Breeds of Goats

Angora

• Originated in the district of Angora (i.e., Turkey) in Asia Minor and dates back thousands of years.

• They are white in color.

• Used to produce mohair.

• They are small framed, light muscled, and are less prolific than other breeds.

• Primarily a specialty breed meant for mohair production.

Cashmere

• Goats that produce cashmere wool, which is the fine, soft, downy winter undercoat protected by a second layer called the guard hair.

• Industry is new to the U.S., but breeds producing cashmere have been around for thousands of years.

• Exact origin is unknown, color varies depending on specific breed and country.

Kiko

• Originated in New Zealand for meat production in the 1970s and 1980s.

• Developed from feral goats with Anglo-Nubian, Toggenburg, and Saanen bucks and additional generational crossbreeding.

• Control of the breed remains with the original developers, but breed was imported into the US in the 1990s.

Boer (South African Boer)

• Originated in South Africa from selection of native goats for meat traits, but probably has some Angora and Indian goat breeding in its past.

• They have a white body with brown or black head.

• They are heavily muscled, large frame, good carcass quality, and able to deposit fat better than most breeds.

• They also have great browsing ability with little impact on grass cover, which makes it usable in conjunction with cattle.

Spanish

• are descendants from the goats brought over with the Spanish explorers, though these usually include goats of unknown ancestry.

• They are a very common breed.

• Nannies have low milk production.

• Colors vary, are a hardy and tough breed that have low nutrient requirements.

• Many are wild or semi-wild.

Tennessee Fainting Goat

• Originated in the US, these goats are present in Tennessee, eastern U.S., and Texas.

• Goats in the eastern U.S. and Tennessee tend to be smaller than those found in Texas.

• Texas strain has been selected for meat production, and are larger in size.

• Many are simply retained as pets.

• They get their name due to a mutation that causes chemicals necessary for “fight or flight” responses not to work, thereby causing them to become stiff/rigid and faint.

• Color can be black and white or multiple colors.

• Nannies have good milk production and are easy kidders (2 kids a year are common).

• Meat strain is heavy rump and deep chested.

Alpine (French Alpine or Alpine Dairy)

• Originated in the Alps of France, the Alpine breed was brought to the U.S. for greater uniformity, size and production.

• No distinct color has been established, although there are several terms to describe the different patterns seen.

• Nannies are excellent milkers and usually have large, well-shaped udders.

• Hardy, adaptable animals that thrive in any climate while maintaining good health and production.

La Mancha

• were developed in the U.S. with Spanish origins.

• They have no outer ear (called a gopher ear) and can be variety of colors, with spotting possible.

• They are a specialty breed, but are hardy and have a high amount of butterfat in their milk.

• Some may have an “elf” ear, which is an ear that has a maximum length of 2 inches, though no preference is given to a gopher ear or elf ear (depends on the producer)

Nubian

• Originated in England by crossing British goats with bucks of African and Indian origin.

• They are large in size with long ears.

• They can be a variety of colors with the majority ranging from brown to tan.

• They are known for butterfat content with average milk production.

• They do have heat tolerance.

Oberhasli

• Originated in Switzerland,

• are medium in size, vigorous and alert in appearance.

• Typically chamois in color (bay ranging from light to deep red), although black is accepted (but not preferred).

• Used primarily for milk production.

Saanen

• Originated in the Saanen Valley of Switzerland (especially the Alpine region).

• Their color ranges from white to tan, where white is preferred.

• They are known for quantity of milk produced.

• They are medium to large in size, sensitive to sunlight, and, therefore, performs best in cooler climates.

Kinder (Dual)

• originated in Snohomish, Washington by crossing a Pygmy buck to Nubian females.

• They have rich, sweet milk and are prolific with 3-6 kids per year.

• They are small in size with high feed efficiency and easy fleshing (especially wethers).