NAICS 112420

Overview

The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) is the federal standard for categorizing business establishments to facilitate consistent economic statistics. Developed under the leadership of the Office of Management and Budget, NAICS replaced the SIC system in 1997 and is updated on a five-year cycle, with the most recent update in 2022. ¹

NAICS 112420 — Goat Farming — covers establishments primarily engaged in raising goats. Within the Animal Production subsector, these operations keep, breed, graze, and feed animals for sale or for animal products; NAICS cross-references specify that milking goats is classified in this industry. ²

What this NAICS covers

• Raising goats as the principal enterprise, with animals kept for sale or for animal products. ²
• Goat herd management activities, including breeding and rearing kids and replacement stock. ²
• On-farm grazing, feeding, and general husbandry of goats in farm or ranch settings. ²
• Milking goats and producing goat milk as part of farm operations classified in this industry. ²
• Operations organized primarily around goat production rather than diversified livestock with no single majority species. ²
• Activities incidental to maintaining goat herds (e.g., routine care performed on-farm). ²

Related NAICS and PSC codes

Type	Code	Descriptor
NAICS	112410	Sheep Farming
NAICS	112120	Dairy Cattle and Milk Production
NAICS	115210	Support Activities for Animal Production
NAICS	112990	All Other Animal Production

Boundaries and cross-references

• Goat farming (including milking goats) is classified under NAICS 112420; milking dairy cattle is classified in NAICS 112120. ²
• Support services to livestock producers (e.g., breeding services, pedigree records, sheep dipping/shearing) are classified in NAICS 115210, not in production industries. ²
• Establishments primarily raising sheep are classified in NAICS 112410; those primarily raising other animals (e.g., bees, equines, fur-bearing animals) are classified in NAICS 112910, 112920, or 112930, respectively. ²
• Aquaculture activities are classified in Industry Group NAICS 1125 Animal Aquaculture, not in goat farming. ²

Federal statistical reporting context (2022)

• The 2022 Economic Census is published on the 2022 NAICS basis; however, Agriculture sector codes NAICS 11, including Animal Production (NAICS 112), are outside the Economic Census scope, except for NAICS 1151 and 1152 support activities. ³
• As a result, establishment statistics for NAICS 112420 are not part of 2022 Economic Census industry tables; other Census programs may reference the industry using the 2022 NAICS vintage. ³

Frequently asked questions

• What activities define NAICS 112420 — Goat Farming?

  • Establishments primarily engaged in raising goats are classified here. Activities include breeding, rearing kids, grazing/feeding, and milking goats for animal products. Classification is based on the primary production activity at the establishment, not downstream processing or off-farm services. ²

• How is milking goats classified compared with dairy cattle milking?

  • Milking goats is part of NAICS 112420. Milking dairy cattle is classified separately in NAICS 112120. NAICS cross-references explicitly distinguish goat milking from dairy cattle operations. ²

• Is NAICS 112420 included in the 2022 Economic Census?

  • No. NAICS 11 (including NAICS 112) is excluded from the 2022 Economic Census, with exceptions for support activities NAICS 1151 and 1152. Industry references may still use the 2022 NAICS structure. ³

• Which related NAICS codes are commonly adjacent to goat farming in classification?

  • Sheep operations classify under NAICS 112410; support activities under NAICS 115210; diversified animal farms without a majority species often fall under NAICS 112990. These boundaries help avoid misclassifying services or other livestock types. ²

Useful resources

• G2X — NAICS 112420 overview
• Census: NAICS overview and updates (includes 2022 vintage guidance). ³
• Census: NAICS Sector 11 (Animal Production) definitions, including NAICS 112420. ²
• Census: Industry classification background and NAICS update cadence. ¹

References

1. U.S. Census Bureau, “About Industry” (NAICS background, OMB, 1997 adoption; update cadence). https://www.census.gov/topics/employment/industry-occupation/about/industry.html
2. U.S. Census Bureau, NAICS Sector 11 — Animal Production (includes NAICS 112420 text and cross-references). https://www.census.gov/naics/resources/archives/sect11.html
3. U.S. Census Bureau, “NAICS Codes & Understanding Industry Classification Systems” (2022 Economic Census guidance; codes not covered). https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/economic-census/year/2022/technical-documentation/code-lists/understanding-naics-redirect.html