2. Goat Breeds and Selection
Overview
Major Breeds of Goats (Dairy, Meat
and Mohair)
Parts of a Goat
Judging Goats
Dairy
Mohair
Meat
Assignment
3. 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.
4. Major Breeds Goats
Angora (Asia Minor)
Both sexes are horned
Pronounced spiral to the horn
Utilized in Mohair Production
White in color
5. Major Breeds Goats
Boer (South Africa)
Also known as the Africander
Early maturing
Predominantly white with red head but some solid red exist.
6. 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 %
7. 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
8. 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
9. 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
10. 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
11. 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
12. 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.
13. 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
19. 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%
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.
21. 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.
22. 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
Angora Goat Selection
23. 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
24. 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
25. 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
26. 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.
Goat Breeds and Selection
Judging Meat Goats
27. 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.
28. 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.