No Billies No Milk

A simple truth: no kids, no milk. This also means no milk without male kids. That is exactly where the thinking must begin.

Over the past twenty years, the Dutch dairy goat sector has experienced impressive growth. The popularity of goat
dairy products has increased significantly, enabling the sector to firmly establish itself within agricultural food
production. Yet this growth also has a darker side. While female kids are indispensable for milk production, the
sector has failed to structurally consider the destination of male animals. The marketing and appreciation of male
kids may therefore well be the Achilles’ heel of the sector.

Conclusions:

The surplus of male kids proves difficult to manage because the core of the problem is not technical but systemic
and societal. As long as male kids in the Netherlands and similar countries do not represent clear economic value,
efforts remain fragmented, vulnerable, and dependent on short-term projects. At the same time, examples from
other countries show that lessons can indeed be learned: transparency and societal dialogue (Australia), structural
cooperation within the chain (France), the importance of a solid business model alongside idealism (England),
cultural appreciation as a determinant for consumption (Morocco), and Ireland: just because it is hardly mentioned
does not mean it does not exist.
The common thread through all these experiences is that the sector cannot afford to keep optimizing within
existing frameworks. Continuously pushing the problem to the margins of the system inevitably leads to societal
friction, reputational damage, and economic vulnerability.

Recommandations:

The central lesson is that true sustainability requires foresight and shared responsibility. Not waiting until societal
pressure forces the sector into action, but deciding now:
Where is the threshold of “good enough”? Which minimum practices are indispensable to work with a clear
conscience in this chain?
How can past failures be learned from? Which blind spots and moral misunderstandings have previously held
the sector back?
Only when these questions are answered across the entire chain, can room be created for a structural solution. A
solution in which every animal has a meaningful place and moral sustainability goes hand in hand with economic
future-proofing.
Male kids force us to look beyond production and efficiency. They confront us with the question of whether we are
willing to take responsibility for the whole, and that forward-thinking is not only morally right but ultimately also
economically the smartest path.

National “Male Kid Value Chain Pact”: It is recommended to establish a pact bringing together dairy farmers,
processors, retailers, and civil society organisations to jointly define minimum welfare standards, ensure
transparent reporting on male kid flows, and develop a fair cost-sharing model. This pact should be supported
by the government and linked to existing quality schemes to secure broad recognition and compliance across
the sector.

International knowledge network: It is recommended to establish an international knowledge network on
animal by-products within the existing Nuffield network, aimed at sharing knowledge, data, and innovative
practices between countries. This network, supported by European and international funding, could help
position the Netherlands as a frontrunner in the ethical valorisation of male offspring and other animal byproducts
within the dairy sector.

These recommendations for the goat sector aim to improve animal welfare, strengthen the economic position, and
stimulate innovation and knowledge sharing within the industry. There is one thing you need to make this possible,
and that is government support. It is therefore all the more important to demonstrate what you are doing and to
ensure that you do what you say.