarfs average closer to 700 to 800 pounds.

How much milk does one goat give per day in liters?

Most dairy goats give about 2 to 5 liters per day. High producers can exceed 6 liters a day at peak lactation.

When do goats produce the most milk?

Production peaks about 6 to 8 weeks after kidding, then slowly declines through the rest of the lactation.

Is one goat enough milk for a family?

One good full-size dairy doe giving a gallon a day is usually plenty for a family's drinking milk with some left for yogurt or soft cheese. Goats are herd animals, though, so plan on keeping at least two.