Different Breeds of Goats and Their Characteristics

Goats are a main food source in many countries, producing both milk and meat. The domestication of goats dates back to 6000 to 7000 B.C. Over 50 individual breeds of goat exist, and each breed is typically raised for a specific purpose. Wild and feral goats also roam freely in many European and Australian mountain areas.

  1. Milk Goats

    • Worldwide more goat's milk is consumed than cow's milk. Goat's milk is also commonly used to produce cheese. Nubians, LaManchas, Alpines, Oberhaslis, Togenburgs and Saanens are the only milk producintg breeds recognized by the American Dairy Goat Association. Nubian goats can be any color and have long floppy ears. They produce milk with a high protein and butterfat content. LaManchas are calmer and gentler than other breeds and have very tiny ears. They can also be any color. Alpine goats produce a high volume of milk and are a medium sized goat. Their ears stand straight up and they have a dish shaped face. Oberhaslis are a bay color, known as Chamoise, with a black dorsal strip, udder, belly and black below the knees. They are a small to medium-sized breed. Togenburgs have a shaggy white and light brown coat. They are the oldest known dairy goat breed. Saanens are usually pure white and produce a high volume of milk with 3 to 4 percent milk fat.

    Meat Goats

    • Many breeds of goats are raised for meat production. Boer goats have a high growth rate and fertility. They are a short, white-haired goat with red markings on the head and neck. The Spanish goat is found primarily on or around the Edwards Plateau of central Texas. Spanish goats are selected for better meat production by keeping only the biggest or meatiest bucks for breeding to females. Tennessee wooden-legged coats experience extreme muscle stiffness, causing the extension of the hind limbs and neck when they are frightened. This causes them to topple over.

    Fiber Goats

    • Certain breeds of goats are raised for their fiber. The Russian white goat yields about 100 to 150 g of fiber per head. These goats have short or long course, white hair. Angora goats grow very long, curly hair, known as mohair. Mohair is very similar to course wool. The average goat shears approximately 5.3 lbs. of mohair per shearing. They are usually sheared twice a year. Don goats have the highest wool production among all goat breeds. They are of medium size and have undercoat of wool on the body, neck and belly.

    Pet Goats

    • Pygmy goats are the most popular breed of pet goats. The pygmy has a full coat of straight or medium-long hair. They can be many colors, including white, black, brown or a mixture of these colors. They are easy to raise, cute, lovable and playful. They range from 16 to 23 inches in height and weigh between 40 and 70 lbs.