When buying goats for breeding, the first thing to decide on the ultimate goal. What is an animal for? There are several options. Some breeders focus on meat breeds, while others are more interested in milk or wool indicators. The article describes the popular breeds for various purposes, the relevance of their acquisition.
Dairy breeds
If the breeder is counting on tasty, fresh milk, he will have to decide on the dairy breed of goats. The main evaluation criteria are high milk yield, unpretentiousness in the care and maintenance, the absence of a specific smell from a pet and its products. Below are the most popular breeds.
Scientists claim that goat milk eliminates the symptoms of poisoning, treats allergies, and accelerates the positive dynamics in tuberculosis. In addition, it is a reliable protection against the effects of radiation.
Zaanenskaya
It is a European breed of goat native to the Swiss Alps. Hornless animals at the withers reach 85 cm, weigh 75-80 kg. There are cases when the weight of Zaanenki goats reached 90 kg. The representatives of the breed have a proportional body, wide-set limbs, a short tail, erect ears. The color of the short coat is snow-white, cases of the appearance of black spots are not excluded.
On average, a goat produces up to 700 kg of milk with a fat content of 3.5-7% per year. Record values of annual milk production of 2,000 kg are known. A goat is born 2-3 cubs at a time, which is considered a high fertility rate.
Benefits:
- lactation all year round;
- lack of a specific smell from milk;
- high fecundity, productivity;
- strong immunity.
Disadvantages:
- whimsicality to living conditions;
- high price;
- intolerance to frost.
Megrelian
Goats come from Georgia. A distinctive feature of the breed is its compact size. At the withers, the animal reaches 60 cm, weighs no more than 30 kg. The dwarf goat has a powerful chest, a long body, erect ears, an elongated muzzle, a short tail. The animal is short-haired, the color of the fur is all shades of brown. Also, individuals of white color are found.
During the lactation period (200 days), the Megrelian goat produces 350 l of odorless milk with 3.2% fat content. In winter, milk production decreases, due to nutritional characteristics. In lambing, the female brings up to 2 kids.
Benefits:
- persistent immunity;
- good adaptive performance;
- high vitality;
- odorless milk;
Disadvantages:
- moderate milk yield;
- high breed price;
- the difficulty of buying.
Toggenburg
Another goat breed native to Switzerland. The animal belongs to the meat and dairy breed - in addition to milk, it provides the breeder with delicious, dietary meat. These are smooth-haired, hornless goats with erect ears, an elongated muzzle and a beard (in males). At the withers, animals reach 70 cm, weigh 50 kg.
The Toggenburg goats have a brown color with white accents, and long-haired varieties of the breed are also found. Milk index is 500-1000 liters per year. Milk has no specific odor.
Benefits:
- high milk yield;
- strong immunity;
- good adaptive performance.
Disadvantages:
- high price;
- the difficulty of buying.
Russian white
It is a European dairy breed with high productivity. Goats have a massive body, short legs, ears apart, short white coat. There are individuals with horns and a beard, or hornless. At the withers, the animal reaches 60 cm, weighs up to 30 kg.
Russian white goat is known for its high milk yield. During the lactation period, you can get up to 800 liters of milk with a fat content of 5-6%. Daily milk yield - 3-5 liters.
Benefits:
- high fecundity;
- valuable hide;
Disadvantages:
- degeneration of the breed;
- conflict character in goats;
- the risk of morbidity.
Gorkovskaya
These are European goats - a mixture of Saanen and Toggenburg breeds. The animals have a compact body, well-developed muscles, small horns and a tail, and wide-set limbs. Like their parents, Gorky goats are of a rich white color, at the withers - up to 70 cm, weigh 50-60 kg.
Milk indices are moderate. During the lactation period, the goat gives 500-600 liters of milk with a fat content of 5%. The value of the product lies in the absence of a specific odor, a high concentration of protein in 100 g of the product.
Benefits:
- quick acclimatization;
- aesthetics of the breed;
- persistent immunity;
Disadvantages:
- moderate milkiness;
- heat intolerance;
- danger of ticks, fleas, other parasites.
La mancha
The historical homeland of Lamanchi is Ancient Persia. A distinctive feature of animals is the absence of ears, which gives them an unusual, decorative look. Goats have a strong physique, an extensive range of colors, including spotting. At the withers of La Mancha reaches 95 cm, weighs up to 65 kg.
For a day, the goat gives up to 8 liters of milk of 5-6% fat. Lamanchi has tender, dietary meat, in lamb - up to 4 cubs. To breed such a breed of goats is cost-effective, difficulties arise with the conditions of care and maintenance.
Benefits:
- high fecundity;
- strong immunity;
- decorativeness of the breed;
- high milk yield;
- fat milk.
Disadvantages:
- purchase difficulty;
- high price;
- scrupulous care.
Alpine milk
This breed of dairy goats comes from France. Animals are large, at the withers they reach 90 cm. Females weigh 60 kg, males weigh 80 kg. These hornless goats have an attractive color - all shades of brown up to black are unevenly distributed.
Alpine goats produce 700-800 liters of milk without a specific smell per year, but record holders are also known - up to 1000 liters. The fat content of the product is 4-7%, depending on the characteristics of the food.
Benefits:
- excellent exterior;
- high milk yield;
- frost resistance;
- flexible character;
- disease resistance.
Disadvantages:
- sensitivity to low-quality water;
- high price;
- the difficulty of buying.
Cameroon
This is a dwarf breed of goats. At the withers, animals reach 45 cm, females weigh up to 15 kg, males - 25 kg. In purebred individuals, the coat is light brown with darkening in different parts of the body. Black Cameroon goats are also found.
For a day you can get 2 liters of milk with a fat content of up to 6%. There is no specific smell, but the usefulness of the drink is difficult to overestimate. Milk contains phosphorus, calcium, potassium, and iron.
Benefits:
- compact size;
- calm nature;
- persistent immunity;
- high yields.
Disadvantages:
- intolerance to dampness, drafts;
- aggression in a stressful situation;
- longing when grown alone.
Czech brown
This is the most popular breed in agriculture in Russia. Goats tolerate cold well, productivity does not decrease when changing climatic conditions. Young growth quickly gaining weight. Czech brown goats are used to produce not only fat milk, but also meat products.
The daily milk yield is from 3 to 5 kg with a fat content of 5-6%. Milkiness of the Czech breed is maintained year-round, depending on the conditions of detention and the characteristics of feeding goats.
Benefits:
- high productivity;
- nutritious milk, dietary meat;
- balanced character;
- high intelligence in the animal.
Disadvantages:
- heat intolerance;
- danger of harmful insects;
- the risk of morbidity.
Malaguenya
A rare breed of goats obtained by crossing the Maltese and Iberian breeds. The height of the animals at the withers reaches 75 cm, weight - 65-80 kg. Malaguenya is short-haired, brown in color with horns and hornless.
The lactation period lasts 310 days. Milking rates are 1350 kg per year. Healthy milk, fat content - from 4 to 7%. Goats are highly fertile - up to 4 kids in 1 lamb.
Benefits:
- aesthetics of the breed;
- ease of care;
- high productivity indicators;
- strong immunity;
- quick acclimatization.
Disadvantages:
- purchase difficulty;
- high price;
- little information about the breed.
Dairy Goat Comparison Chart
When choosing dairy goats, pay attention to such indicators of milk production. Of significant importance is not only the annual level of milk production, but also the fat content of milk, the usefulness of a natural product.
Breed | Daily milk yield, l | Annual milk yield, l | The fat content of milk,% |
Nubian | 4-5 | 1 000 | 4-7 |
Gorky | 3 | 600 | 3,5 |
Russians | 2-3 | 500 | 3-4 |
Cameroonian | 2 | 300 | 1,5 |
Czech | 5-6 | 1 200-1 300 | 4,5 |
Lamanchi | 3-5 | 900 | 4-6 |
Toggenburg | 2-3 | 600 | 3-4 |
An overview of the best breeds of goats of the dairy direction is recommended to see in this article.
Downy
These are goats, the breeding of which is necessary to obtain fluff. Animals have coarse hair, thick and soft undercoat. It is from it that yarn is made for shawls, scarves, and other wardrobe items. Other productivity indicators are negligible: small offspring, low meat yield and low-fat milk.
Orenburg
Long-haired goats come from the Southern Urals. Animals differ in large sizes: the weight of the female - from 45 kg, the male - from 75 kg. Black Orenburg goats are more common, less often red and gray goats.
Thanks to the warm fluff, animals are frost-resistant, quickly adapt to low temperatures, which does not affect their high fecundity. With one goat, you can get up to 600 g of high-quality fluff.
Benefits:
- high productivity;
- good adaptive performance;
- aesthetics of the breed;
- fast growth;
- strong immunity.
Disadvantages:
- heat intolerance;
- tendency to poisoning;
- reduced quality of fluff in cramped conditions.
Gorno-Altai
The goat is originally from Altai, adapted to harsh climatic conditions. The animal has a proportional torso, well-developed muscles and a uniform (brown) color. At the withers, goats reach 65 cm, weigh up to 40 kg.
From one goat you can collect 750-1000 g of high-quality down, from a goat - 550-650 g. The product is soft, pleasant to the touch. Warm shawls and shawls, insulation for clothes are made from fluff.
Benefits:
- aesthetic appearance;
- high productivity;
- frost resistance;
- strong immunity;
Disadvantages:
- heat intolerance;
- the dependence of the quality of the fur on the conditions of detention;
- high price.
Pridonskaya
Goat bred in the steppe regions of the Don. Outwardly, it is a small animal with long fur (9-12 cm) of white or gray color. At the withers, the Pridonskaya goat reaches 70 cm, males weigh from 70 kg, females - about 40 kg.
Animals are prolific, up to 3 kids are born. From one goat, you can get from 400 to 1.5 kg of soft and elastic fluff, depending on gender, conditions of detention, feeding characteristics.
Benefits:
- high productivity;
- fast growth;
- flexible character;
- frost resistance;
- outward appeal.
Disadvantages:
- difficulty in leaving;
- the dependence of the quality of the fur on the conditions of detention;
- the risk of morbidity.
Angora
This curly goat hails from the central regions of Turkey. An adult male at the withers reaches 75 cm, weighs up to 50 kg. There are white, gray, brown and silver individuals with hanging ears and horns directed to the sides.
Angora goats have soft, shiny and pleasant to touch 25 cm long wool. The yield of hair from an adult reaches 6 kg. Animals are sheared 2 times a year. If you skip the haircut, the quality of the fluff decreases.
Benefits:
- aesthetics of the breed;
- a large amount of fluff;
- high fecundity;
- frost resistance;
- flexible character.
Disadvantages:
- the need to comply with the haircut time;
- difficulty in leaving;
- high price.
Black down
The goat was bred in Uzbekistan, has a large physique of the correct form. The body is proportional, the head is medium in size, the ears hang down on the sides, there are small horns, a fluffy tail. Females weigh up to 40 kg, males weigh up to 80 kg.
From 1 goat it is possible to comb up to 700 g of high-quality fluff, from a goat - 450-500 g. When molting, the loss rate reaches 40%.
Benefits:
- good fleece;
- unpretentiousness in the content, food;
- high quality of fluff;
- frost resistance;
- delicious meat.
Disadvantages:
- loss of fluff during molting;
- the importance of timely fleece;
- the risk of morbidity.
Down Goats Comparison Chart
To select the most profitable breed of down goats, the table below is for visualization of the productivity of these domestic animals.
Breed | Fleece from 1 male, g | Fleece from 1 female, g |
Orenburg | 450 | 350 |
Pridonskaya | 450-1 500 | 380-1 350 |
Gorno-Altai | 700 | 450 |
Angora | up to 6,000 | up to 5,000 |
Black down | 500 | 350 |
Cashmere | 200 | 150 |
We recommend reading the article: "The best breed of down goats with a photo and description."
Woolen
The popularity of wool goats is lower than down goats. Wool of high quality is used in light industry for sewing clothes, insulation. Goats have strong immunity and good adaptive performance. With proper care and fleece, wool becomes the main source of income for breeders.
Tuvinskaya
These are medium-sized animals; in a year they produce up to 1.5 kg of wool, depending on age and gender. Goats do not differ in high productivity: meatiness is low, milk yield is 100 kg, which go to feed the cubs. Fertility rate - 1-2 kid in lambing.
Benefits:
- high quality wool;
- frost resistance;
- good adaptive performance;
- appearance appeal;
- disease resistance.
Disadvantages:
- molting;
- the need to get a haircut 2 times a year;
- the difficulty of leaving.
Tajik
This is a variety of Soviet breed native to Tajikistan. Animals have an unappealing appearance: gray wool is curled into small ropes and hangs from the body. Goats are small in size: males at the withers reach 65 cm, weigh up to 60 kg. Representatives of the Tajik breed have a proportional body, hanging ears and small horns.
Benefits:
- high productivity;
- frost resistance;
- calm nature;
- disease resistance.
Disadvantages:
- untidy look;
- decrease in productivity during molting;
- high price.
Uzbek
The goat was bred in Uzbekistan, hence the corresponding name. Animals have a long body, a massive back and a short neck. At the withers, the male reaches 70 cm, the female 55 cm. The goat weighs up to 80 kg, the goat 40 kg.
The goat has high quality wool, from 1 animal it is possible to collect up to 3 kg per year. Goats molt seasonally, which reduces productivity.
Benefits:
- high productivity;
- good adaptive performance;
- frost resistance;
- delicious meat;
- strong immunity.
Disadvantages:
- the need to cut 2 times a year;
- difficulty in leaving;
- coarse coat.
Soviet woolen
Goats come from Kazakhstan. Animals are adapted to severe climatic conditions, graze on mountain pastures. With small sizes, goats have a massive physique, long hair that hangs from the body with uneven tassels 18-22 cm long.
The fertility rate is moderate. For 1 lamb, the female brings 1-2 kid. But the strength of the wool reaches 12-15 kg.
Benefits:
- resistance to frost;
- soft, pleasant to the touch coat;
- strong immunity;
- high productivity;
- flexible character.
Disadvantages:
- low fecundity;
- features of care;
- unaesthetic look.
Wool Goat Comparison Chart
Goat hair is used for warming clothes, creating wardrobe items. Its quality depends on many indicators, which is important to consider when choosing a breed for breeding.
Breed name | Weight of male / female, kg | Productivity per year, kg | Wool length, cm |
Soviet woolen | 65/40 | 2-3 | 18-22 |
Tajik | 60/45 | 5 | 12-14 |
Uzbek | 80/40 | 3 | 14-16 |
Angora | 70/60 | 3 | 12-20 |
Tuvinian | 60/40 | 1,5 | 17-22 |
British Angora | not indicated | 2-3 | 15-22 |
Meat
Goats of this direction give high quality meat. Goat tender, tasty and juicy, there is no specific smell. Meat animals are bred for slaughter, for goats breeders this is the main source of income. Before choosing, check out the most popular breeds.
Boer
This is a South African breed of goats with a hunchbacked muzzle, a long body and thin limbs. The animals have powerful breasts, well-developed muscles.The weight of males reaches 135 kg, females - 100 kg. White goats with brown spots on the head, neck, chest.
Boer goats have tender, lean and juicy meat. Slaughter yield is 55-57%. There is no specific smell of the product. Besides meat, the skin of these pets is much appreciated.
Benefits:
- aesthetics;
- fast growth;
- strong immunity;
- high productivity.
Disadvantages:
- long adaptation to cold;
- thorough hoof care;
- decreased productivity in a new place.
Greek
This is a goat with Greek roots native to the island of Crete. The animal has a long muzzle, an elongated body, erect ears, eyes set back. Goats are short-haired, have an original color (white, black, brown, gray individuals).
Benefits:
- aesthetics of the breed;
- high productivity;
- strong immunity;
- lack of smell in milk and meat.
Disadvantages:
- eating green spaces;
- purchase difficulty;
- high price.
Kiko
These are domestic goats native to New Zealand. The animals have a large physique, hanging ears, short but very warm coat. Kozlov is distinguished by a long beard, swirling horns, large dimensions against a female. Goats are smaller, have a good maternal instinct, in lambing they bring up to 2-3 cubs.
Goats are highly regarded for their delicious, dietary meat, which is used to make delicious meals. From the point of view of profitability, the cost of keeping pets is more than paying off.
Benefits:
- small sizes;
- good gain;
- strong immunity;
- frost resistance;
- developed maternal instinct.
Disadvantages:
- a small amount of milk;
- rarity of the breed;
- feeding features.
Black Anatolian
These goats are especially common in Russian agricultural lands. Animals are unpretentious in care, quickly adapt to any weather conditions. Goats black or dark brown with a splash.
The animal weighs up to 70 kg. With small sizes, the kids quickly gain weight, are unpretentious in care. There are one-year-old animals weighing 36 kg or when reaching a body weight of 60-75% of the adult rate.
Benefits:
- good immunity;
- tolerance of harsh climate;
- aesthetics of the breed;
- fast weight gain;
- high fecundity.
Disadvantages:
- the need for grooming;
- hoof condition monitoring.
Meat goats comparison chart
Name | Weight of males / females, kg | Weight of kids, kg | Milk productivity per year, kg | Slaughter yield,% | Meat smell |
Boerskaya | 135/100 | 4 | 150 | 55-57 | — |
Greek | 50/40 | 3-4 | 100 | 57 | — |
Kiko | up to 90 | 2-3 | 80 | 55 | — |
Black Anatolian | 50-60 | 2-3 | 80-100 | 55 | — |
You can get even more information about the meat breeds of goats here.
Milk and meat
This is a compromise for breeders. Goats provide nutritious milk and dietary meat, which are used for personal needs and for sale as a source of income. Each breed has its own characteristics and productivity indicators, which are important to familiarize yourself with before breeding.
Goats are the first animals from which primitive man received nutritious and nutritious milk.
Barbary
The homeland of spotted, short-haired goats is India and Pakistan. This is a medium-heavy type of meat and dairy direction. Goats are small in size, attracted by their compactness. Adult individuals weigh up to 50 kg (males), 30 kg (females). In lambing, up to 1-2 kids are born.
The goat has an original appearance: a Roman profile, erect ears, a straight back and a short tail. The animal has short white hair interspersed throughout the body and head. Goat is grown for meat, also provides delicious milk.
Benefits:
- fast weight gain;
- good adaptive performance;
- tasty meat, fat milk;
- aesthetics of the breed;
- flexible character.
Disadvantages:
- high mortality of kids;
- features of care.
Nubian
This is an ancient breed of goats with a thin camp and long legs. A distinctive feature is hanging ears on the sides instead of horns. Goats are attracted by their aesthetics and quick adaptation to new climatic conditions. The color of the animal is brown, there are dark spots on the sides.
Milk from Nubian goats is tasty and healthy. The daily milk yield is 3-5 liters with a fat content of 4-9% (depending on the nutritional characteristics). There is no specific smell of the product.
Benefits:
- offspring twice a year;
- high milk yield;
- annual lactation period;
- quick weight gain of young animals;
- quick acclimatization.
Disadvantages:
- harm to midges;
- high price;
- whimsical care.
The selection of breeds of domestic goats is huge. The main thing is to decide what a pet is for. In general, with proper care and maintenance, this is a good source of income for owners of agricultural land.