Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
milk, but if the goat milk is strictly for family consumption, this might be a good option for
you. There are more than 300 different breeds of goats in the world. To get you started, here is
a brief introduction to the breeds and types of goats commonly raised in North America.
Some breeds may not be available in your area, so you will need to do some sleuthing to find
out if the specific breeders are near you — not all breeds are raised in every country. Your loc-
al county extension agent can help you locate goat farms in your area.
Dairy goats
Alpine:
The Alpine goat was developed in Switzerland. Its ears are upright and the face is
dished or scooped. The Alpine is usually brown and white or black and white, though other
colors are seen. It is primarily used as a dairy goat. Females weigh about 135 pounds and
males weigh about 170 pounds.
LaMancha:
The LaMancha is quickly recognized by its small ears. It was developed in the
United States from crossing Spanish goats with Swiss and Nubian bucks. It is an excellent
dairy goat, giving milk with high butterfat. The LaMancha goat can come in a variety of col-
ors and has a calm and gentle temperament.
Nubian:
The Nubian goat is a large animal with a convex nose and long, pendulous ears. It is
the most common breed and makes a good dairy goat. It produces milk that is high in butter-
fat, but it does produce less milk per day than other dairy goat breeds. It also produces a fair
amount of meat and is considered a dual-purpose goat breed. Does generally weigh at least
135 pounds when mature, and bucks weigh at least 175 pounds at maturity. The Nubian is
usually brown.
Oberhasli:
This breed is typically a deep reddish brown with black stripes on the face. The
breed was developed in Switzerland and was formerly known as the Swiss Alpine. This breed
is slightly smaller than other standard-sized goat breeds but is a good dairy goat breed that
produces up to 1 ½ gallons of milk per day. The breed is considered a rare breed but is grow-
ing in popularity.
Saanen:
This breed is usually all white. The Saanen was developed in Switzerland but
quickly spread throughout Europe. The does are heavy milkers and weigh about 145 pounds.
They are also the largest of the dairy goat breeds.
Toggenburg:
Another Swiss breed, the Toggenburg is mid-sized and rich brown with white
highlights. The hair is short to medium in length, and they are a solid color from light fawn to
