Goat Breeds and Selection

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 Goat Breeds and Selection
Overview
 Major Breeds of Goats (Dairy, Meat
and Mohair)
 Parts of a Goat
 Judging Goats
 Dairy
 Mohair
 Meat
 Assignment
 Major Breeds of Goats
Alpine (French Alps)

 Medium to large sized

 only breed with upright ears
 all colors and combinations of colors.
 Hair is medium to short
 straight face with roman nose.
 Major Breeds Goats
Angora (Asia Minor)

 Both sexes are horned

 Pronounced spiral to the horn
 Utilized in Mohair Production
 White in color
 Major Breeds Goats
Boer (South Africa)

 Also known as the Africander

 Early maturing
 Predominantly white with red head but some solid red exist.
 Major Breeds Goats
Golden Guernsey (British)

 color varies from cream to brown

 usually polled
 lower in milk production than most Swiss breeds
 higher in butter fat and protein %
 Major Breeds Goats
LaMancha (Oregon)

 Face is straight
 Gopher ear - max one inch in length preferably non-existent
 Elf ear-max. length of two inches with tip being turned up or down
 Any color or combination is acceptable.
 Hair is short, fine and glossy
 high butterfat
 Major Breeds Goats
Nigerian Dwarf (West Africa)

 Main colors are black, chocolate and gold with random white
markings.
 Breed year round
 They give 3-4# of milk per day at 6 to 10% butterfat
 They make great pets
 Major Breeds Goats
Nubian (Oriental)

 Large framed
 face being convex between the eyes and muzzle
 ears are long, wide and pendulous. They flare out in a bell shape.
 Any color or colors, solid or patterned
 Major Breeds of Goats
Pygmy Goat (Africa)

 Full coat of straight, medium-long hair.

 All colors are acceptable
 muzzle, forehead, eyes and ears are accented in tones lighter than
the dark portion of the body.
 Make good pets
Major Breeds of Goats
Saanen (Switzerland)

 Usually yields 3-4% milkfat

 medium to large in size
 white or light cream in color.
 Ears are erect and carried forward.
 Face straight or dished
 Major Breeds of Goats
Spanish (Spain)

 Feral goat or brush goat native to U.S.

 Descended from the goats that were released or
escaped from the early Spanish explorers
 Utilized for meat.
 Fat content is less than beef.
 Major Breeds of Goats
Toggenburg (Switzerland)
 Medium in size
 Hair is short or medium in length
 Ears are Erect and Forward
 Face may be straight or dished
 Color is solid varying from light fawn to dark chocolate
 Distinct white markings
 white ears with dark spot in middle
 two white stripes down face from above each eye
 white legs below knee and hock
 white triangle on either side of the tail.
 some have wattles
Major Breeds of Goats
Quiz #1

1 2

3 4
Major Breeds of Goats
Quiz #1

5 6

7 8
 Major Breeds of Goats
Answers to Quiz #1

Angora 1 2
Boer Goat

Nubian 3 4
Alpine
 Major Breeds of Goats
Quiz #1

Pygmy 5 LaMancha 6

Saanen 7 Toggenburg 8
Goat Breeds and Selection
Parts of a Goat
 Goat Breeds and Selection
Judging Dairy Goats
Correct conformation of dairy goats is essential for a
productive and successful operation.
It is important to evaluate the differences of goats as they
related to each other as well as how they relate to the breed ideal.

American Dairy Goat Association

Standard Score Card
General Appearance - 30%
Mammary System - 30%
Dairy Character - 20%
Body Capacity - 20%
 Goat Breeds and Selection
Judging Dairy Goats

 General Appearance: Impressive style and carriage,

possessing attractiveness and feminity.
 Mammary System: Strongly attached and high quality
udder, indicating high production and longevity.
 Dairy Character: Angularity and general openness
throughout.
 Body Capacity: Relative to the size of the animal,
providing ample capacity for feed intake and production.
Goat Breeds and Selection
Angora Goat Selection

 In selecting for fiber, one is interested in both

quantity (weight) and quality of fiber (length,
fineness, style, character,absence of kemp, etc.).

 In addition to fiber, one must be concerned with

traits that contribute to the survival or viability
(soundness, fertility, etc.) of the individual.
 Goat Breeds and Selection
Angora Goat Selection

 Selection based on quantity of fiber is accomplished by:

 size of the animal
 completeness of cover
 length of fiber (four inches minimum)
 diameter of fiber (finer fibers preferred)
 differences in density (desirable lock formation)
 Selection based on fleece weight
 grease (oil)
 dirt
 Selection based on age
 Weaning or first shearing is a poor time
 Select the animal at second and third shearing (12-18mts. Old)
 Goat Breeds and Selection
Judging Meat Goats
 Conformation:
 Rectangular in appearance from the side
 Straight level top and belly
 Length of rump, body, and leg are important
 Legs should be straight and placed squarely under the body
and should show evidence of muscling.
 Width between front legs
 trim brisket
 hindquarter should be muscular with loin and rumbp being of
uniform width.
 Legs should be square and wide from the rear view
Goat Breeds and Selection
Judging Meat Goats

General Appearance
Stature: Overall Skeletal Size
Head: Both Strength and refinement
Front End: (combination of chest and shoulder
features) wide chest smooth blending shoulder
with sharp withers
Front Legs: Sound
Back: Straight, wide, long and level
Rump: long, wide and level from thurl to thurl
Hind Legs: wide and straight well muscled stifle
Feet: strong pasterns with even tight toes
 Goat Breeds and Selection
Judging Meat Goats

 MUSCLE
 Hindquarters: long deeply attached muscle, thick high stifle, muscle over
the thurl and rump should be obvious.
 Loin: should be wide with a symmetrically oval shape on each side of the
backbone which should carry over the rack.
 Shoulders: muscling should increase from the withers
to the point of shoulder with the thickest muscle being
above the chest floor. Forearm muscle should be
prominent.
 Neck: Neck and shoulder should be free of waste.
Smoothness and quality are important. A long clean
neck with muscle and balance is desirable.
 Goat Breeds and Selection
Judging Meat Goats

Condition refers to the amount of fat the animal is carrying. The ideal
condition is thin but uniform. The external fat thickness over the loin
at the 13th rib should be between .08 to .12 inches or an average of .1
inch.
 GoatBreeds and Selection
Suggested Activity
(Breeds of Goats Collage)
1. Divide the class into pairs.
2. Distribute old livestock magazines and periodicals among the class.
Encourage them to share.
3. Direct the students to compile 15 different pictures in which they can
identify the breed. (They must find atleast 8 different breeds)
4. After the students have collected their pictures, distribute a piece of
poster board to each pair.
5. Provide colored pencils, markers and glue for them to arrange, number
and identify their pictures in a creative way.
6. Display the projects in the classroom.
7. Have the students, after viewing all projects, make a list of the different
breeds found.
 Goat Breeds and Selection
Suggested Assignment Sheets
 Assignment - Use resource materials to locate
information about goat breeds.
-Use the Internet to locate the
information and then have the students
present their report in the form of a
power point presentation. (ansi.okstate.edu)
*Use the local computer instructor for a team
teaching project.