The Dairy Goat

1. The Dairy Goat The Breeds

2. 8 recognized breeds • Saanen • French Alpine • Nubian • Toggenburg • Oberhasli • La Mancha • Sable • Nigerian Dwarf

3. Saanen • Largest dairy goat breed • Calm and mild temperment • Lower butterfat content 2.5 – 3% • Erect ears • Needs shade for it’s very light skin. • Originated in the Saanen Valley in Switzerland.

4. French Alpine • Originated in the Alps • Variety of colors • No all white or toggenburg markings

5. Nubian • Large, pendulous ears and a roman nose • Dual purpose breed, hey have more flesh than most other dairy goats • Very large goats that come in any color combination. • High butterfat milk, 5% or more – makes for more flavor in the milk.

6. Sable • A colored Saanen – the color is a recessive trait • Many Saanen breeders destroyed colored kids at birth. • In 2003 the ADGA recognized Sables as a breed so numbers are now growing. • Same tempermant, rugged build and production qualities as the Saanen.

7. Nigerian Dwarf • Miniature dairy goat of West African origin • The only dwarf dairy breed recognized in the U.S. • Their milk is higher in butterfat and protien than other breeds. • Excellent pets as well as production animals • ½ to 1/3 the size of other breeds

8. La Mancha • Very small or no apparent external ears. • Medium in size and gentle natured. • 2 types of ears – gopher and elf • Gopher - ear is very small and appears to be 'shriveled‘ with no fold and must not exceed 1 inch. • Elf - maximum length of 2 inches is allowed,end of the ear must be turned up or turned down, and cartilage shaping the small ear is allowed.

9. Toggenburg • Originated in the Toggenburg Valley in Switzerland. • Medium sized, moderate production and low butterfat. • Solid color varying from light fawn to dark chocolate brown with white ears with dark spot in middle; two white stripes down the face from above each eye to the muzzle; hind legs white from hocks to hooves; forelegs white from knees downward with a dark line (band) below knee acceptable; a white triangle on either side of the tail.

10. Oberhasli • Originated in Canton of Berne in Switzerland • Warm reddish brown accented with a black dorsal stripe, legs, belly, and face, occasionally black. • Only black does can be registered, not bucks. • Very bossy and talkative does in a herd.

11. Dairy Goat Terminology • Buck – adult male goat • Doe – adult female goat • Polled – naturally hornless • Butterfat – cream content of milk • Disbud – to remove horns, usually with a hot iron • Production – the process of producing milk • Udder – bag shaped structure that produces milk • Wether – castrated male goat • Kid – baby or young goat • Cud - the plant material that goats (and other ruminant animals) regurgitate and chew again.

12. Dairy Goat Digestion - Ruminants • What is a ruminant? Any of various cud-chewing hoofed mammals having a stomach divided into four compartments • The four compartments: • Rumen – fermentation vat for stomach, not functional at birth • Reticulum – located next to heart, honeycomb appearance, catches metal and foreign objects • Omasum – no enzymes, functions to reduce particle size and absorb water • Abomasum – the true stomach, secretes enzymes, digestion occurs here