How to choose the right goat and popular breeds, productivity table

Goats are bred for different tasks - for milk, wool or fluff. When buying an animal, novice farmers are often interested in: how to choose the right goat? In order to acquire a healthy and productive animal, it is recommended to take into account the appearance and behavior. In this case, you should definitely focus on the main purpose of the breed.

The subtleties of buying goats

Buying a goat is considered a very difficult task. This is especially true for beginners. There are many nuances that you should definitely consider.

Dairy

To buy a milking goat for milk, it is recommended to take into account a number of indicators. These include age, physique, physical condition. For personal purposes, it is worth using young goats that have a proportional physique. They should have strong straight legs, an elongated barrel-shaped body, and a wide chest.

To assess productivity, you should focus on the veins and the milk well. When buying an adult animal, it is recommended to milk it. After this procedure, the udder should fall off. If this does not happen, you will have to refuse the purchase.

Wool

To buy a good wool goat, you should pay attention to its physique. Pedigree animals have a large body, a large chest, and a wide loin. The legs should be straight and strong and the back should be straight.

Meat

Meat breeds are characterized by a small udder that is set quite high. These goats produce a minimum of milk. This amount is enough only for feeding the kids. Beef breeds are characterized by a large belly. They also have a barrel-shaped body with rounded sides.

What to look for

To get a healthy goat with high performance parameters, it is recommended to take into account a number of features.

Body type

Normally, a goat weighs 50-60 kilograms. A larger animal will produce more milk. This is due to the voluminous digestive system, which is capable of absorbing more feed. The constitution of goats differs according to the purpose of the breed. Dairy specimens are considered thin. A harmoniously folded goat has a wide chest.

It also has long convex ribs.

Udder and nipples

When buying a goat, it is recommended to carefully examine the udder. It should be clearly visible from all sides. A good udder does not hang, is bowl-shaped and has no hair. It should be sufficiently elastic to the touch and squeeze with difficulty. The top of the udder is covered with thin skin and milk veins. When examining the udder, consider the appearance of the teats.They should be elastic, medium in size and cylindrical.

Oral cavity

According to the state of the oral cavity, it is possible to determine the age of the animal. In total, the goat has 32 teeth. To determine her age, it is worth considering the following features:

• from the moment of birth to 10 days, hooks develop - they represent 2 milk incisors;
• then 6 more incisors develop;
• a year later, the first 2 teeth fall out, and the growth of the root units begins;
• every year up to the age of three, 2 incisors are replaced;
• up to 4 years old, the last pair of extreme incisors changes;
• at the age of 5, the teeth wear out, becoming oval;
• at 6 years old, the incisors become almost round;
• at 7 years of age, dental units loosen and fall out.

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Animal age

A good time to buy an animal is 2-3 years. The goat gives maximum milk after 2-3 lambing. At 6-7 years old, its volume decreases sharply.

Wool

By the appearance of the coat, it is possible to assess the state of health. Milk yield parameters are not affected by the appearance and length of the cover. A healthy goat has a soft coat that is shiny. At the same time, pets with short hair are easier to care for.

Hooves

Healthy goats shouldn't limp. They are distinguished by powerful hooves without damage. It is important to trim and treat the hooves in a timely manner. Otherwise, it will be difficult for the pet to move. He will not be able to eat and drink normally. Such an animal will constantly try to lie down.

Most popular breeds

There are many common breeds, each with specific performance parameters and appearance. In Russia, the most popular varieties include:

1. Zaanenskaya - is considered the most outstanding dairy breed. These goats are large in size and can weigh up to 90 kilograms. The lactation period lasts up to 11 months. Up to 800-1000 liters of milk can be obtained per year.
2. The Toggenburg is a popular Swiss breed. Adult females weigh 55 kilograms, goats - 70. During lactation, they are able to bring up to 1 centner of milk. Its fat content is 3-8%. 2-3 goats are born in one lamb.
3. Gorkovskaya - the breed was developed in the first half of the twentieth century. Males weigh 80 kilograms, females - 45. It is possible to obtain up to 1200 liters of milk per year, the fat content of which is 4-5.5%. Animals are white or gray in color. They are characterized by high quality meat and undemanding conditions of detention.
4. Nubian - characterized by rapid weight gain. An adult female weighs 50 kilograms, a male - twice as much. The lactation period lasts 10 months. During this time, it is possible to obtain 1000-1200 kilograms of milk. Its fat content reaches 4.5-8%. Females give birth to 2-3 kids. Cubs gain weight quickly. Therefore, representatives of this breed are considered meat and dairy.

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Comparative table of breed productivity

When choosing a breed, it is worth considering the productivity parameters. They are shown in the table:

Choosing a goat is a rather difficult and responsible event. In order to acquire a healthy and productive animal, it is recommended to focus on a number of criteria. These include physique features, the appearance of the udder, age, condition of the coat.