When planning the breeding of dairy goats, focus on the choice of breed. The goat should be adapted to the local climate, be unpretentious and give stable milk yield. In addition, you need to know how to properly take care of a dairy goat. You will learn all this later in the article.
Milk characteristic
When breeding such pets, breeders expect a good profit. Particularly important indicators of milk yield, milk fat, protein content, vitamins and trace elements.
Preference is given to animals "odorless", because their milk taste is not much different from cow, but more useful. On average, dairy goats give from 2 to 5 liters per day, with indicators of fat content of 3-8%, and depending on the breed.
Milk productivity depends on the diet. Provide animals with a sufficient amount of hay for the winter, graze daily in the summer.
Genetic indicators of highly milked parents
Purebred breed must be documented. In one genetic branch, goats can vary in size and color, which is due to the peculiarities of maintenance and care, climatic conditions.
Purebred animals have parents of the same breed, the standard is the same for representatives of all generations. Signs of breeding are indicated by numbers and codes, understood by experienced breeders.
The characteristic physique of an individual
One can judge the productivity of adults not only by the characteristics of the breed, but also by the appearance of the animal itself. The determining indicators of milk are these signs:
- wide-set straight legs, massive hooves;
- a small head on a thin neck;
- thin skin;
- wide, but not sagging stomach;
- visualization of ribs on the chest;
- clearly visible shoulder blades, shoulders;
- expansion of the body from the chest to the pelvis;
- impressive dimensions;
- straight spine without sagging.
Choose dairy goats that from generation to generation live in a particular region, accustomed to a certain diet and rules of keeping. Experiments are not always beneficial.
Size and shape of the udder, its general condition
When choosing an animal, pay attention to the shape of the udder. In a dairy goat, it is divided into 2 lobes, has a pear-shaped shape, developed, but not long nipples. A loose udder is a sign of low milk production. Long, elongated nipples make milking difficult.
When probing a dairy animal, the udder is elastic, without suspicious seals. If you try to milk the goat, as it empties, it goes down, several noticeable folds appear. If this does not happen, it is better to wait a bit with the purchase of an animal.
For high milk production rates, carefully examine the veins on the udder of the goat and their connection point (well). The more voluminous and brighter it is, the more milk will be output.
The characteristic signs of milk orientation are the triangular shape of the body and moderate mobility of the udder.
The best age for milk productivity
Dairy goats should not be covered early, otherwise the likelihood of cysts and mastitis is high. Distribution begins after lambing. The recommended age of the animal is 12-18 months. The risk of pathologies during childbirth in young goats is higher; veterinarians do not exclude postpartum complications.
The best breeds of dairy goats
The main criteria for choosing a milking animal are the absence of an unpleasant odor of milk and high milk production rates. Also pay attention to the features of grooming and keeping pets. The presented breeds with good adaptive indicators provide high productivity.
Alpine goats
An animal from France weighs up to 70 kg, more suitable for cultivation in the southern regions, where free grazing contributes to year-round milking. The annual milk production rate is up to 700-800 liters of 3.5% fat. A distinctive feature is high fertility (up to 4-5 cubs per 1 lamb), several color options.
Animals are unpretentious in care. Milk index is affected by weather conditions. Provide the Alpine goats with a warm shed without dampness and drafts, cleanliness and order. Feed hay or fresh grass (depending on the season), coarse grains, mineral supplements.
Benefits:
- Great external data
- good adaptive performance;
- flexible character;
- high productivity;
- great offspring.
Disadvantages:
- sensitivity to water quality;
- high price.
White Belgian (Campinee)
This is a descendant of the Saanen Swiss goats. The animal is short-haired, hornless and short-eared, weighs up to 65 kg. The goat has a direct profile, the height of the withers is up to 75 cm. The result of the lactation period is 500-700 kg of milk with a fat content of 4%.
Benefits:
- high milk yield;
- tasty milk;
- flexible character;
- unpretentiousness in leaving;
- fertility.
Disadvantages:
- high price;
- the difficulty of buying.
Barbary
This is an Indian goat breed that is more commonly found in arid areas. The animal is compact in size with a small head, small ears and horns. A distinctive feature is a white short coat with small red spots throughout the body.
Adult animals weigh 35-47 kg. For lactation, milk yield is 150-228 kg with a fat content of 4-4.7%. Barbary goats have high fertility - up to 3 kids per lamb. For high productivity, they need warm stable, clean water and fresh hay, and it is better to refuse walks in the winter.
Benefits:
- cleanliness;
- flexible character;
- high productivity;
- fertility.
Disadvantages:
- cultivation in a temperate climate;
- low frost resistance;
- high cost of livestock.
Bionda
These are long-haired goats native to the Italian Alps. The animals have a light brown coat, a massive body with well-developed muscles. Goat weight - up to 75 kg, goats - up to 60 kg. In height, the animal is up to 80 cm.
Adult goats with horns and a beard, goats - hornless. The milk production rate for the lactation period is 105-168 l with a fat content of 3.98%.
Benefits:
- original color;
- high productivity;
- unpretentiousness in leaving;
- fat milk.
Disadvantages: high price.
Beatal
The breed originated from Indian goats, bred in Rajasthan, Punjab. The mass of goats reaches 74 kg, goats - no more than 35 kg. The recorded milk record is 835 kg. On average, during a lactation period, a goat produces up to 200 liters of milk of 5% fat content.
The goat Bital has a small body, well-developed muscles, a straight Roman profile and spiral horns. The coat is short but thick, in the sun it takes on a richly red tint. Goats feed on dry feed, hay and root crops; in summer they prefer fresh grass. The animals are clean, there should be order in the stable.
Benefits:
- skim milk
- high productivity;
- valuable wool;
- unpretentiousness in leaving.
Disadvantages:
- rare breed;
- intolerance to severe cold;
- high price.
Westland (Norwegian)
These bluish-white animals belong to the so-called "heavyweights." A goat weighs up to 90 kg, a goat weighs no more than 65 kg. The Westland breed is found on the southwest coast, originally from Norway.
Norwegian goats are long-haired, horned and hornless varieties are found. The milk yield for 270 days of lactation is 600-750 kg of milk 3-4% fat.
Benefits:
- beneficial properties of goat milk;
- quick adaptation to climatic conditions;
- high productivity.
Disadvantages:
- intolerance to frost;
- the need for combing;
- danger of harmful insects.
Garganika
This is a medium-sized animal weighing up to 65 kg. Goats have an impressive appearance: long, helical horns, hanging brown hair, straight posture and a proud profile. At the withers, goats reach 85 cm.
Representatives of the breed have high viability, adapt well to any weather conditions. Goats feed on dry feed and hay, like fresh grass, root crops, fruits. Milk index for the lactation period reaches 200-250 kg.
Benefits:
- high productivity;
- unpretentiousness in leaving;
- versatility of feeding;
- stable immunity.
Disadvantages:
- the need to comb out the animal;
- intolerance to extreme heat.
Guadarramen (guadarrama)
These are goats of Spanish origin of the dairy direction. There are individuals with horns and hornless. The representatives of the breed have long brown hair, males at the withers grow to 86 cm, females - not more than 75 cm. Adult goats weigh up to 70 kg, goats - up to 55 kg.
The lactation period lasts 210 days. The milk yield is 250-300 kg of milk with a fat content of up to 5%. There are 2 directions of goats - meat, dairy, which is important to consider when buying a breed.
Benefits:
- nutritious milk;
- high milk yield;
- strong immunity;
- unpretentiousness in leaving;
- universality of food.
Disadvantages:
- little information about leaving;
- purchase difficulty;
- high price.
Gorky goats
The ancestors of the breed are Russian goats. Animals are bred in Chuvashia, Tatarstan, Central Russia. The lactation period lasts 9 months, milk yield - 500-700 kg of milk, depending on the characteristics of the content.
Goats of medium build, white or yellow in color, with erect ears and small horns. Females weigh up to 50 kg, males weigh up to 75 kg. Goats have short hair without undercoat, which is also highly valued in agriculture. The diet should be dry food, clean water.
Benefits:
- unpretentiousness in leaving;
- frost resistance;
- food versatility;
- high productivity.
Disadvantages:
- heat intolerance;
- lack of undercoat;
- risk of bites of bloodsucking insects.
Damas (damask or sham)
Shorthair goats are more common in Cyprus and Syria, characterized by a dairy direction. A distinctive feature of the breed is the horns. In goats, they are helical, in goats they are sickle-shaped. Animals have long and drooping ears, a massive neck, and a muscular torso. Adults weigh up to 90 kg, kids - 27 kg.
The breed Damas (Shami) has a high milk content. Milk yield during lactation is 450-600 kg at 4-5% fat content. For a day, 1 goat gives from 5 to 10 liters of milk. Pets are also valued.
Benefits:
- unpretentiousness in the content, care;
- original appearance;
- great option for selection;
- high adaptive properties;
- calm nature;
- high productivity.
Disadvantages:
- purchase difficulty;
- high price.
Saanen goats
When choosing a goat for the dairy direction Zaanensky breed is the best option. Such an animal is milked year-round. Milk index for the lactation period is up to 1,000 kg. The fat content of milk is from 3.7 to 4.5%, the composition of the drink includes vitamins, valuable trace elements.
Goats are large, have a massive physique, short hair. They have a narrow muzzle, erect ears, an elongated neck, a beard and large horns (in adults). There are also hornless varieties of the breed.
Benefits:
- flexible character;
- highest productivity;
- diet meat;
- good fertility;
- beneficial properties of milk;
- unpretentiousness in leaving.
Disadvantages:
- intolerance to dampness, drafts, frosts;
- threat from harmful insects;
- the risk of morbidity.
Golden hernsian
The breed first appeared in the UK. A distinctive feature is the golden shade of wool, which is highly regarded among breeders. There are goats with short and long hair, with horns and without.
The animals are graceful, small in size, have a calm and measured character. Annual milk yield reaches 700 kg with a fat content of 3.8%. Goats feed on hay, dry food, fruits and vegetables, like fresh grass on a pasture.
Benefits:
- tasty milk;
- unpretentiousness in leaving;
- flexible character;
- high fecundity.
Disadvantages:
- harm to blood-sucking insects;
- intolerance to dampness and drafts;
- the need for clean water and feed.
Cameroon goats
These are small goats weighing up to 21 kg. Animals have a diverse color - from light gray to deep black. The coat is short but thick, there is an undercoat that protects from low temperatures. Cameroon goats have horns and beards, long erect ears.
For daily milk yield up to 2 kg of fresh milk with a fat content of 6%. This natural product does not contain a specific smell, has medicinal properties.
Benefits:
- ease of breeding;
- miniature size;
- disease resistance;
- calm nature;
- the possibility of training;
- long-term storage of milk, high fat content;
- fertility.
Disadvantages:
- poor tolerance of damp and drafts;
- may show aggression in a stressful situation;
- the lactation period lasts 4-5 months.
Camori
These are dairy goats from Pakistan. Animals are raised in arid regions, resistant to difficult climatic conditions. Goats of black color with brown spots all over the body. The constitution is massive, the neck is strong, the ears are long, hanging on the sides. Kamori attracts with an original look, decorate agricultural land.
Kamori has a well-developed udder, high milk production. For a day, the goat gives from 2 to 4 kg of milk with a fat content of 3-5%. Product quality depends on the characteristics of care and diet. Necessarily the presence of fresh hay and clean water, the animal loves fresh grass and cleanliness in the barn.
Benefits:
- decorative look;
- high productivity;
- unpretentiousness in leaving;
- flexible character;
- strong immunity.
Disadvantages:
- the risk of bloodsucking due to short hair;
- intolerance to cold.
La mancha
The dairy breed of goats predominates in the south of the country. A distinctive feature is cropped ears, which give the animal an original look. Goats are short-haired, have the most unexpected colors - from pale beige to dark brown with spots throughout the body.
La Mancha weighs up to 70 kg. This goat breed has a massive body, the height at the withers is up to 95 cm (in males), a straight muzzle and nose with a hump. Lamanchi has a well-developed udder, the milk yield reaches 5 liters in 1 day.
Benefits:
- high adaptive characteristics;
- flexible character;
- decorative appearance;
- lack of an unpleasant smell;
- unpretentiousness in leaving.
Disadvantages:
- Roman nose;
- small ears (inability to label).
Megrelian goats
The breed is originally from Georgia and is intended for cultivation in a hot, arid climate. The animals are large: at the withers - up to 60 cm, weight - up to 70 kg. Goats have a long torso, erect limbs, upright ears, horns. The coat is short, light color.
Goats have good performance. Up to 900 kg of milk with a fat content of 3.5-5% can be milked per year. The natural product has no specific odor, has useful properties.
Benefits:
- flexible character;
- high productivity;
- disease resistance;
- unpretentiousness in leaving.
Disadvantage:
- intolerance to frost and dampness;
- high price;
- frequent attacks of harmful insects.
Nej goats
Dairy breed comes from Iran, suitable for coastal regions. Milk index is moderate. During the lactation period, 350 kg of milk with a fat content of up to 5% is released. The breed is not common, there are 5000 representatives. The animal eats mixed feeds, hay, mineral baits, eats fresh grass on a pasture.
Benefits:
- aesthetic appearance;
- friendliness;
- unpretentiousness in the content;
- stable immunity.
Disadvantages:
- moderate milk yield;
- low prevalence.
Nubian goats
Animals of the meat and milk direction appeared several centuries ago. Outwardly, the goats are very graceful and graceful: instead of frightening horns on their heads, drooping ears.The body of the Nubian goat is long but sinewy. Extremities widely set, thin.
For 1 day, the goat gives from 3 to 5 liters of milk with a fat content of 4-9%. The animal eats dry food, loves fresh hay, green grass, fruits and root crops. Be sure to have clean water in the drinking bowls.
Benefits:
- flexible character;
- high productivity;
- decorative look;
- simplicity in leaving;
- disease resistance.
Disadvantages:
- harm from bloodsuckers;
- intolerance to drafts.
Orospedana
This is a Spanish breed bred in 1952. In countries with a warm climate, the lactation period lasts a whole year. Milk index - up to 3 liters per day. More detailed information on the modern breed is not available. In Russia, goats are not hatched; they are more often found in Latin America.
Partbatsar
This is an Indian breed of goats of high milk production, which is difficult to find in Russia. Goats are long-haired, color - from pale brown to chocolate. White spots may occur along the body, which should not cause doubts about the thoroughbredness of the breed.
Animals are small in size, very attractive in appearance. They are unpretentious in food: they love hay and fresh grass, do not refuse root crops, compound feeds, fruits. For 185 days of lactation, you can milk up to 132 liters of milk with a fat content of 3.5-5%.
Benefits:
- breed cleanliness;
- high milk yield;
- with good content, they rarely get sick.
Disadvantages:
- the need for combing;
- poorly tolerated drafts;
- purchase difficulty;
- high price.
Russian white goat
This is a European breed with high milk production rates. The animals have a short six white, elongated muzzle, erect ears and horns (in adults). The body is not high but massive; shortened legs. Russian white goats are stocky with well-developed muscles.
The lactation period lasts up to 9 months (depending on the climatic conditions of a particular region). Indicators of milk yield - up to 800 l, fat content - 5-6%. Healthy and nutritious milk, has no specific smell.
Benefits:
- breed cleanliness;
- high milk yield;
- goat "obedient";
- unpretentiousness to leaving;
- high adaptive properties.
Disadvantages:
- thermophilic animal;
- risk of incidence;
- aggression at the time of fright.
Toggenburg goats
Representatives of this breed are hornless, with long erect ears. The average weight of the animal is up to 65 kg, the productivity indicator is high. During the lactation period (270-310 days), the milk yield is 1,100-1,300 l with a milk fat content of 3.6%. With proper care of the Toggenburg goat, the milk yield does not decrease in winter.
Benefits:
- quick adaptation to any weather conditions;
- high productivity;
- aesthetic appearance;
- unpretentiousness in leaving;
- skim milk
- in lambing - up to 3 kids.
Disadvantages:
- high price;
- the difficulty of buying.
Czech brown
These are representatives of the meat and milk breed of goats. The animals themselves are large: at the withers - up to 80 cm, the weight of goats - 80 kg, goats - no more than 65 kg. Representatives of the breed are short-haired, richly brown in color with a dark muzzle and erect ears. Czech brown - hornless animals.
Goats are milked year-round. For a day, the animal gives up to 5-6 liters of fresh milk with a fat content of 5.5%, per year - up to 2,000 liters. Young growth quickly gaining weight, in lambing - up to 3 kids.
Benefits:
- high adaptive properties;
- frost resistance;
- high productivity;
- unpretentiousness in leaving.
Disadvantages:
- heat intolerance;
- attacks of bloodsucking insects.
Comparison table of breeds by main criteria
When buying a dairy goat, consider the amount and composition of milk, milk yield indicators. Table to help for clarity:
Breed / indicator | Lactation period, days | Annual milk yield, l | The fat content of milk,% | Specific smell |
Zaanenskaya | 330 | 1120 | 3,3 | + |
La mancha | 330 | 1013 | 4 | + |
Nubian | 315 | 814 | 3,7 | — |
Czech brown | 365 | 950 | 5,5 | — |
Gorkovskaya | 270 | 450 | 4,8 | + |
Russian white | 225 | 500 | 4,2 | — |
Cameroonian | about 125 | 1.5 liters per day | up to 6.0 | — |
Features of the maintenance and care of dairy goats
Most goats of dairy breed are unpretentious in leaving, but all of them do not tolerate dampness and drafts, they do not like severe frosts. Pay attention to this moment when arranging the crib. Valuable recommendations for the arrangement of the crib:
- Insulate the floor, otherwise the animal will get sick.
- Close all cracks, exclude penetration of rodents.
- Disinfect the room regularly from harmful insects.
- Maintain cleanliness, order in a stable.
- Control the air temperature, the optimal range is 3-5 degrees.
- Provide each goat with an individual drinker and feeder.
Features of nutrition and care:
- Renew water in drinking bowls 2 times a day, more often in summer.
- Consider that 1 goat drinks 8-10 liters of water per day.
- Do not leave hay in the feeder.
- When choosing a place for grazing, make sure that there are no harmful herbs in the area.
- Avoid walking in bad weather, strong winds.
- With free grazing, provide drinking and awnings.
- For free grazing, set up an aviary with a high fence.
There are many breeds of dairy goats in livestock. When choosing, pay attention not only to the annual level of milk yield, but also to the taste and usefulness of the product. Be sure to eliminate the risk of a specific smell of fresh milk.