We have decided to include this section ( although we might be cutting our noses off to spite our faces ) because we feel that once you have experienced having goats on your land, you might decide to buy some for yourselves.

The herd we use for work is mainly Alpine cross breeds, each goat being carefully selected by us because of their docile and friendly nature. Because we keep our goats in family units, most of the groups are mothers and daughters, even grandaughters, sisters and aunts.

Below is a list of the most popular breeds here in the UK.

Part A is information about dairy breeds.

Part B is goats suitable as pets.

Part C for fibre goats.

Part D meat goats.

SECTION A......dairy

Anglo Nubian.  

The main identifying feature of this breed is the head, which has a pronounced “roman” nose and long drooping ears. The goat has a long deep body and an upright stance. The large number of colour variations, in the short silky coat, adds to the breeds’ attractions. The milk from this breed, is ideal for yoghurt and cheese making.

British Alpine  

This goat is black with white Swiss markings and has been developed in the UK. The goat should be rangy with a short fine goat. The overall effect is a most impressive animal when the black coat acquires its summer gloss. The breed can be highly individual in character and tends to be a breed for enthusiasts who like a challenge. ( not recommended for the first time goat keeper )

British Saanen 

This is a white goat, developed in the UK and largely influenced by imported Saanen goats. The white coat is short and fine, but freckles and patches of colour are allowed on the skin. Registered pure bred Saanens can be used with British Saanens and the progeny can still be registered as British Saanen. Goats of this breed have longer legs than the Saanen, and are heavier. Generally they have calm natures with high yields and long lactations. It is a popular breed for those requiring high production of liquid milk throughout the year and where large groups of goats may be housed together. For these reasons the British Saanen forms the foundation breeding stock for some large goat farms in the UK, where liquid milk sales are the main objective.

British Toggenburg 

This is a brown and white goat with Swiss markings and developed in the UK. A medium brown colour is the ideal, but lighter and darker colours are acceptable. Registered pure bred Toggenburgs can be used with British Toggenburgs and progeny can still be registered as British Toggenburgs. Slight fringes of long hair are allowed on an otherwise short and silky coat. British Toggenburgs usually have sound dairy conformation as well as being strong and robust, having good longevity. The breed is one of the most popular breeds in the UK and is used in some commercial goat farms where cheese is a main product. 

Golden Guernsey  

The Golden Guernsey, as the name implies, is a golden colour with medium gold being the most common, but the golden colour can vary from a pale blonde to a deep bronze. The length of a coat can vary considerably, but generally there is some fringing. The Golden Guernsey was first imported to England in 1965 and a closed Herd Book is used for registration, but the British Guernsey is a breed being created from other breeds by the continual use of Golden Guernsey males on successive generations of female progeny. Swiss markings are forbidden in both breeds, but small white markings are allowed. Golden Guernsey goats are smaller than the British dairy breeds, fine boned, and are generally quiet and docile. In many respects they are ideal “household” goats. They have a good yield when this is related to their size, and quite sufficient for most households. The milk is relatively high in fat and protein to make it suitable for yoghurt and cheese.  

SECTION B......pets

People are sometimes wary of having goats as pets. They have a bad reputation of eating everything, including clothes off the washing line, roses, and vegetables. And of course this is true, but with a little forward planning all this can be avoided. Most goats can be kept as pets, although i never recommend having just one goat. It is always better to have two or more, as goats are very social creatures, and one goat on it's own will become very depressed, and will demand your attention most of the time.

Pygmy goats  

The Pygmy Goat Club has set breed standards regarding size and type, and organises show classes for Pygmy goats. It has its own registration and pedigree system aimed at improvement by selective breeding. Basically the adult Pygmy has a maximum height at the withers of approximately 56 cm for males, less for females, short legs and cobby bodies that give an impression of perpetual pregnancy. They can be any colour except completely white, with white Swiss markings on the face not allowed. 

They are generally quiet and docile, but there is some variation, as one would expect with goats. 

Housing requirements are less demanding than for the dairy breeds, since the goats are so much smaller. Kids are reared on the dams, so milking is only rarely necessary. Castrated males (wethers) make ideal pets, but entire males should not be kept unless separate accommodation can be provided for them. The goats like company, so keeping single Pygmies should be avoided. 

Boer    

I have included the Boer goat in this section, although they are primarily meat goats, because of their docile temperment.

The Boer goat is a specialist meat goat that originates in South Africa, where its ability to produce excellent carcase conformation coupled with a fast growth rate has been improved over many years. UK Boers were imported from Europe in the late 1980`s, although 2000 has seen new importations from Canada and New Zealand to strengthen the genetic pool (EEC regulations do not allow direct imports from South Africa).

Boers are docile by nature, despite their size and graze well. Adult bucks can reach 150 Kg., and does 100 Kg. Boer bucks can be used as terminal sires to improve meat  carcases from dairy does.

SECTION C......fibre goats

Angora    

Angora goats produce MOHAIR, which should not be confused with Angora wool, which comes from Angora rabbits 

While other goats are double-coated, i.e. they have coarse outer hairs and an under-down; Angora goats are the only single-coated breed. The presence of any coarse hairs, known as kemp and medullated fibres, are faults.  

Mohair is a fine luxurious fibre, which can readily be dyed to brilliant colours. It is sometimes referred to as the "diamond fibre" because of its lustre and hardwearing properties. It is often blended with other natural fibres to produce yarns and textiles. Angora goats are sheared twice a year, usually in January and late summer. As the fleece grows, it forms "ringlets" or staples, due to a spiral twist known as style and a crimp known as character. The length, lustre, density, quality, fineness and evenness of the fleece are all-important, a product of heredity and management.  As well as Angora goat classes at shows, fleece competitions are held, and craft competitions at which beautiful garments of the highest standard may be seen. Angora goats require plenty of forage in their diet, and adequate housing after shearing and around kidding time.

Cashmere    

Cashmere is the down produced by the skin’s secondary hair follicles, which grows in response to decreasing day-length, thus protecting the goat from the winter cold much more efficiently than do the guard-hairs produced by the primary hair follicles (these coarser hairs make up the visible coat of the animal). Thus the word “cashmere” describes the down, not the goat, and many goats have the genetic makeup that enables them to produce down. 

SECTION D   ....meat goats.

Although all goat meat can be eaten, and is, ( it is the most popular meat throughout the world ) there are  breeds of goat that have been specifially bred for meat production. They have shorter legs and larger bodies.

Boer goat....... see section B.

Anglo Nubian.....see section A

Pygmy ...see section B.

For more information on goats, goat breeds, and goat breeders please see the relevant websites for each breed, or see the British Goat Society website.