Breeds of Goats: Dairy, Meat, and Fiber Types

Comprehensive vocabulary list of goat breeds including dairy, meat, and fiber types with physical characteristics and production statistics.

Three Major Goat Types

Dairy Types, Meat Types, and Fiber Types.

Alpine (French) - Size Standards

Mature females stand not less than $30\,\text{inches}$ at the withers and weigh not less than $135\,\text{lb}$; males stand $34$ to $40\,\text{inches}$ and at least $170\,\text{lb}$.

Cou Blanc

An Alpine color term literally meaning "white neck."

Cou Clair

An Alpine color term literally meaning "clear neck."

Cou Noir

An Alpine color term literally meaning "black neck."

Sundgau

An Alpine color description consisting of black with white markings.

Chamoisee

An Alpine color description meaning brown or bay; spelled "chamoise" for males.

Alpine (British)

A tall, rangy dairy breed that is black with white markings and produces an average fat yield of $4\%$, but performs poorly in high humidity.

La Mancha

A breed developed in the U.S. distinguished by very short or a total lack of external ears.

Gopher ear

A La Mancha ear type with an allowable length of about $1\,\text{inch}$; bucks must have this type to be eligible for registration.

Elf ear

A La Mancha ear type with an allowable length of $2\,\text{inches}$.

Nubian (Anglo-Nubian)

A large dairy goat of Oriental origin characterized by long drooping bell-shaped ears, convex (roman) noses, and high milk fat percentage.

Oberhasli

A medium-sized dairy breed with a preferred color of chamois (light to deep red bay) and specific black markings on the face, forehead, legs, and ears.

Saanen

A medium to large dairy breed that is white or light cream in color with erect ears; a tendency toward a roman nose is discriminated against.

Toggenburg

A medium-sized, sturdy dairy breed that is various shades of brown with white markings on the face, ears, legs, and tail.

White Shorthaired Goat

A breed similar to Saanen with a prolificacy of $190\%$ and an average milk production of $1700\,\text{pounds}$ per $300\,\text{days}$ lactation.

Boer

A horned meat breed with lop ears; mature rams weigh between $110$-$135\,\text{kg}$ ($\approx 240$-$300\,\text{lbs}$) and ewes between $90$ and $100\,\text{kg}$ ($\approx 200$-$225\,\text{lbs}$).

Boer Reproduction Rates

This breed commonly has a kidding rate of $200\%$ and is capable of $3$ kiddings every $2\,\text{years}$ due to an extended breeding season.

Spanish Goats (Brush Goats)

Hardy, adaptable meat goats where only horned bucks should be used, as naturally polled goats carry a gene for hermaphrodism.

Myotonic (Wooden Leg)

A heavy-rumped meat breed that "locks up" and falls over (faints) for a few seconds when frightened or excited.

Philippine Goat Varieties

Includes a coarse-haired type (cream/tan/light brown and usually polled) and a fine-haired variety (black/brown, usually horned, may have a white belt).

Cashmere Fleece

Fleece consisting of two kinds of fiber: cashmere and guard hair; average cashmere percentages are in the $20\%$ range.

Angora

A fiber breed producing mohair; they average $5.3\,\text{pounds}$ of mohair per shearing and are usually sheared twice a year.

Ringlet Type Goats (C Type)

Angora goats that produce the finest mohair carried in tight ringlets throughout almost its entire length.

Flat Mohair Lock Type (B Type)

Angora goats where the mohair lock is usually wavy and more bulky in appearance.