Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
is white, black, or brown. They also are known as
Karadi, Kurdish, Marghaz, Markhaz, Morghose, or
Morghoz (Iran). They have a straight or slightly concave
face with laterally directed ears with a forward and down-
ward inclination (Mason, 1981) and have twisted horns.
Males weigh about 50 - 60 kg (110 - 130 lb).
California, Mexico), Juan Fernandez (Islands off of Chile),
Montecristo (Montecristo Island, Tuscany, Italy); New
Zealand feral goats (especially Arapawa, an island in
Marlborough Sounds, Auckland Forsyth and Great Barrier
Islands), San Clemente, and Santa Catalina (Islands off
California, U.S.). Feral goats allegedly cause environmen-
tal damage. Although considered a menace in Australia, in
more recent years feral goats have become sources of
revenue for certain regions in Australia from their oppor-
tunistic capture and sale (MLA, 2007). Most prominent
feral goat breeds are listed in following sections.
Nigora
This is a composite breed developed by crossbreeding
Nigerian Dwarfs with Angora goats. Their size is medium
to medium small. The American Nigora Goat Breeder
Association was established in 2007 in the U.S. According
to the breed association, the size of the Nigora breed
should be 25% less than either parental breed. Ideally, the
breed should be 50% Nigerian Dwarf and 50% Angora
goat. The registered Nigoras produce three types of fi bers.
The type A fi ber, similar to mohair, is up to 15 cm (6 in.)
in length. The type C fi ber is like cashmere, a fi ne fi ber,
2.5 - 7.5 cm (1 - 3 in.) in length. The type B fi ber is a blend
of Type A and C. Friendly, intelligent, playful, and gentle,
they are popular as pets.
Australian Rangeland
The Australian feral or wild goats are called “Rangeland
Goats” (MLA, 2007). They are thought to be the result of
haphazard crossbreeding among Angora, Cashmere, Anglo-
Nubian, British Alpine, Saanen, and Toggenburg breeds
(Reithmuller, 1998). These are very hardy goats developed
through natural selection over many years and are well
adapted to harsh environments. They can survive under
harsh conditions, maintain high fertility, and produce suit-
able carcasses. Very popular in Australia, they are exported
around the world both as meat and live animals.
White Himalayan
This is a fi ber breed mainly used to produce cashmere, but
its meat also is valued. They are found in the northeastern
Himanchal Pradesh and northern part of Utter Pradesh,
India. They also are known as Kangra Valley, Chamba,
Gaddi, or Kashmiri. They are used as beasts of burden. The
color is usually white. They have long and twisted horns.
San Clemente and Santa Catalina Island
These goats are found on two of the eight islands that form
California's channel islands along the Pacifi c coast from
Santa Barbara to San Diego (Dohner, 2001). They are
believed to be originated from Spanish goats were brought
about by explorers. San Clemente goats were nearly eradi-
cated by the U.S. Navy in an attempt to conserve the
endangered plants of the islands, but a few hundred goats
probably are still alive. These goats are small in size with
adult males weighing about 45 kg (100 lb) and adult
females weighing about 29 kg (65 lb). Their coat color
commonly is red or light brown with black or dark brown
markups. The breed is listed as a critically endangered
heritage breed by the American Livestock Breeds
Conservancy.
Zhongwei
Also known as Chungwei, Zhongwei goats are found in
the arid desert steppes counties in the Ningxia Hui
Autonomous Region and Gansu Province of China (Cheng,
1984). Besides producing cashmere, they are famous for
their pelts from kids slaughtered at 35 days of age. The
pelts are white with lustrous staples and attractive curls.
Both males and females have horns that twist upward. The
adult males weigh about 39 kg (85 lb), and females average
24.5 kg (55 lb). This breed is not very prolifi c.
CHARACTERISTICS OF FERAL GOATS
According to the Board of Agriculture (1993), goats known
to run wild for at least 100 years with no known introduc-
tion of outside genetics are called “feral goats.” Some 11
different feral goat breeds are listed in the Atlas of Goat
Breeds (Mason, 1996). These include Australian feral
goats; Barren Island feral goats (Andaman Islands, India);
British feral goats from the mountains of Wales, Scotland,
and North England, Desecho Island (off of Puerto Rico),
Galapagos (Islands of Ecuador), Guadalupe Island (Lower
CHARACTERISTICS OF COMPANION
(PET) BREEDS
Goats have become very popular as pets in the U.S
.
They can be handled by children and are used therapeuti-
cally with children and adults with physical handicaps
and with those that need psychological rehabilitation
(Morand-Fehr et al., 2004). A variety of breeds are avail-
able as pets. Goats are gregarious animals and enjoy
socializing and being in the company of other goats. Dwarf
goats make ideal pets because they are small in size and
