Goat Breeds and Production

What are the three classifications for goats?

Dairy, meat, and fiber

What are the dairy breeds?

Alpine, Lamancha, Nigerian Dwarf, Nubian, Saanen, Toggenburg

What are the meat breeds?

Boer, Kiko, Pygmy, Spanish, TexMaster,

What are the fiber breeds?

Angora, Cashmere, and Pygora

Alpine

-originated in the Alps

-generally short haired (no distinct color established and 7+ color variations)

-Moderate size: 135-170 lbs

-Heavy milkers

-Emphasis on milk production and udder placement

Lamancha

-Developed in Oregon, USA

-Excellent dairy temperament

-Two types of ears: gopher ear: max. 1” in length with little to no cartilage OR elf ear: max. 2” in length

-high component milk

-high fat

Nigerian Dwarf

-west african origination

-miniature goat: ideal weight 75 lbs

-high prolificacy: up to 5 kids, new brons 2 lbs, with early onset puberty

-smaller udder/teats than other breeds

Nubian

-Developed in England ]

-Anglo-Nubian

-Pendulous ears

-Good udder quality

-Large frame: >250 lbs

-All purpose breed

-Moderate milk production with high avg. butter fat

Saanen

-Originated in Switzerland

-Heavy milk production (3-4% milk fat)

-Color: white or light cream

-Performs best in cooler conditions

Toggenburg

-Originated in Switzerland

-Oldest known dairy goat breed

-Medium sized: does - 125 lbs

-Excellent udder development

-high milk production: avg. 3.7% fat

Boer

-Large meat breed: >200 lbs

-Imported from South Africa into the US

-Fast growing breed within Us

-Excellent carcasses

-150% kidding rate

Kiko

-Originated in New Zealand

-Crossbreeding feral does (w/ nubian, toggenburg, and saanen)

-moderate frame: 100+ lbs

-imported to US in 1990s

Pygmy

-West African origination

-small frame: 15-20” tall and 30-60lbs on avg.

-Now utilized more as a companion animals

Spanish

-Developed in Spain

-Primary meat goat before 1993

-Grazed SW

-Feral: hardy, efficient, slow growth, poor milk

-Smaller frame size in feral animal

TexMaster

-Developed in Texas

-Crossing Tennessee Meat goats with Boer goats (develop a meat goat to meet commercial demands)

-low maintenance, efficient feed utilization

-rapid growth and thrifty

Angora

-originated in Asia Mino

-1571-1451 BCE

-Produces Mohair

-Small animals with considerable size variation

-Susceptible to internal parasites

Cashmere

-Originated in the himalayan region

-Easy to raise sheared once a year: 2.5 lbs fleece

-Relatively new industry in US (after 1980s)

Pygora

-Developed in Oregon

-Cross between Pygmy and Angora

-Smaller size than Angora

-Produce fine fibers for hand-spinning

Kidding

giving birth

Buck

Intact male goat

doe

female goat that has given birth

doeling

female goat that has not given birth

Buckling

male goat that has not reach sexual maturity

wether

castrated male goat

kid

young goat (baby)

caprine

scientific term for goats

chevon

term for goat meat

What are the top states for meat goat production ?

Texas, Tennessee, California, Arizona

What are the top states for milk goats?

Tennessee, Wisconsin, California, Texas

What are the top states for Angora goats (fiber)?

Texas, Arizona, New Mexico, and California

Mammary anatomy

-two teats w/ separate compartments

-functional/structure unit of the mammary glands: alveoli