June 2005 Goat Breed
Appenzell

Appearance: The Appenzell Goat is a pure white goat with mid-length hair. It has a powerful, harmoniously built body. The limbs are powerful and well positioned. The body is somewhat broader than that of the Saanen and therefore somewhat smaller. This goat is bred hornless. The height of the whithers is said to be 75 to 85 cm with bucks, and 70 to 80 cm with the nannies. The male animals are on average 65 kg in weight, and the female approx. 45 kg.

Characteristics: In milk production the Appenzell Goat is on par with the other breeds: during lactation between 700 and 800 kg, fat 2.9%, protein 2,7%, lactation duration 270 days. As is generally known, milk production is heavily influenced by care. The number of herd book animals is around 800; the stock is slowly increasing again. This breed was very heavily affected by the CAE-Virus, so that extensive restoration had to be done. Today the breed is essentially CAE-free.

links:

http://www.tiho-hannover.de/einricht/zucht/eaap/descript/303.htm

http://www.appenzell.ch/d/index.php

September '04 Periodical on Goat Breeds
Boer Goat

The name Boer translates to English as "farmer".
Called the Improved Boer Goat in its country of origin, the Republic of South Africa, the Boer goat was developed solely for meat production under just about any range condition.
Many Americans embraced the bred when it was imported into the United States starting in 1993 as a way to improve existing meat goat herds.
Boer goats range in color from solid red to almost completely white. The most preferred and widely recognized color pattern is a white body with dark cherry red neck and head with a blaze on the face. The ears are long and pendulous. Both sexes are horned.
Mature Boer does can weigh up to 225 pounds.
Mature Boer bucks can weigh up to 300+ pounds.
Birth weight for Boer kids range from 6 pounds to 15 pounds. Preweaning average daily gains can exceed .5 pounds.
Boer goats are also known to be "gentle giants" for their laid back attitudes.

August '04 Periodical on Goat Breeds -
Valais Blackneck

Other Common Names: Col Noir de Valais, Valaisan a col noir, Walliser Schwarzhals, Schwarzweisse Walliser Sattelziege, Vallesana del collo nero, Vallese, Chevre des Glaciers, Valais Blackthroat, Viege

Scientific Name: Capra hircus (Full Taxonomy)

Group: White and Black

Origin or Range: Switzerland

Animal Description:

A truly international breed, the Valais Blackneck Goat is also known in various countries as the Col Noir de Valais, Valaisan a Col Noir, Viege, Chevre des Glaciers, Walliser Schwarzhals, Schwarzweisse Walliser Sattelziege, Vallesana del Collo Nero, Vallese or Valais Blackthroat. Such an international following must surely indicate a highly valued animal!

The Valais Blackneck Goat has traditionally been kept by transhumant pastoralists and is a hardy mountain breed. These goats are efficient grazers who flourish even on poor or scarce ranges. Valais Blacknecks are also extremely hardy, able to tolerate wet or cold climes!

At maturity, a Valais Blackneck buck usually stands 80 centimeters at the withers and weighs around 70 kilograms. Does are shorter at around 75 centimeters and weighing 50 kilograms. They have long, wavy hair and arched, medium length horns. The Valais Blackneck gets its name from its striking coloration. While the goat's body is white from the shoulders back, the head and neck and occasionally the front legs are solid black. The line between the two colors is well defined and impressive. Although Valais Blackneck Goats will produce about 500 kilograms of milk in a 210-day lactation, they are more often used for meat production. The carcass is nicely lean and the muscling is moderately thick. Both the Valais Blackneck's milk and meat productions are extremely impressive given the poor and limited nature of its food intake!

Developed from indigenous goats crossed with Kupferziege goats and improved by selective breeding, the Valais Blackneck has been valued for years. The herd book was established in 1920 and today, apart from the milk and meat qualities of the Valais Blackneck, these goats are valued for their beauty and raised by hobbyists!
Specific Care Information: Relative Care Ease: Average

Although Valais Blackneck Goats are generally kept in mountain pastures, they should be stabled for the coldest two to six months of the year. While grazing, they usually do not need supplemented feed, but in the winter should be offered grass and fodder. They are agile, surefooted and well adapted to the mountains. Valais Blackneck Goats do not have the CAE Virus.
Breeding and Propagation: Relative Breeding Ease: Average

Valais Blackneck Goats reach sexual maturity at an average age and are at their reproductive prime at two and a half years of age. Their litter sizes are average and the kids are hardy, although they have lower rates of gain than do most breeds' young.

July '04 Periodical on Goat Breeds -
Tennessee fainting goats

Myotonic goats are also called Wooden Leg goats, "stiff leg" or Tennessee fainting goats. These are one of the few goats that are indigenous to the U.S. There are two strains of this animal. Most of those found in Tennessee and the eastern U.S. are smaller. Most Texas herds tend to be somewhat larger, probably due to selective breeding for the meat market. In fact, some ranchers have renamed them Tennessee Meat Goats.

They also have a market as pets because they are unique. Myotonic means when they are frightened or excited they "lock up" and often fall over (faint) and lie very stiff for a few seconds. It is an over-simplification, but the chemicals which are rushed to humans' muscles and joints to prepare them for "fight or flight" are withheld in the Myotonic under exciting or frightful circumstances.

No one really knows their origin. There are two theories. One of the possibilities is that a private herd sold to a Tennessee farmer around 1880 was the beginning of the breed. A man named John Tinsley arrived in Marshall County, Tennessee, with four goats, a billy and three nannies, which he had brought from Nova Scotia. When he moved on a year later, he left his goats behind. It is believed that all the Fainting goats in the U.S. can trace their orgins back to these four.

The other is that there was a spontaneous mutation of a herd in Tennessee about 1885 which resulted in the recessive gene.

Myotonic goats which have been selected for meat production are heavy rumped, deep chested animals. Most are black and white but multi colors are not uncommon. They breed aseasonally, are easy kidders and have good milk production. Many breeders have noted the breed has the capability to produce two kiddings a year. They are good mothers so in most cases a bonding pen is not needed. Since they are not good climbers and jumpers they are somewhat easier to keep than other goats.

The American Livestock Breed Conservancy has placed this breed of goat on their "rare" list, with an estimated world population of under 10,000. They have now been discovered as excellent crossbreed stock for the Boer goat, a meat goat which was imported from South Africa. The "fainting" gene is recessive, therefore it is usually not expressed in crossbred animals.

American Meat Goat Association
PO Box 498
Mertzon, TX 76941
Phone: (915) 835-2605
FAX: (915) 835-2259

International Fainting Goat Association
Registrar Ruth Prentice
3450 230th St.
Terrill, IA 51364-7510
712/853-6372 or
Barbara Roberts, Secreatary / Treasurer, broberts@portup.com

American Tennessee Fainting Goat Association
383 N. Kalbaugh St.
Ramona, CA 92065

links -

http://www.tennesseemeatgoats.com/myotonic.htm
http://www.centralpets.com/pages/critterpages/mammals/goats/GOT5072.shtml
http://goatranchers.com/coyhis.html
http://faintinggoatheaven.tripod.com/MyotoniaInAction.html

June '04 Periodical on Goat Breeds - Rove

Origin and cattle-breeding area

It is the ROVE, small village close to Marseilles, which gave its name to this race of aesthetic and rustic goat's milk cheeses, made famous for its cheese: THE BUSH OF THE ROVE.

The body is muscular and the hairs are course. The triangular head, to the long and tilted ears forwards, carries high horns of compressed section which go up in spiral in the axis of the chamfer.

This race is mainly high in the area Provence - the Alps - Riviera. Manpower are about 1500 goats.

Aptitudes and uses

Used since always guiding the herds of sheep (Merino of Arles) transhumants towards the mountain pastures, it is distinguished as well in cheese-making production (gold medal of Pelardon in Nimes in 1994) as to raise its kids and orphan lambs. There are raised significant herds today in an extensive way.

Its aptitude to meet its needs on course in fact a goat at the reduced production cost. It contributes thus to the safeguard of our environment (clearing of undergrowth, fire control).

The goat of the ROVE is used in crossing to improve conformation of the kids.

May '04 Periodical on Goat Breeds - Erzgebirge

The first herdbook for this breed was written in 1936. These were/are raised in Germany.

From what I can tell this is a fairly endangered goat breed. There are only 150 breeding females currently.

External characteristics:
Coat colour:
- Multicoloured: red, brown
- Special characteristics: black face and black stripe, black legs
Skin colour: miss
Typical number of horns (males, females): 0, 0
Usual hair and/or wool classification: miss
Adult animals (males/females): Withers height: miss / miss cm; Live weight: 73 / 53 kg;

There isnt alot of information about this breed. I will continue to look into this and try to accumulate more information. I will contact the current breeder and see if I can get the "poop" on them.

April '04 Periodical on Goat Breeds- Kiko

Background

The Kiko goat was developed exclusively by Goatex Group LLC, a New Zealand corporation which has been solely responsible for the breeding of Kiko goats in New Zealand. The corporation was originally a consortium of large farmers who were actively involved in the capture and farming of New Zealand's extensive native goat population for the purposes of upgrading for fiber production. All members of the consortium had a vigorous and ongoing interest in meat production as a consequence of which several thousand of the most substantial and fertile native goats were allocated to a breeding program in which population dynamics would be rigorously applied to produce a goat with enhanced meat production ability under browse conditions.

Selection parameters and production traits

http://www.kikogoats.com/BASESOFS.HTM

American Kiko Goat Association - http://www.kikogoats.com/AKGA.HTM

Meat production - http://www.kikogoats.com/MEATPROD.HTM

March '04 Periodical on Goat Breeds - Golden Guernsey

UK population: 403 breeding females, 1997 survey
Breed society: Golden Guernsey Goat Society, Brambles, Green Lane, Pamber Green, Basingstoke, Hants, RG26 6AD. Tel: 01256 850410.

http://www.goldenguernseygoat.org.uk/

ON GUERNSEY, CHANNEL ISLANDS

This attractive animal from the Bailiwick of Guernsey in the Channel Islands, has grown in popularity as a useful household goat with a pleasant temperament and steady yield.

Its origin is uncertain though golden goats have been in the Bailiwick for many years. It is not certain how long goats have been on Guernsey, but fine boned skeletons of goats were found close to the Dolmens, megalithic burial grounds some 2000 BC.

The first documented evidence is found in an old guidebook to the island in 1826 when the golden cow, golden goat and golden donkey were all mentioned. At this time it was common practice for ships to carry goats on sea journeys to provide fresh milk for passengers. When they reached a port these goats were put ashore. It is thought that Golden Guernseys originated from Maltese goats descended from various breeds including Chamoisee and Syrian, the latter being golden coloured with tipped up ears. However, the Maltese goats were crossed with local Channel Island goats and occasionally a golden kid would crop up. It was these goats of unknown ancestry who qualified for the early Register on account of their colour. Registration on the Island first started in 1922 in the Guernsey Goat Society’s general herd book.

There were always golden goats on the Island with several breeders developing and maintaining the breed. During the German occupation, although the GGS disbanded for the 5 year period, Golden Guernseys were still being registered. One of the most well known ones was Miss Milbourne of L’Ancresse, Guernsey, who kept a large herd (50+) goats that browsed on L’Ancresse common (now a golf course!) and played an important part in reviving the breed in the 1930’s, encouraged by Dr. Tracey, a British Goat Society Judge. She managed to retain her flock during the occupation and on her death her animals passed into the care of a trust – now disbanded.

In 1965 the Guernsey Goat Society opened a special section of the herd book for the Golden Guernsey as they were breeding true to type. In 1972 the Golden Guernsey Goat Association was started, now known as the Golden Guernsey Goat Breed Society. The objectives of the Society are to encourage the keeping of Golden Guernsey Goats in the Bailiwick of Guernsey, to retain the purity of this unique breed, to lay down rules and regulations and eliminate incipient bad points, to improve the milk yield, conformation and longevity factors, to provide an Island based authority on this local breed, to advise owners and breeders throughout the world.

The Golden Guernsey Goat is distinguished by its golden skin and hair, which can be of some length along the back and down the hind legs. There is some variation in golden colour allowed and small white markings and blaize or star on head, but no Swiss markings. It is fine boned with a straight or slightly dished facial line, the ears have a slight upturn at the tip and the neck is slender. It is a fairly small goat, males weighing 190-200 lbs and females 120-130 lbs. Conformation is neat and pleasing.

The milk yield is steady with good butterfats. Its reliability in food conversion and placid temperament make it an economic proposition as a family animal.

IN THE BRITISH ISLES

In 1965 the first goats were exported from the Bailiwick to breeders on the mainland and have continued over the years. The English Golden Guernsey Club was formed, now known as the Golden Guernsey Goat Society.

In 1970 the British Goat Society opened a Breed Register for the Golden Guernsey in its Herd Book.

In 1973 The Rare Breeds Survival Trust was established and the Golden Guernsey was and still is included on their Priority List in Category 3 (Vulnerable).

The dangers that especially threaten minority breeds are the narrowing of their genetic base and the problems of inbreeding. These have been particularly evident among Golden Guernsey goats, although significant progress has been made.

It must be remembered that before 1980 all Golden Guernseys on the mainland were descended from only 108 imports and of this number 30 failed to breed, so to be more correct prior to 1980 all Goldens on the mainland were descended from only 68 imports. Although there have been some imports since then this has not been in significant numbers.

1980 saw the breed awarded its first Challenge Certificate when Duesquene GG150H was made Best in Show at Devon Male and Youngstock Show.

Novington Boris became the first Sire of Merit in 1983, rapidly followed by Sark Roc and Chickering Pepetidor. Since then there have been a further 8 Sire of Merit awards within the breed, making a total of 11.

It was not until 1987 that the British Goat Society finally recognised the Golden Guernsey as a breed by allowing them to compete for Breed Challenge Certificates at shows. Only one year after this the breed gained its first Breed Champion in R105 Acorus Cordelia*Br Ch. To date (2003) there have been 18 male Golden GuernseyBreed Champions and 11 female Breed Champions.

In Herd Book 122 (December 1995 to Nov 1996) the British Goat Society replaced the Golden Guernsey Register with the Golden Guernsey Section and finally, in 2001, changed their regulations so that the Golden Guernsey was on a parity with all other breeds of goats in the Herd Book.

information from http://www.brynhill.co.uk/breedhistory.htm

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