Raw goat’s milk is getting plenty of love lately, and the goats would probably tell you it’s about time. With protein, calcium and a whole range of naturally occurring nutrients, there’s plenty of goodness in that bottle - and some interesting research into raw dairy giving people more to talk about.

So, does it deserve a spot in your fridge? Let’s explore what it offers and reintroduce the Queensland family behind Forage Hill Goats.

A little look inside your glass

Goat’s milk brings together protein, calcium, fats, vitamins and minerals. Protein helps maintain muscle and repair tissues, while calcium and phosphorus help keep bones and teeth strong. A useful contribution from something that takes considerably less preparation than dinner.

You might also have heard that goat’s milk is easier to digest. There’s a reason researchers are interested: its proteins can form softer curds during laboratory digestion studies. Whether that translates into a happier tummy varies, and human studies haven’t consistently found better digestive comfort than with cow’s milk.

Here’s a closer look at what’s in the mix:

Why all the interest in raw?

Raw means the milk hasn’t been pasteurised, which means that the heat-sensitive components are left intact. It turns out there’s quite a lot happening in that unassuming bottle.

The GABRIELA study, involving more than 8,000 European children, found that drinking raw farm cow’s milk was associated with lower rates of asthma, hay fever and allergic sensitisation. Certain whey proteins were also associated with lower rates of asthma, giving scientists a clue about which parts of the milk might be involved.

Another study took place at an Irish organic farm cookery school. Participants spent 12 weeks cooking and eating seasonal, locally sourced food, including unpasteurised dairy. 

Among the 24 people who completed the study, unpasteurised dairy intake was associated with an increase in Lactobacillus in the gut - a bacterial group that includes strains used as probiotics. 

Some big news from Forage Hill

You may be wondering how we’re talking about the benefits of drinking raw goats milk… isn’t it strictly for bathing in? Not for Forage Hill Goats! Their raw goat’s milk is officially accredited for human consumption.

According to the family, it took an extensive application process, audits, milk testing and plenty of physical work, including building a whole new dairy since arriving at their property in 2023. They also report testing their milk every day.

That’s a huge amount of work behind each bottle, and a milestone they can feel proud of. It also opens the door to working with other businesses to create new products from their milk. We’ll happily keep some fridge space available for that.

Well-fed goats, thoughtfully produced milk

We spend plenty of time thinking about what we eat. But what about the animals producing our food?

Their diets matter too. What dairy animals eat can influence their milk’s nutritional composition, particularly the types and proportions of fatty acids it contains. Feeding them well is an important part of producing good food.

At Forage Hill’s Moffatdale farm, the goats roam paddocks and eat fresh pasture, home-grown oats and lucerne hay. The family grows feed crops, bales the hay and does the milking themselves. It’s fair to say they’re well acquainted with both ends of the food chain.

That’s what we love about knowing our farmers. We can look beyond the label and see the animals, the daily care and the people putting in the work.

And when you choose their milk, you’re supporting that family’s next chapter too.

Discover Forage Hill Goats’ raw goat’s milk at Joy Wholefoods.

A bigger conversation about choice

The interest in raw dairy goes beyond goat’s milk. Australian campaigners are also calling for raw cow’s milk to be legally available for drinking, with Legalise Raw Milk Australia sharing a parliamentary petition asking for change.

For supporters, it’s about having the choice to buy raw milk from regulated producers and knowing the farmers behind it. Australia currently prohibits the sale of untreated raw cow’s milk for drinking, while Queensland allows raw goat’s milk under specific accreditation, testing and labelling requirements.

That makes Forage Hill’s achievement especially meaningful. The family has completed the work required to offer their raw goat’s milk legally for human consumption, giving customers an option within Queensland’s existing rules.

Accreditation does not remove all the risks associated with unpasteurised milk. Queensland Health advises that raw milk can carry harmful bacteria, so the distinction is regulated access rather than a guarantee of safety.

You can find the campaign and its petition through Legalise Raw Milk Australia.

References & Further Reading

• Forage Hill Goats. Farm information, feeding practices and raw milk accreditation.
  foragehillgoats.com.au
• Raw Milk Institute. About Raw Milk. An overview of its position on raw milk, with links to research.
  Read more
• Loss, G., et al. (2011). The protective effect of farm milk consumption on childhood asthma and atopy: The GABRIELA study. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, 128(4), 766–773.e4.
  Read study
• Brick, T., et al. (2020). The Beneficial Effect of Farm Milk Consumption on Asthma, Allergies, and Infections: From Meta-Analysis of Evidence to Clinical Trial. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: In Practice, 8(3), 878–889.e3.
  Read research review
• Butler, M. I., et al. (2020). Recipe for a Healthy Gut: Intake of Unpasteurised Milk Is Associated with Increased Lactobacillus Abundance in the Human Gut Microbiome. Nutrients, 12(5), 1468.
  Read study