Goats are kept for milk, meat, wool, fluff. When choosing goats, it is important to consider the purpose for which they are bought, as well as take into account external and behavioral characteristics characteristic of healthy animals. We learn how to choose a goat suitable for the farm.
Features of the purchase of dairy, wool and meat sheep
Buying a goat is not easy, especially for beginners. There are many little things that inexperienced goat farmers do not pay attention to when buying goats. The result of such carelessness is low milk yield, illness and other problems.
Tips for choosing and buying goats:
- Dairy Difficult to choose dairy goats. The main thing you should pay attention to when buying a dairy goat is age, physique, and signs of milkiness. What you need to know:
- Carefully inspect every part of the animal’s body.
- Do not buy one goat - take at least two.
- Do not take goats where necessary. Go to the goat farm. But be sure to pay attention to the conditions of keeping and diet of animals, take an interest in the pedigree.
- If you need highly productive goats, take thoroughbred ones - they are more expensive, but give much more milk than their "simple" relatives.
- Try to feed the goat - give her a cracker. If the animal is young, it will quickly grind the cracker with its teeth. The old goat’s teeth are erased, it will litter solid food for a long time.
- Goat breeders have a proven method by which they determine whether milk will smell. The animal must be stroked well between the horns, and then sniffed at the hand. If the hand does not smell, then the milk will be odorless - and this is exactly what is valued in dairy breeds.
- Milking is not affected by the presence or absence of earrings on the neck, the shape of the ears and color.
- Woolen and downy. In purebred wool goats, the body is large, the chest is large, the loin is wide, the back and sacrum are even, the legs are strong and straight, the coat is usually white, and the hair is stiff on the head.
- Meat. In meat breeds, the udder is small, located high. There is not much milk from such goats, it is only enough to feed the young. Meat goats are distinguished by a large belly and barrel-shaped, with rounded torso.
Goats are companionable animals, they alone yearn. Moreover, longing causes hyperactivity in them - the behavior of animals becomes problematic.
If the goat is dull, with dull hair, poor appetite and sagging belly - immediately refuse this option.
What to look for when buying?
Choosing a dairy goat, they are looking for an animal that is not only healthy, but also milked. A healthy goat has thin and transparent ears, it breathes silently, its eyes are bright, and its nose is clean. In order not to rely on the honesty of sellers, learn how to independently determine how productive a goat is. For this, it is enough to examine its general exterior, udder, hooves, teeth and some other parts of the body.
Body type
An average goat weighs 50-60 kg. Breeds characterized by a large physique produce more milk - their digestive system processes more feed, respectively, and higher milk yield than goats of medium build.
Dairy goats, unlike meat and downy goats, look thinner and more angular. Signs of a well-built dairy goat:
- chest is wide;
- neck - thin, medium length;
- ribs - long, convex;
- ass - wide, saggy;
- belly - voluminous;
- legs are widely set;
- the body is long, barrel-shaped, with a strong skeleton.
When choosing a goat, look at it from the side - the front and back of the body should be located on one straight line. And if you look from behind, you can clearly see the arched basin - tall and wide.
Udder and nipples
The udder of a productive goat is clearly visible when viewed from either side - front, side and back.
Signs of a good udder:
- form - bowl-or pear-shaped;
- hair is missing;
- elastic, not sagging - when pressed, resistance is felt;
- the skin is thin, elastic, hardening is absent;
- milk veins are well visible;
- after milking, the udder falls off, its skin gathers in small folds.
If the udder does not meet this description, the goat will not give a lot of milk. If the udder is large, it can hold and hold a lot of milk. Goats with a large udder are milked only 2 times a day. Too rounded udders indicate obesity, which is incompatible with high milk yield.
Inspecting the udder, pay attention to the nipples, they should be:
- resilient;
- cylindrical;
- medium size;
- directed slightly forward and to the sides.
It is strongly not recommended to buy a goat from which:
- small nipples;
- the nipples are turned inward;
- the udder dangles while walking;
- the udder is clearly divided into two parts.
Please note that there are serious defects in the nipples - there are extra, blind, double nipples, without holes.
Oral cavity
The teeth determine the age of the animal. If you do not understand the teeth of goats, you may be sold an old animal, from which in the future there will be no use. In total, the goat has 32 teeth. 6 teeth from each side - only 24 pieces. And 8 more incisors. The age of the animal is determined by evaluating the condition of the incisors.
How goat teeth develop:
- From birth to 10 days, hooks grow. These are milk cutters - 2 pieces. Then 6 more incisors grow. After a year, the first pair falls out - the molars grow wider than the first teeth.
- Every year, before reaching the age of three, a pair of incisors is changed. Up to 4 years, the last pair of extreme incisors is changed.
- Upon reaching 5 years of age, the teeth of goats begin to wear out, acquiring an oval shape.
- At 6 years old, the incisors are almost round, cracks appear between them.
- By the age of 7, teeth are erased, begin to stagger and fall out.
- After 7 years, the teeth become completely unusable. Instead of teeth there are only stumps. The animal cannot chew food normally.
Animal age
It is best to buy a goat that is 2-3 years old. Maximum milk production starts after 2-3 lambing. At the age of 6-7 years, milk yields fall. Determine the age of the animal by the teeth. An old animal, losing its teeth, is not able to chew quality food, and its content becomes disadvantageous.
Wool
Wool is an indicator by which only the state of health of an animal is determined, its appearance and length do not directly affect milk production. A healthy goat's hair is soft and shiny, not rough to the touch. If you choose between milk goats with different lengths of hair, then preference should be given to shorthair - it is easier to care for them. But in the northern regions, the best option is down-milk goats.
When choosing a wool or down goat, it is important to consider the productivity of their ancestors. Therefore, it is advisable to find out from the owners the genealogy of the candidates. They buy goats of wool and downy breeds before combing and haircuts.
Hooves
Goat hooves should be in order. Healthy animals do not limp, their hooves are strong and intact. Caring owners trim and process hooves on time. Otherwise, the goat is uncomfortable to walk, she will not be able to fully eat and drink, most of the time the animal tries to lie.
If the hooves are not trimmed, dirt accumulates in their torn horns, bacteria multiply. Animals can get hoof rot. Goats are bought only with clean and well-groomed hooves - otherwise you will not end up with problems. If the owners did not care about the hooves, then they could well underfeed the animal, which would certainly affect its productivity.
How to choose a kid?
Buying a kid, they are looking for active and healthy animals, with the right exterior. The kid’s weight should be age appropriate. Table 1 shows the dependence of weight on the age of the animal.
Table 1
Age months | Weight, kg |
1 | 8 |
2 | 12 |
3 | 17 |
4 | 21 |
5 | 26 |
6 | 28 |
7 | 30 |
8 | 33 |
9 | 35 |
10 | 37 |
11 | 40 |
12 | 42 |
Tips for choosing kids:
- You should not take kids younger than 3 weeks. Until this age, animals do not tolerate the road.
- The back should be flat, not sunken and not hunchbacked. Slight slack is permissible only in the Nubian breed.
- There are no flaws on the kid’s face. Especially narrow jaws - such a defect will not allow the animal to fully eat. Chewing narrow jaws, it will quickly get tired, which will lead to malnutrition and developmental delays.
- It is advisable to take dehydrated kids, since horns are a risk factor, animals can injure each other.
- Tail - upright or relaxed, but not drawn up.
- The chair is hard balls, diarrhea is not allowed.
- The setting of the hooves indicates the width of the chest. The arch between the hips should be wide enough - this is where the udder of the females will be located.
- Check to see if the animal has cones or other defects on the skin.
- Goats are always larger than goats, if a goat is smaller than a goat, or of the same size as it, it lags behind in development.
- When buying a goat, pay attention to its scrotum - normally the testicles are lowered the same distance and not retracted. Otherwise, the animal will be difficult to castrate.
The most popular goat breeds
During the breeding, selection has reached almost perfection - breeds that are almost perfect have been bred. They are very tenacious and almost not sick, can adapt to the most severe conditions, give a lot of milk - tasty, without a specific smell, which the products of less valuable breeds possess.
Zaanen goat
This is a large breed - animals reach 90 cm at the withers. Weight - up to 100 kg. Zaanentsi is the most popular dairy breed. They are famous for their fertility and productivity. Read more about this goat breed here.
Features of the Saanen breed:
- short white hair (cream subspecies is extremely rare);
- short horns;
- strong legs;
- wide skeleton;
- wide muzzle;
- strong long neck.
The female gives up to 700 liters of milk per year. Thanks to a balanced diet, milk yield can be increased by 500 liters. An important plus is that the coat has no unpleasant odor.
A record milk yield of the Saanen breed - 3507 kg, was established by a goat belonging to the German subspecies.
Russian white
An old breed, popular in the north and in the center of Russia. The weight of dairy goats reaches 50 kg. Lactation lasts 7 months.
Characteristic features of the Russian breed:
- color - white, has a beard;
- the length of the coat varies depending on the living conditions;
- annual productivity - 600 l of milk;
- give a lot of quality fluff;
- unpretentious to feed and maintenance;
- barrel-shaped body, small ears, nipples directed straight.
Megrelian
The breed was bred in Georgia. She is bred in a hot plateau. There are two subspecies of Megrelian goats - for mountains and foothills. The former are larger in size and weight. Mountain goats weigh up to 70 kg, their height - up to 60 cm. Foothill goats weigh 45-60 kg, but they are not inferior in productivity to the mountain subspecies.
Features of the Megrelian breed:
- productivity - up to 900 liters per year;
- during feeding, the female gives up to 350 liters of milk;
- unpretentious and non-aggressive;
- elongated body;
- the chest is wide;
- legs are straight;
- there is a small beard;
- very high immunity;
- the coat is light, coarse and short.
Megrel breed is often used for crossbreeding, as a carrier of extremely strong immunity.
Lamanchi
European breed, named after the Spanish province. Height - 75-95 cm. Goats weight - 60-70 kg, goats - 55-65 kg. Look here for more information about the La Mancha breed.
Features of the breed of goat lamancha:
- the body is powerful and strong;
- a distinctive feature is the Roman profile;
- goats can be kept for meat and milk;
- meat productivity - 70%;
- different color - black, white, red, brown, spotted;
- fat content of milk - 4%;
- milk productivity - 5-6 liters per day, maximum - 9 liters.
Nubian
Nubian goat breed bred in England. Demanding on the conditions of detention. The animals are large, at the withers - up to 74 cm. Weight - up to 80 kg. They are inferior in size and productivity to Zannensky goats. They have an unusual exterior - this is a very beautiful breed.
Features of the Nubian breed:
- color - a combination of black, white and brown;
- no unpleasant odor;
- the protein content in milk is 3.7%;
- animals are aggressive and mobile - it is recommended to burn young horn;
- milk yield during lactation - 3 liters per day, annual milk yield - at least 700 liters.
The main plus of the Nubian breed is delicious and fatty milk. Fat content reaches 4.5%.
Gorkovskaya
The breed was bred at the beginning of the 20th century. It has a very high milk productivity. The weight of males is 80 kg, goats 45 kg.
Features of the Gorky breed:
- productivity - up to 1200 liters per year;
- fat content of milk - 4-5.5%;
- color - white, gray;
- both sexes have horns;
- distinguished by high quality meat and skins;
- unpretentious in terms of content and feed;
- normal milk production begins only after the second lambing.
Toggenburg
The breed comes from Switzerland. The weight of the Toggenburg goats reaches 80 kg, the height is 65 cm. The color of the coat is gray or brown.
Features of the Toggenburg breed:
- the body is short, low set;
- legs are short, covered with long hair;
- productivity - from 600 to 900 liters per year;
- adapted to low temperatures.
Alpine
Alpine goats were bred about a hundred years ago in the French Alps. The weight of large individuals reaches 76 kg, the height at the withers - 77 cm. Lactation for about 7 months.
Features of the alpine goat breed:
- milk is not as fat as in other breeds, more similar in composition to human;
- milk has no smell;
- color - bay, dark, light;
- average productivity - 800 liters per year;
- show aggressiveness to representatives of other breeds;
- able to adapt to any conditions, but in adverse conditions lose productivity.
Czech brown
The ancestors of this breed are Alpine goats, French and Swiss. The weight of the male is up to 80 kg, and the female is up to 55 kg.
Features of the Czech brown breed:
- color - brown of different intensities, from brown to milk chocolate;
- distinguishing feature - black triangles behind the ears;
- They are distinguished by good intelligence - they know their nicknames, they can execute some commands;
- lactation - about 10 months;
- fat content of milk - 3.5%;
- 2-4 liters of milk per day are given; they can produce up to 1.5-2 tons of milk per year.
Motley German
This prolific breed has a long lifespan and rapid acclimatization. The weight of females is 50-70 kg, males can reach 100 kg.
Features of motley German breed:
- bring a few kids;
- color from dark to light brown;
- there is a black stripe on the back;
- come with horns and hornless;
- legs are straight;
- the body is elongated, the chest is wide;
- very developed udder, convenient for manual and mechanical milking;
- productivity - 700-1000 liters of milk per year;
- fat content - 3.5%.
Cameroon breed
This breed is native to Africa. The main difference of the breed is its small size and extremely tasty milk. Height not more than 0.5 m.
Features of the Cameroonian breed:
- productivity - about 2 liters of milk per day;
- milk is fatty and tasty;
- horns - bent;
- on the jaw - a small beard;
- adapt well to different conditions;
- undemanding in food;
- have strong immunity.
Rock Comparison Chart
When choosing a breed of goats, most often, buyers are guided by their productivity. It is especially important when choosing dairy and meat and dairy breeds. Comparison of milk productivity of the above breeds is in table 2.
You can get more information about how much milk a goat can give from this article.
table 2
Breed | The average daily milk yield, l | Average milk yield for lactation, l | The average annual milk yield, l | Fat% |
Alpine | 4 | 300-350 | 800-1200 | 3,5 |
Gorkovskaya | 1,2-1,3 | 145-300 | 500-1000 | 5 |
Zaanenskaya | 5 | 300 | 600-1200 | 4,5 |
Cameroon | 1-2 | 150 | 400-600 | 4,5-6 |
Lamanchi | 8 | 300 | 900-1000 | 4 |
Megrelian | 1-2 | 200-250 | 400-800 | 5 |
Motley German | 4-5 | 700-1000 | 850-1100 | 3,2-3,5 |
Nubian | 4-5 | 300 | 900-1000 | 4,5-8 |
Russian white | 2,5-3 | 300-550 | 500-600 | 4-5 |
Toggenburg | 2,5 | 700-800 | 1000-1500 | 3-4 |
Czech brown | 4-6 | 300-330 | 800-1000 | 3,5-4,5 |
Where to buy a good goat?
You can buy goats at any place where they are sold, but only specialized farms can guarantee the quality of the animals sold, their compliance with the breed.
When choosing between private sellers, the market, farms and pedigree farms, give preference to the last two. This is especially true if you are buying a valuable breed. So, for example, the cost of a Saanen female 3 months old is about 50,000 rubles. In order not to risk such amounts, contact breeders-farmers specializing in breeding livestock.
When choosing goats, you should not rush. Carefully analyze your capabilities - including financial, examine the signs of healthy animals, determine the breed, find a reliable seller, and only then go for live goods. The profitability of your entire enterprise depends on the right choice.
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