Goat Barn

Goats are one of the most popular animals for milk and meat production. These cute, friendly animals are much easier to raise than cows, making them the best animal to raise for a small-scale farmer.

Popular Goat Breeds

*Alpine- are a medium to large-sized breed. Males are over 32 inches tall at the withers and females are over 30 inches tall at the withers. Their hair is brief to medium-long, and that they are available all colors and combinations of colors.

*American Lamancha- are maybe the most distinctive goat breed. Simply recognizable by their very short ear pinnae. they’re also best-known for his or her high milk production. Bucks weigh around 165 pounds and a doe weighs around 130 pounds. Their coats come in a wide range in colors.

*Nubian- is massive in size and carries a lot of flesh than different dairy farm breeds. Markings will be any color, with long square ears. Often nicknamed the “Lop-Eared Goat” or “Greyhound Goat.” They can produce .5 – 1.5 gallons of milk a day.

*Saanen- is that the largest breed of Swiss goats. They have white skin and a brief white coat. This dainty-looking breed is an illusion because the Saanen breed is tough and rugged. They have tough hooves, strong udders, and have a high resistance to disease.

*Toggenburg- breed appears with a medium-sized body, with a dished or straight face and it is moderate in milk production. The mature male height ranges from 34 to 38 inches, with a weight ranging from 150 to 200 pounds. The female height ranges between 30 to 32 inches and they weigh 125 pounds maximum.

*Oberhasli- the coloring of the breed is called “chamoisée” or “chamoisee” for its perceived similitude to the colours of the wild Alpine chamois. The coat is bay or mid-brown, with black markings consisting of 2 black facial stripes through the eyes to the muzzle, a black forehead, a black dorsal stripe or mule stripe, and black belly and lower limbs.

*Spanish goats are made for travel and can handle most climates. They are also relatively low maintenance. Another great quality, especially because it is a breed raised for meat. Both bucks and does are usually horned, and the bucks may have large and twisted horns.

*Boer- goat has the fastest growth and best meat-to-bone conversion. The traditional Boer is white with a brown head, but there are some that are black and white or mostly brown.

*Pygmy- Some of them are gray, white, brown, or black. They can be light or dark and they can offer several colors on one of them. They have long ears that fold forward and a long snout. They have a thick body with a heavy coat and think legs that are very sturdy.

*Nigerian Dwarf- is the smallest of the most common dairy goat breeds. The breed is not only good for milk production but also very good for meat production purpose. The average body height of the mature bucks is around 19-23.5 inches at the withers. And the mature doe’s average body height is between 17 and 22.5 inches at the withers. Their common colors include black, cream, gold, red, and white.

Goat Terms

Doe – Female Goat

Doeling – A baby female goat

Yearling – A one-year-old goat

Buck – Male Goat

Buckling – A baby male goat

Weather – Castrated male goat

Kid – Baby goat, either male or female

Kidding – Giving birth

Sire – Father

Dam – Mother