Goat Breeds - Goat Science and Production - page 25

Figure 2.4 Savanna Buck (Meat Goat). For color
detail, see Appendix A.

Figure 2.5 Spanish (Meat Goat). For color detail,
see Appendix A.

Spanish
The Spanish goat in the U.S. originated from Mexican
Criollo (Shelton, 1978). Aliases include Woods, Ball
Field, Brush, Briar, Hill, and Scrub goats. This breed is
distributed throughout the southwestern U.S., particularly
Texas, with the major concentration around the Edwards
Plateau of central Texas. Not known for rapid growth rates,
they are very prolifi c. Spanish goats are nonseasonal
breeders and under proper management can produce three
kid crops in 2 years. Mature bucks weigh up to 91 kg
(200 lb) and mature does up to 59 kg (130 lb). Until
recently, these goats were used primarily to clear brush,
but with growing demand, they were crossed with improved
imported goats to produce meat of higher quality.
Lacking any particular breed characteristics, they
are highly variable in appearance. Due to wide variability
among Spanish goats, they offer an excellent opportunity
for selection. They are very hardy and excellent foragers
because they have survived undomesticated in harsh envi-
ronments through many years of natural selection. See
Figure 2.5 .

S UDANESE D ESERT
This breed is found in the semidesert areas of northern
Sudan. A subtype in North West Darfur is known as
“Zaghawa” (Mason, 1996). This breed is used mainly for
meat and milk production. While they usually are white to
black in color, they can also be grey. Both sexes are
horned. The adult males weigh 40 - 58 kg (88 - 128 lb) while
females average 33 kg (73 lb). The breed is a nonseasonal
breeder with 200% kidding rate.

Syrian Mountain
This breed is found primarily in Syria, Lebanon, and north-
ern Israel (Mason, 1981). This breed also is known as
Black Bedouin, Djelab, Jabali, Jabel or Jebel, Mamber,
Mambrine or Membrine, Northern Mountain (Israel),
Palestinian, and Syrian black. The hair color is usually
black, and ears are long and pendulous. This medium-sized
breed has adult males that weigh 60 kg (132 lb), and
females weigh about 40 kg (88 lb). The breed is of medium
prolifi cacy with about 130% kidding rate. A multipurpose
breed, they are raised for meat, milk, and hair.

Tennessee Wooden - Leg or Myotonic
One of the few goat breeds indigenous to America, this
breed of goats has many names including Tennessee
Fainting goats, Nervous goats, Tennessee Wooden Leg,
Fall-down goat, Fainting goat, and Stiff-Leg goats. In a
frightened state, these goats lock up or fall over and lie
very stiff for a few seconds (myotonia). These animals are
nonseasonal breeders and are capable of kidding three
times in 2 years. Does are easy kidders, good mothers,
and milk producers. The breed is medium in size, is very

Sudanese Meat Goat Breeds

S OUTHERN S UDAN
Small to dwarf in size, this breed is found in the southern
region of Sudan. The females do not exhibit any of the
signs of the achondroplasia of the West African Dwarf
(Mason, 1981). These goats are primarily used for meat.
The colors are variable. The males are horned, but females
often are polled. Like Somali goats, their horns and ears
are short.