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Introduction to Dairy Goat Keeping Part 1 - Breeds

11/19/2016

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Looking to get into dairy goats, but not sure where to start? Well, one good place to start is which breed. There are eight different breeds recognized by ADGA (American Dairy Goat Association). Each has their own strengths and weaknesses, looks, and temperaments. 

So here is a list of all the different dairy breeds:


​Alpine

Breed characteristics: 
erect ears
medium to large size
come in a variety of colors
cannot be all white or have Toggenburg markings
straight face profile

Pros:
a good all-around producer

Cons:
just a typical dairy goat - nothing very unusual about them
famed for being energetic and jumping fences 

Other facts about the breed:
I have Alpines and love them!
Swiss (originated in the Swiss Alps)
registered as either American Alpine or French Alpine - French means they are purebreds directly related to those imported. American means that other breeds have been introduced into their lines along the way (also called "breeding up")
Picture
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​LaMancha

Breed characteristics:
little to no ears
straight face profile
any coloring is acceptable
medium to large size

Pros:
usually easy-going, quiet, and happy to stay in their fence

Cons:
no ears! (though I guess this may only throw some off...)

Other facts about the breed:
originated in Oregon, though they can be traced even farther back, to Spain
Picture
​
​Nigerian Dwarf

Breed characteristics:
small size
erect ears
any coloring is acceptable
straight or dished face profile
very stocky

Pros:
can milk almost as much as some standards, on less food
easy keepers (they don't need much food to keep weight on)
hardy
high butterfat content
sometimes considered dual-purpose - producing both milk and meat 
only breed to have moonspots

Cons:
fence jumpers (or at least mine are!)
very hard to control on the milk stand - they hate being milked or having their hooves trimmed!
sometimes easy keepers can get out of hand and result in fat goats
most have a quite bratty and uppity temperament (some actually think of this as a plus - don't ask)

Other facts about the breed:
originated in Africa
often have more than three or more kids in one kidding, and usually have no problems raising them 
often confused with the Pygmy goat (a pet breed)
Picture
​
​Nubian

Breed characteristics:
long, drooping ears
Roman nose
medium to large size
any coloring is acceptable

Pros:
some think the ears are appealing
high butterfat content (though not quite that of the Nigerian)

Cons:
famed for being loud 

Other facts about the breeds:
most well-known and popular breed in America
​originated in Africa 
a true Nubian's ears touch in front of the nose
Picture
​
Oberhasli

Breed characteristics:
erect ears
straight or dished face profile 
brown with black trim (or, in dairy goat lingo, chamoisee)
can also be black, but bucks that are black cannot be registered, only does
medium size

Pros:
a good, typical, hardy goat

Cons:
little to no variety in coloring

Other facts about the breed:
Swiss
Picture
​
Saanen 

Breed characteristics:
all white or cream colored
straight face profile
medium to large size

Pros:
easy going and sweet-natured like LaManchas 

Cons:
little to no variance in markings 

Other facts about the breed:
the most common breed for large dairies
the mismarked ones can be registered as Sable (which is actually considered a whole breed in itself by some)
​Swiss
Picture
​
Toggenburg

​Breed characteristics:
shades of brown or bay with white trim
dished or straight face profile
erect ears
medium size

Pros:
smaller size than most dairy goats 

Cons:
little to no variance in markings

Other facts about the breed:
Swiss
bucks can grow very long fur as they get older
Picture
​
Here is a link to the ADGA recognized breeds:

https://adga.org/breed-standards/

By Suzanne Tyler 
the Green T Goatherd
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    We are a family of eight living on twenty-two acres of land in North Carolina. We girls like to write about the times on the farm, and its a fun thing to do as there is alway something happening on the homestead!

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