Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
or she owns might sell you a goat that is not officially registered. You have to take the
breeder's word that the goat is purebred. Breeders are generally honest and reliable, but
if you want to register your animal in the future, proving pedigree may be difficult.
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Grades:
Goats of mixed breeding
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Recorded grades:
Goats that meet a list of requirements regarding appearance and qual-
ity of milk. Buying a recorded grade is good way to obtain a high-milk-producing goat
that is less expensive than a purebred.
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Americans:
A doe that is seven-eighths pure of one breed, or a buck that is fifteen-six-
teenths pure. This is determined by tracing ancestry from a point at which two different
breeds were bred and the offspring were then bred back into a pure line, until offspring
are nearly pure but not quite. Americans offer you the opportunity to know something
from their pedigree about how the goat will grow and produce, as you would with a
purebred, but they are often less expensive.
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Native on appearance (NOA):
Appears to be of a specific breed
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Experimental:
A term that denotes an accidental breeding between purebred goats of
different breeds
Two terms refer specifically to milking quality rather than ancestry. A doe that falls under one
of these categories might be attractive. Both of these classifications are based upon a point
system and are determined by someone independent of the owner.
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Advanced registry:
A doe documented to have given a set amount of milk over the
course of a year (high-yield)
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Star milker:
A system whereby a goat is given a star rating depending upon her consist-
ent yield (measured day by day) and the percent of butterfat her milk contains. A star
milker generally must give 10 to 11 pounds of milk in a day.
Purebred or mixed breed?
There are various considerations and reasons for why a goat farmer would want purebred
goats, but there are equal reasons for why one would not. The choice depends upon your
goals, your finances, and your immediate priorities.
