Different Types of Goats

Not all goats are the same. There are different breeds and types are they are used for different purposes. Some are bred specifically for meat while others are used mainly for milk production. Others still are used mainly as show goats or to enter into fairs and contests.

The Pygmy goat, Cashmere goat, Mountain goat, Dairy goat and Boer goats are some of the most well-known types and breeds.  We will discuss each of them below and provide information on each, specifically what they generally used for, information about their appearance, personality and temperament.

Pygmy Goats

Pygmy Goats are mostly utilized as show goats. People often take them show them off at fairs and enter them into contests.  These goats provide really good companionship and they may make really good pets especially for kids. They are playful, cuddly and easy to take care of.  They are not as big dairy goats but they are of decent size.  They do produce some milk, though not in huge quantities. These goats can also be used for meat, however meat and milk production are not typically their primary uses.

Dairy Goats

Dairy goats are bred and raised ways to produce milk. They also make nice companions and can be used as show goats.  There are different types of dairy goats, they include Saanens, Nubians, Toggenburgs, La Manchas, Oberhaslis and Alpines. The Saanens are typically white in color and produce a lot of milk.  The Nubian dairy goats’ milk generally has a lot of protein and butterfat. Togenburgs are another type of dairy goat. These are used by many dairies because they produce a lot of milk which is of high quality.   Le Manchas are another type of Dairy goat that is known for their small ears.  Oberhaslis are small to medium-sized. You can find a lot of them on dairies farms as well.  Alpines dairy goats produce a lot of milk and are fairly large in size.

Nigerian Dwarf Goats

The Nigerian Dwarf goats were originally brought over to the US as food for lions and other large cats. They are now popular as hobby and show goats. The ADGA goat show association considers them as dairy goats. These miniature goats produce surprizing quantities of milk for their size, up to 8 pounds of milk per day to be exact. It is easier to get them to produce milk because they breed all year round and so with a small herd, you can always have some of them giving milk at all times.

Cashmere Goats

Cashmere goats are not actually a breed. They are a type of goat.  People use to hair of cashmere producing goats as clothing because it is extremely soft and luxurious. These types of goats can also produce milk and can be used for meat and so they have many great uses. A quick note: The coat of most goats can be used for cashmere.

Mountain Goats

Mountain goats are white and sometimes yellow depending on the season.  They have long thick hair in the winter which they shed some in the summer.

Boer Goats

Boer Goats are from South Africa. This is where they were originally developed and bred. They are light in appearance and have a red head.  Boer goats are very costly and can be priced any where between $10,000 and $50,000.  Right now, the demand for them is very high and they are extremely popular among goat owners.

The Boer goat was developed and bred in the early 1900s for meat. This breed grows very fast, is able to live in a number of different environments and is very fertile. All of these attributes make them very attractive to those who already own goats or who are interesting in purchasing them. The meat Boer goats produce is red, of distinct quality and very lean.

That's about all I got for today. I hope this article gave you some good information on the types of goats there are for you to choose from. Feel free to copy/paste this link and email it to anybody you know that might be able to use this info.

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Until next time,

Valik Rudd
Fellow Goats Raising Enthusiast
RaisingGoatsGuide.com

Related articles:

Where to Buy Goats
Goats History

Photo Credits:
Saanen Goat: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Saanenziege.jpg
Cashmere Goats: http://www.flickr.com/photos/paulesson/2353307653/
Mountain Goat: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Mountain_goat.jpg
Boer Goat: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Boerbok.jpg
Nigerian Dwarf Goat: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Nigerian_Dwarf_Goat_001.jpg
Toggenburg Goat: http://tehuafarm.com/pluck/index.php?file=kop1.php
LaMancha Goat: http://www.nvdga.org/2008NVDGAShowResultsBozzo-BaldenegroSrDoe.htm
Oberhasli Goat: http://www.missouridairygoats.com/oberhasli-goats.htm
Alpine Goat: http://www.dardyacres.com/alpine_senior_does

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