Across the world more people drink goats milk than that of any other animal and it appears the habbit is catching on over here.
While goats milk remains a niche market, it is now not uncommon to find cartons of the product stocked alongside traditional cows milk in the aisles of retailers like Sainsbury, Tesco, Waitrose and Spar.
Globally, over 440 million goats produce around 4.8 million tonnes of milk, most of which is consumed locally or processed into various cheeses.
In the UK, consumer demand for goats milk products has increased 8% on last year to 20%, according to UK supplier Delamere Dairy. MD Alan Cameron says: "It is now perceived as a good alternative to cows milk  and has shaken off its cottage industry image."
The growth in consumption in the UK is largely down to its hypo-allergenic properties. It is estimated that up to 7.5% of infants have an intolerance to cows milk yet are able to consume goats milk. According to experts in allergy and respiratory medicine at Southampton University, many people experience improvement in conditions such as asthma, eczema and digestive problems when they replace cows milk with goats milk.
The growth in consumption has led goats milk specialists to develop new products. As well as the fresh product, goats milk is available in long-life UHT and powdered versions.
Earlier this year Delamere Dairy teamed up with celebrity chef Antony Worrall Thompson to produce a premium range of yogurts and it is also planning a flavoured goats milk for children, which is at development stage.
And in July St Helen's Farm launched a vanilla ice cream made from goats milk.
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While goats milk remains a niche market, it is now not uncommon to find cartons of the product stocked alongside traditional cows milk in the aisles of retailers like Sainsbury, Tesco, Waitrose and Spar.
Globally, over 440 million goats produce around 4.8 million tonnes of milk, most of which is consumed locally or processed into various cheeses.
In the UK, consumer demand for goats milk products has increased 8% on last year to 20%, according to UK supplier Delamere Dairy. MD Alan Cameron says: "It is now perceived as a good alternative to cows milk  and has shaken off its cottage industry image."
The growth in consumption in the UK is largely down to its hypo-allergenic properties. It is estimated that up to 7.5% of infants have an intolerance to cows milk yet are able to consume goats milk. According to experts in allergy and respiratory medicine at Southampton University, many people experience improvement in conditions such as asthma, eczema and digestive problems when they replace cows milk with goats milk.
The growth in consumption has led goats milk specialists to develop new products. As well as the fresh product, goats milk is available in long-life UHT and powdered versions.
Earlier this year Delamere Dairy teamed up with celebrity chef Antony Worrall Thompson to produce a premium range of yogurts and it is also planning a flavoured goats milk for children, which is at development stage.
And in July St Helen's Farm launched a vanilla ice cream made from goats milk.
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