The Goat Teaching & Research Facility operates under the daily management of a herd manager who is assisted by part-time student employees (including two barn residents) and facility interns. Roughly 800-900 undergraduate, graduate, and veterinary students per academic year gain hands-on experience with goats through classes, internships, research, employment, and other activities. The facility is located off Old Davis Road south of the main UC Davis campus. All goats are housed in dry lot style pens and are fed a ration of campus grown forages and campus milled feed. If you are interested in taking a tour of the facility, please contact the facility manager to schedule a day and time, as a bio-secure livestock facility we are not open for drop-in visitors.
The facility maintains three herds, a dairy herd, meat herd, and a transgenic research herd. Combined herd size at the facility varies with current teaching and research needs. Our herd is monitored and negative for Caprine Arthritis Encephalitis (CAE), Corynebacterium Pseudotuberculosis (CL), Coxiella burnetti (Q Fever), and Johnes. Goats maintained at the Goat Research Facility meet or exceed all guidelines for animal care as defined by national, state, and University specifications.
The dairy herd consists of Saanens, Alpines, LaManchas, and Grades. Dairy goats are registered through the American Dairy Goat Association and are on DHIA test. The transgenic research herd is comprised of Swiss breed type does who produce the human lysozyme protein in their milk. This is a small research herd being studied by Dr. Murray and Dr. Maga, of the Animal Science Department, and is managed with our dairy herd. All dairy kids are raised on heat treated colostrum and pasteurized milk. Our meat herd is comprised of primarily purebred and percentage Boers. We keep a small herd used primarily for teaching. Surplus animals are occasionally sold via auction or advertised and sold at fair market value.
The facility offers tours to youth, 4H, and FFA groups as well as other community and industry groups. The Animal Science department also hosts an annual Goat Day providing stakeholders the opportunity to network, learn of research and facility updates, and access further education regarding goat herd management.
Noel-Nordfelt Goat Dairy & Creamery
Thank you to support of the Huber and Nordfelt families as well as funding from the College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, the facility is now home to a Grade A milking parlor and dairy processing unit. These spaces represent exciting opportunities for the future and broaden teaching and learning opportunities for current students.
Student Opportunities at the Goat Facility
Students provide the primary care and learn management techniques through internship and student employee positions under the supervision of barn staff and veterinarians. Student involvement at the Goat Research Facility is intensive. Goats are used in Domestic Animals and People, Introductory Animal Science, Livestock and Dairy Judging, Domestic Animal Production & Lab, Animal Management Practices (goat section), Domestic Animal Behavior Laboratory, and Dairy Cattle Production. Courses with the goats are also held through the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital for veterinary students.
The Little International Stock show is held each fall and creates an opportunity for undergraduate students to learn how to show a livestock species, when each student is assigned one animal to train, fit, and exhibit. Many of the “Little I” goat participants go on to be interns, volunteers, and staff members at the facility.
Current Internship Opportunities:
- Dairy Goat Kidding & Kid Raising – Winter, Spring, and Summer Session 1
- Milking & General Management – Fall & Spring
For more information about student internships and opportunities, please visit the Animal Science Advising Center.
