Different Breeds of Billy Goats

Billy goats or bucks are terms for male goats. They have hollowed horns that arch backward, a short tail and, usually, a beard. Many breeders use the term buck over billy goat. There are more than 300 breeds of billy goats. Farmers raise different breeds of billy goats for a variety of reasons, including dairy and meat. According to the Texas Sheep and Goat Raisers Association goats eat "almost any kind of plant material." They are used to control unwanted plants and weeds. Billy goats are intelligent animals, and many people have them as pets.

  1. Dairy

    • There are several breeds of billy goats raised for dairy purposes. However, the American Dairy Goat Association only recognizes and registers six breeds with distinct features. A Nubian is a large breed with a distinctive sound, convex nose and large, floppy ears. LaManchas can be any color with small ears and a straight nose. They are calmer and gentler than other breeds. Alpines have erect ears, are medium to large in size and produce a lot of milk. Oberhaslis are a bay color, with a black head, erect ears and are small to medium in size. Saaaens are pure white. Toggenburgs are light brown with white ears and lower legs and have two white stripes down their face. They have erect ears and a shaggier coat than most other dairy goats.

    Meat

    • Billy goats raised for meat grows at a fast pace and are very sturdy animals. They are large framed and can weigh as much as 350 pounds. The Boer has a light-colored body and thick legs, with a red head with long ears. New Zealand developed the Kiko breed for specifically meat production by cross breeding -- the word "Kiko" actually means flesh or meat in the native Maori language. They are generally all-white with long coats and wide, scimitar-like horns. The Spanish goat comes in a variety of colors and sizes. The Tennessee Fainting goat has a chemical imbalance that makes their muscles and joints stiffen when they are frightened, causing them to fall over.

    Fiber and Skin

    • The fleece of many breeds of billy goats provides fibers used to create a variety of materials. Several breeds of Cashmere goats provide various qualities of cashmere. Cashmere goats will eat numerous weeds including Canadian thistle, leafy spurge, poison ivy and oak. Shearing their coats in the summer can produce as much as 2½ pounds of fleece. Fleece from the Angora goat makes soft coats and sweaters. Fleece from the Altai Mountain goat is used for wool production. A Pygora goat creates three distinct kinds of fleece: cashmere-like, mohair-like and a combination of the two. A variety of materials are derived from the skin of billy goats. Wool is made from the skin of a Don goat, and leather goods from the Black Bengal's skin.

    Pets

    • Pygmy goats are smaller than dairy goats, averaging 70 pounds and standing about 2 feet tall. Types of Pygmy breeds include Agouti, Black and Caramel. They are affectionate, lovable and playful making them good companions. They are also good goats for shows, fairs and petting zoos. Nigerian Dwarfs have three different color lines: brown, white and black. Billy goats are no more than 23 inches tall. Their calm nature and size make them ideal pets.