Types of Milk Goats

More people in the world drink goat's music than cow's milk. Goat milk is an important source of nutrition around the globe. People with allergies to cow's milk can tolerate goat's milk because it contains different proteins. The American Dairy Goat Association recognizes six breeds of milk goats.

  1. Nubians

    • Nubian goats, also known as Anglo Nubians, have big floppy ears and curved noses. They are the most popular breed in North America. A large breed, their milk tends to have more protein and butterfat content than that of other breeds. This makes their milk ideal for making cheese. Nubian goats have a stubborn nature and make a distinct sound, almost like a complaint, when they cry.

    LaManchas

    • LaMancha goats have straight noses and ears so small they appear to not have any ears at all. The LaMancha breed has a more mellow personality than most others.
      They make good dairy goats because they produce an average of 3 qts. of milk per day during the 10-month lactation period.

    Alpines

    • Alpine goats can be found in almost every color. They have erect ears and a medium-to-large body size. Many dairies select alpines, because they produce large amounts of milk. During a 10-month period, a doe can produce more than 3 qts. of milk daily. The alpine's milk has a high butterfat content.

    Oberhaslis

    • Oberhaslis goats are mostly black with a brown backdrop from heat to hoof. They have a black dorsal strip, udder, belly and shins. These goats are a medium-small breed with erect ears. Oberhasli goat milk has a sweet taste, and is approximately 3.5 to 4 percent butterfat.

    Toggenburgs

    • Toggenburg goats, the oldest pure breed of Swiss goats, are mostly light brown with white ears that stand up and white lower legs. These goats are the shortest of the breeds, and grow a shaggier coat than other dairy goats. Many dairy farms like to use toggenburg goats because they produce milk in large quantities, and
      are known for their longer-than-average milking periods. During its peak, a doe can produce more than 4 to 6 qts. per day.

    Saanens

    • Saanen goats are usually pure white, and have a large udder capacity. Because they are able to produce mass quantities of milk, they are used on many dairy farms. A Saanen goat holds the current world record for milk production: the goat produced more than 6,600 pounds of milk in 305 days, or an average of 10.5 qts. milk per day for 10 months.