Meat breeds of goats: top 5 with descriptions and characteristics, content rules

Meat breed goats are grown to produce dietary meat that is not inferior in taste to veal. Pedigree animals are distinguished by their large weight, large / medium build. Fast weight gain does not require special feed additives. A feature of goats is the use of a large amount of branch feed. In goat breeding, animals of mixed productivity are also used: meat-dairy, meat-fur.

General characteristics of meat breeds

Goats of meat breeds, in contrast to dairy, down and wool, are larger and more massive. The body of such goats has a barrel-shaped shape, a small, highly raised udder.Goat meat is dietary: it has little fat, but it is juicy and tender, has no specific flavor.

Fatty milk, up to 6%, but rarely eaten, as it is used to fatten newborn kids. The lactation period is short. The skin is hairless, rough. Animals are intelligent and independent.

Most popular breeds

Meat breeds of goats are valued and bred in many countries of Europe, North America, Africa, Asia.

Boer

One of the most popular breeds developed in South Africa in the 19th century.

Pros and conshigh productivity (slaughter weight of males - about 135 kilograms, females - about 100 kilograms);multiple pregnancy during lambing (2 kids annually, starting from the second pregnancy);good immunity;tender meat resembling veal;unpretentiousness to the conditions of detention;calm, accommodating nature.

Outwardly, the animals are distinguished by a strong physique with well-developed muscles, wide horns of medium length, hanging ears. Shorthair, white body, dark brown neck and head.

A newborn goat with a weight of 4 kilograms after 3 months has about 40 kilograms. Mating can be allowed at 5 months. Boer goats are friendly to other animals. They can be kept in the same room and in the pasture with other ungulates.

Problems in Breeding:

• insufficient lactation to feed kids;
• features of maintenance in winter.

Boer goats after lambing briefly give no more than 2 liters of milk per day, which is not enough for two kids. The kids are supplemented with cow's milk or milk formula.

Animals tolerate temperatures well up to +5 degrees, but they start to get sick if the air humidity exceeds 80%. In winter, the floor in the goat house should be covered with a thick layer of sawdust so that the goats do not catch a cold.

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Kiko

Breed bred in New Zealand in the 80s of the last century, with special qualities of meat (without fat). Animals have a strong skeleton, well-developed muscles. The head is dry, with hanging ears. Goats differ from goats in size, weight (50 versus 70/90 kilograms), as well as horns (in goats they are much longer and thicker) and the absence of a beard.

Pros and consproductivity;multiple pregnancy;lean meat;unpretentiousness to maintenance and care (mountain pastures are well tolerated);good immunity;no problem with legs.incompatibility with other animals;goat aggressiveness.

Females have enough milk to feed two/three cubs.

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Greek

The goats of the Greek breed have a medium-sized torso on thin, high legs with strong hooves. The head is dry, elongated, on a long neck, with hanging ears. The horns are straight, parallel to the back. Hair on thighs and flanks is thicker and longer.

Painting solid or multicolor:

• white;
• grey;
• black;
• white-grey;
• gray-black;
• white-black-grey.

Meat high in fat, juicy and tender. During the lactation period, 100 liters of milk can be obtained from animals, which is in great demand. A national Greek dish (brynza) is prepared from it.

Pros and consaverage weight 40/50 kilograms;obtaining milk for cheese;undemanding to feed and maintenance.eats and tramples young shoots;eats the bark of old ones.

Animals are raised on free grazing.

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Black Anatolian

The breed has a genetic relationship with the Syrian breeds. Anatolian blacks are predominantly bred in the mountainous regions of Turkey, the Mediterranean.Lean meat and quality skins with long black fur and thick undercoat are obtained from animals. The weight of males reaches 80 kilograms, goats - up to 50 kilograms.

External signs of the breed:

• medium size;
• long and wide ears;
• spiral wide horns and beard in males;
• long and thick hairline.

Pros and consundemanding to weather conditions and food base;obtaining meat and fur products;multiple pregnancy (up to 3 kids);calm disposition.permanent hair care.

Long hair becomes tangled, soiled, and an unpleasant smell begins to emanate from animals.

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Nubian

Breed of meat and dairy direction. The weight of goats can reach up to 175 kilograms (for a female, 55 kilograms). Goats after repeated lambing for 13 months of lactation give from 800 to 1000 liters of milk with a fat content of up to 4.5%. Nubian goats are hornless, with long floppy ears.

Pros and consbig weight;high milk yield;there is no goat smell;tender meat.demanding care;does not tolerate the neighborhood of other pets.

Nubian goats are only raised on private farms.

I like 1 I don't like 1Final ranking tableBoeroneKikoGreekBlack AnatolianNubian

Basic rules for keeping and breeding

Goats need free range in a pasture or in a spacious paddock. Single individuals can be left to graze on a leash, providing a secure fastening that the goat cannot chew.

At night, especially during the cold period, they need shelter from rain and snow: flooring under a canopy or barn.

Animals of all ages should be provided with constant access to fresh water on pasture and indoors. The forage base of goats consists of hay, grain additives, twigs, dry leaves, and bark. When grazing, goats choose their own diet. When kept in a corral and indoors, goats should receive mainly hay, with the obligatory content of alfalfa, red clover. Feeders and drinkers must be clean, otherwise the goats will not eat food and drink water.

For pregnant goats arrange a separate, secluded place with warm bedding. Most domestic ungulates catch cold from cold flooring. For the winter, it should be covered with a layer of sawdust or straw.

Essential Dietary Supplements:

• iodized s alt (often);
• containing copper (2 times a year);
• selenium (once a year);
• yogurt (once a week).

Deworming required annually.

Benefits of beef goat breeding in Russia

From the cost of feed, care, maintenance, taking into account the profit from meat products, goat breeding is more efficient than other domestic animals.

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