How to choose a goat: rules and the most popular breeds, productivity table
Goats are bred to solve different problems - to obtain milk, wool or fluff. When buying an animal, novice farmers are often interested in: how to choose the right goat? To acquire a he althy 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
Acquiring 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 dairy 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, 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. If this does not happen, the purchase will have to be abandoned.
Woolen
To buy a good wool goat, you should pay attention to its physique. Pedigree animals have a large body, a large chest, a wide loin. The legs should be straight and powerful, and the back should be level.
Meat
Meat breeds are characterized by a small udder, which is located quite high. These goats give a minimum of milk. This amount is only enough to feed the goats. Meat breeds are characterized by a large belly. They also have a barrel-shaped body with rounded sides.
What to look out for
In order to acquire a he althy goat with high productivity parameters, it is recommended to take into account a number of features.
Physique
A normal goat weighs 50-60 kilograms. A larger animal will produce more milk. This is due to the voluminous digestive system, which is able to absorb more food. The physique of goats is different, taking into account the purpose of the breed. Dairy individuals are considered thin. Harmoniously built goat has a wide chest.
It also has long bulging ribs.
Udders and teats
When buying a goat, it is recommended to carefully examine the udder. It should be visible from all sides. A good udder does not hang, is cup-shaped and hairless. To the touch, it should be quite elastic and hard to squeeze. From above, the udder is covered with thin skin and milk veins. When examining the udder, the appearance of the teats should also be taken into account. They should be elastic, medium in size and cylindrical in shape.
Oral cavity
It is possible to determine the age of the animal by the condition of the oral cavity. In total, a goat has 32 teeth. To determine her age, it is worth considering the following features:
- from birth to 10 days, hooks develop - they are 2 milk incisors;
- then develop 6 more incisors;
- after a year, the first 2 teeth fall out, and the growth of indigenous units begins;
- 2 incisors are replaced every year until the age of three;
- up to 4 years, the last pair of extreme incisors changes;
- at 5 years old, teeth wear out, becoming oval;
- incisors become almost round at 6 years old;
- at the age of 7, the teeth become loose and fall out.
Age of animal
The right time to buy an animal is 2-3 years old. A goat gives maximum milk after 2-3 lambing. At 6-7 years old, its volume decreases sharply.
Wool
By the appearance of wool it is possible to assess the state of he alth. The appearance and length of the cover do not affect the parameters of milk production. A he althy goat has a soft coat that is shiny. At the same time, pets with short hair are easier to care for.
Hooves
He althy goats shouldn't limp. They are distinguished by powerful hooves without damage. It is important to cut and treat hooves in a timely manner. Otherwise, it will be difficult for the pet to move around. He won't be able to eat or drink normally. Such an animal will constantly try to lie down.
Goats should only be purchased with well-groomed hooves. If this rule is violated, there is a risk of various problems.
Most popular breeds
There are many common breeds, each of which is characterized by certain performance parameters and appearance. In Russia, the most popular varieties include:
- Saanen - is considered the most outstanding dairy breed. These goats are characterized by their large size and can weigh up to 90 kilograms. The lactation period lasts up to 11 months. It is possible to get up to 800-1000 liters of milk per year.
- 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 kids are born in one lamb.
- Gorkovskaya - the breed was bred in the first half of the twentieth century. Males weigh 80 kilograms, females - 45.It is possible to get 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.
- 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. Babies put on weight quickly. Therefore, representatives of this breed are considered meat and dairy.
Comparison table of breed productivity
When choosing a breed, it is worth considering productivity parameters. They are shown in the table:
| Breed | Milk milk per day, liters | Milk per lactation, liters | Milk per year, liters | Fat, % |
| Alpine | 4 | 350 | 800-1200 | 3,5 |
| Zaanenskaya | 5 | 300 | 600-1200 | 4.5 |
| Lamancha | 8300 | 900-1000 | 4 | |
| 4-5 | 300 | 900 -1000 | 4,5-8 | |
| 1- 2 | 250 | 400-800 | 5 | |
| 4-5 | 700-1000 | 850-1100 | 3.5 | |
| 2.5 | 750 | 1000-1500 | 4-6 |
Choosing a goat is a rather complicated and responsible undertaking. To acquire a he althy and productive animal, it is recommended to focus on a number of criteria. These include body type, udder appearance, age, coat condition.
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