Breeding of goats of the Saanen breed in CJSC “Prinevskoye Breeding Plant”. Regional application Leningrad region. Sale and purchase of breeding goats.

31.08.2019

Downy goat breeding

In contrast to dairy goat breeding, there was a down breeding plant in the USSR, says Svetlana Novopashina, head of the laboratory for goat breeding and shepherd dog breeding at the Stavropol Research Institute of Animal Husbandry and Feed Production. However, breeding farms for breeding white and gray downy goats in the Volgograd region ceased to exist about three years ago. Now downy goat breeding is developing only in some areas: the Orenburg region, the Altai Territory, the Don region, Transbaikalia, and the North Caucasus. In order to revive the industry and return production to the level of previous years, first of all, a market for down sales is needed, the expert believes.
Downy goat breeding is represented by four breeds: Gorno-Altai downy, Orenburg, Pridonskaya, Dagestan downy, which differ significantly in productivity and biological characteristics, explains Novopashina. Don goats are distinguished by outstanding productivity: the average pile of fluff in goats is 1380-1460 g, and in goats - 720-940 g.
When feeding downy goats, it is very important to pay attention to the usefulness of compound feeds, which are necessary to maintain the animal in a state of medium and high fatness, says Marina Kukushkina, technologist of the consulting and technological department of the Glazov feed mill. In addition, the wool and down productivity of goats that receive compound feed concentrates is 7–10% higher compared to goats that receive simple concentrates.

The benefits of goat milk

It is necessary to instill a culture of drinking goat milk, says Svetlana Novopashina, head of the laboratory of goat breeding and shepherd dog breeding at the Stavropol Research Institute of Animal Husbandry and Forage Production, because it has a lot of useful properties. First of all, goat's milk is digested very quickly in the human body (in just half an hour), unlike cow's milk, which takes 3-4 hours to digest. And allergies to it happen less often than to cow's.
In addition, goat milk has bactericidal properties, anti-sclerotic and antitumor effects, and also has a positive effect on increased acidity of gastric juice, bronchial asthma, colitis, migraine, hay fever, diseases of the liver, pancreas and thyroid glands and gallbladder, lists Marina Kukushkina, technologist of the consulting and technological department of the Glazovsky feed mill. The presence of medicinal properties in milk is explained by the fact that a goat eats 90 types of herbs out of 100 (whereas a cow eats about 50), so there are much more medicinal plants in her diet.
Now in the world there is a tendency to use goat's milk instead of cow's for the production of baby food, since it is believed that goat's milk is closest in structure to women's milk, the specialist continues. In developed countries, goat milk and products of its processing (butter, cheese, cottage cheese, etc.) are the most popular in dietary nutrition.

Saanen breed

The most common dairy goat breed in the world is the Saanen (milk yield is 600–800 kg with a fat content of 2.8–5.5%). It was bred in Switzerland and this moment is the only breed of dairy goats that is included in the register of breeding achievements approved for use in the Russian Federation, says Svetlana Novopashina, head of the laboratory of goat breeding and shepherd dog breeding of the Stavropol Research Institute of Animal Husbandry and Forage Production.
This breed holds the world record for milk yield - 3507 kg / year. But Saanen goats are famous not only for their high productivity. Their main value is that the raw materials obtained from them are versatile: they are suitable both for the production of natural pasteurized milk and its processing into dry milk, and for the production of cheese, butter, cottage cheese and other dairy products.

In the USSR, there was not a single breeding farm specializing in dairy goats, so even today the breeding base of this direction is still weak, says Svetlana Novopashina, head of the laboratory for goat breeding and shepherd dog breeding at the Stavropol Research Institute of Animal Husbandry and Forage Production. The fact is that in terms of gross production, goat's milk could not compete with cow's milk, so they did not show due interest in it. Despite this, goat breeding has always been popular among the people, since the time of tsarist Russia, but they were engaged in it only in private farms. While abroad in countries such as Spain, France, Greece, Holland, Denmark and Germany, dairy goat breeding was actively developing on an industrial scale.

Tribal deficit

The breeding base of the industry today is represented by only three breeding reproducers for breeding the Saanen breed: "Lukoz" (Mari El), "Prinevskoye" (Leningrad region) and the peasant farm "Rus-1" (Stavropol Territory), as well as one gene pool farm - GNU SNIIZHK (Stavropol) with a total number of no more than 3 thousand heads, says Novopashina.

A large potential source of expansion of the country's breeding base are large industrial farms. More and more are created every year. The Krasnaya Niva SHP, Krasnoozernoye Farm CJSC, Achitskoye NPO, Tavla LLC and others can be noted, the expert lists. In addition, the Saanen breed is grown by a considerable number of small and medium-sized farms that do not have the status of breeding (there are quite a few of them in the Belgorod, Tver, Kirov and Moscow regions). Despite this, there is currently an acute shortage of breeding animals in the dairy goat industry. For this reason, it is quite profitable to engage in the sale of breeding young animals: a 3-4-month-old breeding goat costs at least 20 thousand rubles.

Recently, many large farms have imported livestock from abroad. This valuable gene pool replenished the country's breeding base, but at the same time, the problem arose of allowing animals of imported breeds to be used on the territory of Russia. For example, such a problem has developed in Krasnozernoye (Leningrad region), says Novopashina. In her opinion, it is necessary to allow the use of numerous imported breeds created on the basis of the Saanen breed and register them in our country as the Saanen breed. As for other imported breeds (such as Alpine, Nubian, Toggenburg), they must be entered in the register of breeding achievements.

However, the main source of replenishment of the breeding base is still local dairy goats under the names Russian White, Gorky, as well as dairy goats in the types of Saanen, Alpine, Nubian, Toggenburg breeds and their crosses. There are more than 900,000 such animals in the country, says Novopashina. The milk yield for lactation is 250–400 kg, the fat content is 2.5–5.5%. At good conditions feeding and keeping the productivity of such goats can be significant - 700-1000 kg of milk per lactation with a fat content of 2.8-4.5%. Therefore, the need to create domestic types and breeds of dairy goats is obvious, the expert is sure. To do this, you can use the method of absorption crossbreeding of local goats with goats of improving breeds, primarily Saanen, and the subsequent creation of new types.

Easy content

The milk productivity of goats, first of all, depends on the conditions of their maintenance, continues Novopashina. In most farms, stall-pasture housing is used, in which animals are kept indoors in winter and graze in the field in summer. But in a mild climate (if the temperature in winter does not drop below + 15 ° C), goats need to be driven out to graze for several hours. And in the summer, in the heat, goats are kept on pasture under a canopy.

Dryness and cleanliness of the premises ensure the health of goats and high productivity, the expert notes. The optimum temperature for goat's rue is + 13-21 ° C, and relative humidity - 60-70%. Goats are resistant to cold, so they can feel good even at a temperature of 4-6 ° C and a relative humidity of 80%. However, too high temperatures(+30−40 °С) are undesirable for these animals, notes Novopashina. Therefore, water should always be freely available, especially in arid climates, because just to produce 1 liter of milk, a goat must consume 1.4 liters of fluid daily. And a high-yielding goat, taking into account the need for water to maintain life, can consume 7-15 liters of water. In this case, animals must be accustomed to the consumption of such an amount of water. This is important, since its deficiency leads to a reduction in milk yield and duration of lactation.

Equally important is the observance of various veterinary and sanitary measures, the expert says. The system of veterinary measures in goat breeding provides for the prevention of infectious and parasitic diseases, ensuring the sustainable production of milk of high sanitary quality, as well as measures to protect environment that prevent the accumulation of pathogenic microflora and chemicals in it.

Goats suffer from the same diseases as other farm animals, but are prone to lung diseases and arthritis, says Novopashina. In young goats, gastroenteritis and pneumonia are often recorded, and there is a greater predisposition to gastrointestinal diseases. Routine vaccinations against various diseases will contribute to the preservation and maintenance of good health of the goat herd.

Productivity guarantee

Unbalanced feeding can lead to a number of negative consequences, among which are not only metabolic disorders in the animal’s body, deterioration in health and productivity, but also the occurrence of various kinds of non-communicable diseases, a decrease in the body’s resistance to pathogens of infectious and parasitic diseases, says Marina Kukushkina, technologist at the Consulting and Technological Department of the Glazov Feed Mill. To prevent this from happening, you need to avoid a sharp change in the composition of the diet, monitor the protein content in the daily norm (15-18%), and also use vitamin and mineral supplements, adds Novopashina.

The main component of the diet of goats can be hay, pasture grass or silage, as well as concentrated feed. The amount of feed varies depending on the physiological state, age and milk production of animals. To improve palatability and digestion, concentrates should make up 35-40% of the total nutritional value of the diet, and roughage - 20-40%, the rest - green food. At the same time, it is better to feed concentrates in the form of granular feed mixtures containing up to 18% protein, or in the form of turf, advises Novopashina.

An adult goat is able to eat a large amount of food, but it should get used to this gradually, from the very beginning. early age, clarifies Kukushkina. However, kids develop very quickly: from the fifth day they begin to taste hay, from the fifteenth - compound feed or grain, and by the end of the first month of life they can already eat raw or boiled vegetables.

IN summer period the basis of feeding goats is grazing (pasture feeding with green or dried fodder), in winter - hay, combined with succulent fodder - root crops, the specialist says. Along with this, vitamin and mineral concentrates are used as a biological additive. With a limited amount of hay in winter period it is replaced by spring barley, oat or millet straw. As roughage, up to half the daily norm of hay can be given branch feed (dried tree branches with leaves - "brooms" of poplar, maple, aspen, acacia, birch, willow, willow, alder, linden, mountain ash).

The presence of concentrated feed in the diet of a goat is mandatory, emphasizes Kukushkina. They are best replenished with compound feed, because it contains optimally balanced nutrients and biologically active substances (metabolic energy, protein, amino acids, calcium, phosphorus, all the necessary vitamins and microelements). By the way, high-quality complete feed and protein-vitamin-mineral concentrates (BVMK) for goats can be produced by all specialized feed mills, the specialist notes. Among such plants are the Gatchina feed mill (Leningrad region), the Glazov feed mill (Udmurtia), the Mikhailovsky feed mill (Penza region), the Luzinsky feed mill (Omsk region) and others.

"Goat" equipment

When milking goats, you can use the technology of both manual and mechanical milking, says Novopashina. Manual milking of goats is carried out on special machines, while the load per milkmaid is 25 head/day. This method of milking goats, as a rule, is used in small farms, which are currently the vast majority in Russia: out of 1 million goats, large farms contain about 3 thousand heads, the expert cites the data.

However, at large enterprises, milking of goats is carried out using stationary milking equipment, which is mounted in milking parlors, continues Novopashina. The set of this equipment includes such components as milking machines, milk pipelines, devices for distributing concentrated feed, a system for primary processing, milk cooling and storage, vacuum system, as well as milking machines.

Machine milking of goats can be carried out using various milking machines manufactured by companies such as Delaval (Sweden), GEA Farm Technologies (Germany), SAC (Denmark), the expert lists. According to experts, such firms as Exafan (Spain) and Interpulse (Italy) are popular among our farmers. The main differences between goat milking machines are the electronic programs they are equipped with.

Sergey Maryin, regional sales manager at GEA Farm Technologies (Germany), believes that the interest of domestic farmers in specialized equipment for milking dairy goats is gradually growing, as Last year sales of manufacturing firms in this segment increased. If in 2010 GEA Farm Technologies did not sell a single unit of the relevant equipment, then in 2011 the KFH “Abdrakhmanov A.A.” (Kazan) purchased from them a carousel-type milking machine for 24 places with computer equipment. And this year there are already projects in this direction, which are now at the stage of discussion and agreement.

Milking equipment for goats differs from those for cows in the frequency of pulsation, the number of vacuum levels, the type milking machine, as well as the speed of milk flow, says Yaroslav Starostin, manager of veterinary equipment "Creation" (St. Petersburg; installation of milking equipment from European companies).

In addition, milking equipment for cattle can be adapted for use in dairy goat breeding, says Novopashina from the Stavropol Research Institute of Animal Husbandry and Feed Production. So, in the pedigree reproducer of SNIIZhK, a mobile milking machine for cows AID-2 D has been successfully used for many years, which was modernized by plugging two cups. Studies have shown that the amount of vacuum in the nipple space should be in the range of 0.47-0.52 kgf / cm2, the expert says. It has been established that the frequency of milk sucking by goats from the udder of queens is 60–85 times/min., which should correspond to the frequency of pulsation when milking goats. So, in the AID-2D unit, a pulsator is used that provides a pulsation frequency of 66 ± 6 per minute, which means that it can be used when milking goats.

Now, with the help of this equipment, SNIIZhK milks two goats at the same time, which makes it possible to serve up to 120 dairy goats in 2-3 hours, Novopashina is pleased.

Difficulties of farmers

In the SPK "Krasnaya Niva" (Moscow region; dairy goat breeding, 300 heads), they breed the Saanen breed (productivity - 660-680 l / year). The collective farm uses machine technology for milking cows and works with the Europarallel milking machine by Delaval (Sweden), which fully automates the milking process. Improper conditions of keeping can adversely affect the health of animals, therefore, in Krasnaya Niva, goats are kept in spacious, dry, well-ventilated rooms. The air temperature in the rooms for goats is 12-17 ° C, and in the goat house - 20-22 ° C, says the livestock specialist of the collective farm Natalia Semenova. Goats are kept in the same room, but in different cages (but by age and sex groups). Proper feeding is no less important, the specialist says: high-yielding goats require more milk-produced feed (potatoes, beets, carrots), while dry goats can easily get by with hay and compound feed.

Semenova believes that in the absence of state support, it is very difficult to engage in goat breeding. Over the past year, the number of goats on the collective farm has been significantly reduced: from 1,000 to 300 heads. This is due to the fact that resellers greatly underestimate the price of raw milk, which makes production unprofitable, the livestock specialist complains. According to her, the cost of 1 liter of goat milk is 100 rubles, and the average purchase price is 46 rubles per liter.

On the family farm "Naughty Goat" (Sverdlovsk region; dairy goat breeding, 30 heads), goats of the Saanen breed are also bred (since 2001). Moreover, here they are engaged in crossing animals of the Saanen and Nubian breeds, in order to improve the quality of milk and increase its fat content. According to the head of the farm, Yuri Ponomarev, the average productivity of goats is 2.5-3 l / day, and after the fourth lactation, productivity reaches 4-5 l / day (from 700 to 1000 l / year). Milking on the farm is done by hand, as in most small farms. The milking procedure must be carried out correctly, because diseases such as mastitis can form due to improper milking, Ponomarev warns.

Like Semenov, Ponomarev complains about the low profitability of production. “Expansion of production is hindered by the lack of a market,” he says. “In order to sell milk, we have to travel 120 km and sell it to resellers, who greatly underestimate its price: instead of 95 rubles per liter, they pay 40 rubles per liter.” At the same time, it is not possible to sell milk without intermediaries, since dairies do not accept milk in small batches, the head of the economy is upset.

Starting from 2014, all goats will be chipped, in order to avoid forgery, animals of unknown origin under the natives of our cattery!

In our farm, not only thoroughbred parrots, we also breed pedigree, high-yielding goats: Alpine, Saanen and Nubian breeds. We imported the livestock of our Alpine goats from the Samara region - Markelov blood, the Saanen goat we have - Nikon blood, and we also keep Zaanen-Nubian and Alpine-Nubian mestizos - such selection is needed to improve the quality of milk! During the first lambing, our goats give an average of 3-4 liters, with the second lambing an average of 5-6 liters, and then from 5 to 7-8 liters of milk, depending on the breed, season and feed quality.

We got our first goats when we learned that we would soon have a second child, we thought that for the health of our children we need goat's milk. And how the goats helped us out when the baby was born, our newborn baby. Allergy was discovered for all milk mixtures (he is artificial), and our baby from 2 months old, ate only goat's milk, as it turned out, only our child has no allergies to it !!!

After we realized how useful goat's milk is, we had a desire to breed and select dairy breeds of goats so that there would be more such wonderful, useful animals in Russia.

Photos of our goats!

Dairy goat breeding in Russia.

Unfortunately, in Russia, few people are engaged in the breeding and selection of purebred dairy goats (on private farmsteads), as this is associated with many difficulties, such as: a large number breeding goats and growing kids, and most importantly, the maintenance of breeding goats! Many keep a dairy goat, purely for themselves, and to get milk they cover the goat with her own son, who is then slaughtered for meat (which has a detrimental effect on the born kids) or they take any outbred neighbor goat for mating, which in turn leads to the degeneration of dairy goats . After all, the milkiness of your growing goat largely depends on the breed, and the milkiness of the GOAT kind!!! Therefore, many people bought a goat from their grandmother. from a good dairy goat, later they are very disappointed in the milk yield of their goat, which gives milk like a simple outbred goat 1.5 - 3 liters. As a result of such "breeding" of thoroughbred goats, it nullified numerous herds of thoroughbred - breeding goats, once brought to Russia from abroad: Nikonovsky farm (Saanen goats) and Markelova (Alpine and Nubian goats). There are single specimens of these wonderful breeds that have survived in Russia, in purebred form, to this day.

Many farms mix three wonderful dairy breeds (Saanen, Alpine and Nubian) to increase milk production, increase the fat content of milk and improve its palatability. Such breeding of goats can indeed improve the milk yield of goats and the quality of their milk. The main thing you need to pay attention to when buying such a crossbred goat is the presence of signs of breeds that were mixed, look at the mother, try her milk and see the milk yield, at least for one milking, and naturally look at the pedigree of the father of the purchased goat! A breeding goat on the farm can also be a crossbred to improve offspring, but at the same time it must have all the signs of thoroughbred ancestors: short hair, the absence of a nasty goat smell (inherent in outbred goats, which is felt several meters away), and naturally the size of the goat (pedigree goats are much larger than outbreds). When buying a thoroughbred dairy goat, pay attention to the presence of an adult breeding goat on the farm!

Study the signs of the breed that you want to buy yourself, only after that start looking for a farm where you can buy it. And yet, not a few important feature when choosing a goat, a good breeding goat, from good producers, they will never sell too cheaply, if the cost is greatly underestimated, this should at least alert you, but if the price is more important to you than confidence in the goat's thoroughbredness, then you can take a chance, and suddenly you are lucky and it really turns out to be high yielding. When choosing a goat, be sure to look at the producers in this farm! A correctly chosen and purchased goat will bring you a lot of joy and benefit later, GOOD CHOICE!!!

Here you can sign up for kids from our goats:

What should be a breeding goat?

The breeding goat should have an elongated body, a typical female exterior, expressed mainly in a delicate head, noble neck middle length, broad back, short and wide loin and wide, slightly lowered croup. Her back should be even, her chest should be deep, with a good arch, her limbs should be correctly set, bony. The goat's udder should be well shaped and well developed, filling the gap between the thighs and protruding far forward over the belly. The goat must have good breeding qualities, a balanced character and a lively temperament.

What should be a breeding goat?

The body of a goat should be long, strong constitution, with distinct male sexual characteristics. The goat's head should be strong, with a strong forehead, clear eyes, a short neck should be muscular, the back should be wide and even, the chest should be wide and deep, the limbs should be bony and muscular. The front part of the body should be powerful, the coat soft but thick. Special requirements are placed on the development of the genital organs. A goat with small or unequal testicles has no prospects for good fertility and its descendants in the female line will be of low yield.

angora goats

Angora goat (also Kemel goat, from Arabic chamal, thin) is one of the types of domestic goat with large pendulous ears and long hair, making wool as soft as silk Angora goat wool produces a shiny fiber commonly known as mohair. Angora goats are one of the smallest representatives of the species, and at the same time they are an onnovy wool breed.

Angora goats are sheared twice a year, unlike most sheep, which are sheared only once. For a long time, Angora goats were bred only in white color, but nowadays goat breeders raise white, black (deep black, gray and silver), brown and red (red color fades with age) goats.

An adult Angora goat weighs at least 57 kg with a height at the withers of 76 cm, and the uterus - from 34 kg with a height of 66 cm. Both sexes are horned, although work is underway to create a polled line. The short hair on the muzzle, lower legs and ears is white, soft and silky. The body is entirely covered with thin, white, silky hair (mohair) with a strong luster sheen; it hangs almost to the ground in strands 20–25 cm long. The hooves are amber in color. The horns are rather wide, diverging, the tail is short, the ears are long, hanging.

Angora goats are bred primarily for mohair and are also kept to combat overgrowth. Although Angora goats, contrary to popular belief, are not unpretentious, they are simple animals to breed.

The head of the Angora goat is long, hook-nosed. The ears are hanging and long, the neck is short, the body is short, on short, strong legs with strong hooves. Animals of both sexes have a beard. Soft, curly and thick hair covers the entire body, with the exception of the muzzle, ears and lower legs, like a long silky snow-white cloak.

In the spring, if the animal is not cut, the hair falls off by itself due to the upcoming molt. The skin is thin, the meat is fatty and juicy without any smell, the meat has very good taste qualities. The weight of the carcass ranges from 14 to 25 kg, while receiving about 2-4 kg of internal fat. The appearance of Angora goats is characterized by an average body length with an insufficiently wide chest, sometimes there are individuals with a flat or laterally compressed chest.

The horns of the queens are small, diverge at the ends and bent back, but in the goats they are powerful, helical, making from 1 to 1.5 full revolutions around their axis along their length. Goats have relatively short limbs.

The wool of Angora goats (mohair) is almost uniform, semi-coarse, white in color, with a strong sheen (chandelier), has exceptional strength and elasticity. Its average fineness according to the Bradford classification is 40-44th quality, which approximately corresponds to a fineness from 37.1 to 43 microns. The length of the mohair is 18-25 cm, but sometimes it reaches 35 cm. In the fleece of Angora goats, an admixture of short coarse awn fibers (kemp) is always found in an amount of 1 to 2.5% of the mass of the entire fleece. This impurity reduces the quality of mohair. The average wool shear from breeding queens is 3-4 kg, sometimes 6-7 kg, from breeding goats 5.5 kg, sometimes 8-9 kg. The average yield of wool is 70-80%. Mestizos (crossbreeds) from Angora goats give good white wool suitable for making fabrics. Second-generation mestizos produce an almost uniform coat, consisting of a transitional hair. The wool of goats is coarser than that of queens.

The Angora goat can eat the shoots of many tree species, including oaks, elms, sumac, wild plums, and junipers. The evergreen virgin oak provides them with year-round fresh food: in areas where this species grows in abundance, goats are used to combat overgrowth of pastures, gathering in spring and summer in areas heavily littered with oak growth. Animals are especially fond of freshly fallen oak leaves and acorns after frosts, which serve as good food. Goats do not consume shoots of mesquite shrubs, wormwood, persimmons and some other tree and shrub species, although freshly fallen mesquite leaves and fruits (beans) are eaten. In severe drought, they sometimes feed on prickly pear, which causes ulcers in their mouths, and pastoralists specially set fire to thickets of these cacti to destroy their thorns.

When fed with hay, their coat becomes lighter and degreased; on green fodder, it becomes heavier and contains more natural lubricant. Fine grain is an excellent food, but the coat usually coarsens. In areas where it is not possible all year round keep animals on pasture, goats are fed with alfalfa hay, corn kernels and special pelleted feed with a standard protein content. Feeding is also given when the pasture is unproductive.

The females of these goats differ from most other farm animals in that they do not bear offspring to the detriment of their own health. If the feed is scarce and the pregnant goat loses weight, she will miscarry. As a result, the average yield of kids is about 70%, although good owners are able to maintain it at the level of 100-150%. Twins are not uncommon in the litter. Usually, the uterus feeds the kids with milk for five to six months; if you take them away in two or three one month old, they may survive, but are likely to stun.

Alpine goats

Alpine goats were brought to the USA in 1922 from the French Alps. The appearance is characterized by heterogeneous coloration, open muzzle, medium-sized upright ears.

The classic coloration of alpine goats is the following: "snow-white neck" - the neck of the animal has a snow-white color, which originates on the neck, and then smoothly passes to the shoulders. Later, its transformation occurs: white color can change to dark or grayish; a red neck is almost the same as a snow-white neck, but there are some differences: closer to the back of the neck, a reddish-brown color runs into brown; "bay" - a characteristic feature of this neck is the predominant red-brown, reddish or brown colors. There are dark-colored markings on the bowler and neck, dark-colored legs, and a dark stripe along the entire ridge; "magpie" - such a neck has a snow-white head; “sandgow” - its feature is a dark neck with snow-white markings prevailing on it; "paid" - spotted or motley; "ku nvar" - the front part is dark. As for the back, it is snow-white.

A characteristic feature of the animals of the Alpine breed is their large scale. In an adult goat at the age of 4 years, the height at the withers reaches 76.2 centimes. For goats, this parameter is equal to 81.2 centimes. As for the weight, it is respectively 61.3 and 77.2 kg.

Extreme fertility is one of the advantages of goats of this breed. The unpretentiousness of animals is another plus of this breed. Animals easily adapt to any climatic conditions.

The owners of the animals are friendly and responsive. Being in a herd with other breeds, they tend to take a leading position. This is good if you look at it from one side, because such animals will not die of hunger due to the desire for leadership. But on the other hand, they will not allow other animals in the herd to the feeder, thus leaving them on a starvation diet.

About alpine goats, you can still say that they are highly productive. In a year, animals of this breed can produce 1200 - 1600 liters with a fat content of 3.5% and a protein content of 3%. Milk from goats of this breed has a pleasant taste. The appearance of the English Alpine goat breed occurred in the course of many years of selection work. The indicated geographical origins of the appearance of this breed were subjected to great doubt by specialists. The main acquaintance with goats of this breed was mentioned in 1911. After ten years, as a British alpine breed it was registered by the English Goat Society.

Goats of this breed with short hair are sometimes called dark Toggenburg. And all thanks to the amazing resemblance to this breed. She is related to the Toggenburg by a neat dark color and snow-white Swiss marks. On the muzzle of animals of this breed there is a neat dark color, and on the ears there is a snow-white edging. In addition, under the tail there are snow-white marks.

bengal goats

Even in the XVIII century, animals of this breed gained popularity. To a large extent, this was facilitated by the good taste of goat meat. It is fragrant and tender. In addition to meat, many of these animals were attracted by goat skin, which has excellent qualities and can be used to make high-quality leather goods. Animals of this breed easily adapt to various conditions. They are also distinguished by high fertility. Bengal goats bring offspring quite quickly. Among the advantages of this breed, one can distinguish that animals eat any herbs, as well as foliage from trees and shrubs. The owners of these animals are also used as pack animals. Since the animals were bred under conditions of poor feeding, they quickly adapt to any feeding conditions, which is also an advantage of the breed.

If we talk about the color of animals of this breed, then black prevails. In addition to it, brown, white and gray are common. Short, soft and shiny - this is how you can characterize the hair pores of the body of goats of this breed. Animals do not differ in great height and have a proportional physique. On average, the height of these animals is 50 cm. Bengal goats have cylindrical horns, the length of which is 6-11.5 cm, directed upwards. Ears are slightly droopy. The back of the animals is straight, and the legs are short, while quite strong.

At 6-8 months of age, puberty ends in animals of this breed. Queens usually have two kids. Their weight usually varies 800 - up to 1100 g. 45 g - this is usually the daily weight gain. Up to 7 kg can reach the weight of animals in six months. And up to 12 - per year. The maximum weight in adult goats usually does not exceed 22 kg. For goats, this figure is higher - 30 kg. With regards to milk productivity, we note that it is extremely low and varies between 400 - up to 700 g of milk per day. During the lactation period, which lasts 110 - 122 days, goats give 36 - 58 kg of milk.

Boer goats

Boer goats were bred at the beginning of the 20th century in South Africa. Among all meat breeds This goat is one of the most popular. However, they are not intended for milk production. Animals of this breed are distinguished by their large size. The weight of adult goats reaches 110-135 kg. The uterus is slightly lighter 90-100 kg. His appearance goats of this breed resemble Nubian ones: they have the same hanging ears.

By their temperament, Boer goats are calm. The usual color of animals of this breed is white with a brown head. But besides this, there are others. Not two, but four teats may have an udder in Boer goats. The average size have German Boer goats. Animals have a wide chest. The back is also wide and yet long.

In kids, muscularity is most noticeable, especially on the chest, back and hips. Goats of this breed show themselves to be of good growth. Their maturation occurs quite early. Among the advantages of this breed is resistance to diseases. These animals easily adapt to various climatic conditions. Even in hot climates, they feel pretty good. For those who plan to engage in meat goat breeding, this breed is quite attractive.

Newborn kids show a good growth rate. They gain weight of 35 kg already at 3 months. In two years, up to 3 lambings are usually received. Pregnancy in goats lasts five months. And it takes three months to feed the goats.

Animals of this breed can produce offspring all year round. At the age of 5 months, their puberty occurs. A goat brings one kid for the first time. And in the future - two goats.

In addition, animals have truly Olympic health, are immune to most diseases and are unpretentious in food.

The Boer goat breed is not very susceptible to low temperatures, so if the winter in your region is moderate, then you should not pay much attention to heating the room. The main thing is that the temperature does not fall below 5 degrees Celsius.

But you should pay attention to the humidity of the air. Being in too humid a room can adversely affect the health of even these hardy animals. The recommended humidity index should not exceed 80%.

Important! In winter, daylight hours for your wards should be at least 8 hours.

Boer goats do not produce large milk yields. During lactation, the female can give about two liters of milk per day. This may not be enough to feed the young, so providing the kids with milk will fall on the shoulders of the farmer.

Gorno-Altai goats

The Gorno-Altai goat is characterized by a strong constitution, a harmonious physique (Fig. 2.4.), They are well adapted to the harsh conditions of year-round grazing in the mountains. They are characterized by uniformity in color, size and physique.

The legs of the Altai goats are strong, straight set, covered with short covering hair. Incorrect positioning of the legs, as a rule, is not noted. The hooves are usually dark in color, strong and shiny. Trimming and trimming of hooves is almost never done, despite this they are not damaged much, and lameness is an extremely rare occurrence. Animals of medium size, goats weigh 63 - 70 kg (up to 92), uterus 38 - 40 kg (up to 65), one-year-old goats 32 - 39 kg, goats 27 - 35 kg. The height at the withers of 1.5-year-old goats is on average 57 cm, adults - 62 cm.

The wool cover of the Gornoaltai goats consists of 65 - 75% of fluff 8 - 9 cm long, 17 - 19 microns in fineness and 25 - 35% of awn fibers 75 - 90 microns thick. In addition to fluff, transitional hair fibers are found in significant quantities. The awn is black, and the down is plain dark gray. Down fibers are characterized by softness and durability. Their strength is 8 - 9.5 cN / tex. Down from goats receive 750 - 1000 g (up to 2000), from queens 550 - 650 g (up to 1500). Downy productivity of goats and goats at the age of 1 year - 250 - 350 g.

The down from the Altai goats is a valuable raw material for the down knitting industry. According to the technologists of the Orenburg downy shawls factory, it is soft, elastic, silky, and does not require additional adjustment of the equipment. Products made from Gornoaltay down have a good marketable appearance, shawls are fluffy, solid, soft with a silky sheen. Gornoaltai down is much better than that obtained by the factory from other procurement offices and is almost as good as the down of Orenburg goats.

Fertility of Gornoaltai goats ranges from 110 to 140 kids per 100 queens, and the yield of kids after rearing is from 87 to 121%.

The milk production of goats is satisfactory. The average daily milk yield from one goat is 577 grams.

The Gorno-Altai goat is distinguished by good meat qualities. The slaughter yield in goats is on average 45 - 46%, in goats-castrates 47 - 53%. The yield of meat without bones and tendons (to weight, carcasses) is 74 - 78%, its energy value in goats is 2203 - 2561 kcal, in castrates 2223 - 3226 kcal.

In winter, adult goats lose about 25 - 35% of the weight they had in autumn. However, in summer (July-September), their mass is completely restored. According to G.V. Alkova, for 3.5 months of summer feeding on high-mountain subalpine pastures, the weight of castrates increased by 13.4 kg, and the queens by 13 kg with an average daily weight gain of 125 and 121 g, respectively. 7 kg, mass of internal fat 3.7 kg, slaughter yield - 52.7%. After the slaughter of castrates, meat of the 1st grade 68.7%, 2nd grade 17.6% and 3rd grade 13.7% was obtained.

The Gorno-Altai goat belongs to the steppe and is used mainly for dressing lining leathers and making fur products.

Gorky goats

The Gorky goat was bred by crossing the Russian goat with Zaanen goats, brought in the late 19th and early 20th centuries to Pochinkovsky, Arzamas and some other areas of the Nizhny Novgorod province. Improved animals of this breed were bred in the middle of the twentieth century, when dairy farming became a science. The Gorky breed is considered the best offspring of the Russian goat.

The color of goats of the Gorky breed is white, less often gray. Goats of medium size, strong constitution, height at the withers 57-62 cm, height at the sacrum - 62-67 cm. The body is wide, long, oblique length - 65-70 cm. The head is of medium size. Animals are mostly polled, but there are also horns. The neck is high. The chest is wide and voluminous, the girth of the chest is 72-77 cm. The udder is small. The limbs are correctly set, the hooves are strong. The coat is short, heterogeneous, consists of covering hair or outer hair, with a slight downy undercoat, which is about 10%. Wool is cut about 250 g.

The weight of a goat is 40-45 kg, the best is up to 50 kg, the weight of a goat is 55-65 kg, the best is up to 80 kg. Goats are prolific, for one kid they bring two kids (180-220 kids per 100 queens). Sometimes goats bring up to 5 kids. Milk productivity is high - 450-500 kg of milk, the best goats give up to 1200 kg of milk per lactation. Lactation usually lasts 240-300 days (9-10 months). Sometimes barren goats are milked for several years in a row without a break. The fat content of milk is 4.0-5.5%. Meat productivity is good. Goat skins (skins) are of high quality, they are used to produce high-quality leather for shoes, exquisite bindings and other chevro.

Gorky goats are unpretentious to feed and conditions of detention. They have a strong constitution, hardy, well acclimatized.

The disadvantage of the breed is a slight decrease in milk production in the first 6 months.

Greek goats

These goats are descended from wild goats that lived in the mountainous regions of Ancient Greece. The coat color of these goats ranges from white to dark brown and black.

Animals of medium size, strong constitution, long body. The head is elongated, the profile of the muzzle is straight. The horns are straight, curved back, and polled goats are also found. The ears are large, long, sometimes hanging. The neck is long. The chest is wide and deep. The udder is well formed. The limbs are high, thin. The hooves are strong, very hard. The coat is short, but on the back, sides and hips it is longer.

The weight of an adult Greek local breed of goats is 40-60 kg. Milk productivity is low - 90-100 kg of milk per lactation. Milk is used fresh and for making cheese (in combination with sheep's milk) and butter. Meat productivity is good, high quality meat, tasty, juicy, tender, fatty.

The Greek breed of goats is unpretentious in terms of feed, they prefer to graze on free pastures among grasses and shrubs, and are also adapted to high-altitude rocky pastures, where they easily find food for themselves. Greek goats like to chew on pine trees, but their favorite delicacy is garlic.

The minuses of the breed include the fact that these goats destroy green spaces, in Greece there is a saying: "Greece was eaten by goats." Goats eat the bark of trees, as a result of which the trees die, and the young shoots of the trees are eaten and trampled by the animals.

Saanen goats

The Saanen goat is a large animal, goats weigh about 70 kg, females - 50. Height at the withers is from 75 to 90 cm. They have a well-developed skeleton, but at the same time the animal is graceful. The back is straight, not sagging, the chest is wide. The head is graceful, small, the ears are perpendicular, they should not hang, as this is a disqualifying sign.

Goats have large udders and mammary glands. The preferred coat color is white, but the breed standard allows for a light cream shade.

Both goats and goats have a beard. Saanen goats have a calm temperament, love their owners and children.

Unlike other breeds, the Saanen breed is characterized by the absence of horns, a short head, a long body, while it is quite well developed, the muzzle and chest are wide, the hooves are strong, the udder has big sizes and also well developed. In most cases, the coat of Saanen goats is short and white. It is this breed that is considered the largest of all breeds of goats. Recently, many people who decide to start a dairy breed of goats in their farmstead prefer the Saanen breed.

Zaanenki goats, in addition to large milk yields, which are distinguished by their quality, also have delicious meat. If we talk about productivity and take into account the performance of those who keep this breed, then Saanen goats give about 3.5-4 liters of milk per day, and this is after the first lambing. With each subsequent lambing, the volume of milk increases. Very productive goats are able to produce about 8 liters of milk per day. Of course, we are talking about breeding Saanen goats. Milk appears immediately after lambing.

Dairy goats of the Saanen breed give an average of 600-700 kg of milk per year, and with improved feeding and maintenance - 1000-1200 kg. The record milk yield per location is 3499 kg. It is interesting to note that when testing productivity, these goats produced 12-15, and sometimes 25 times their live weight, milk per year, and cows only 5-8 times. The percentage of fat in the milk of Saanen goats is lower than in the milk of Russian goats, and usually fluctuates around 3.5-4. The milking period lasts 8-11 months.

The fertility of zaanenok is satisfactory: 100 queens give 180 to 250 kids per year.

Since the Saanen goat is short-haired, there is no need to cut it. Unlike ordinary goats, the breed in question does not have an unpleasant smell of milk, which is a definite plus, since some do not even tolerate goat's milk, but it is much healthier than cow's milk. If an unpleasant smell appears, then this is solely due to improper care.

To obtain good results in terms of milk yield from a dairy goat of the Saanen breed, a complete and balanced feeding is necessary. It should be borne in mind that diversity is important in nutrition for this breed, which must be taken into account when compiling a daily diet. This is very important during the birth of kids and their subsequent feeding with milk. When preparing food for Saanen goats, preference should be given exclusively to fresh and, of course, natural products. The main product for this breed from early morning is fresh hay. After a few hours, goats can be given thin twigs of alder, willow or birch.

Russian goat

The Russian breed of goats was formed on the European territory of Russia through a long-term selection of the best individuals of goats of local dairy breeds. There was also the fact of crossing domestic goats with goats of the Saanen and Toggenburg breeds, which had a positive effect on the breed.

The Russian goat is well adapted to local weather conditions, hardy, unpretentious to the conditions of detention. All these qualities allowed her to become the most numerous breed in our country. The number of goats of the Russian breed in Russia exceeds 1 million individuals. The breed is especially popular in the northwestern and central parts of Russia.

The Russian goat is distributed over a fairly large area, in areas with different climates, food and economic conditions, which is reflected in some discrepancies in statistical indicators, but all goats have good milk yields.

The weight of goats of the Russian breed is 35 - 50 kg. Goats reach a weight of 75 kg. In the regions of Russia, in farms specializing in breeding the breed, the live weight of goats has differences. The largest individuals are observed in the Moscow and Leningrad regions (up to 50 kg).

The constitution of the Russian goat is strong and dry. The Russian goat breed has a squat, barrel-shaped body. The chest is pronounced, relatively wide. The neck is straight, long. The head is light, has a somewhat elongated shape.

The sickle-shaped horns are directed backwards and slightly diverge to the sides. There are sometimes polled individuals. The ears are small and erect. Legs are strong. The joints of the legs are pronounced. The position of the limbs is correct. The croup is somewhat droopy. The udder of the Russian goat is large, pear-shaped, the nipples are directed somewhat forward. All representatives of the breed have a beard. In goats, it is more magnificent.

The Russian goat is white, gray, black, sometimes red. However, in most cases, the Russian white goat is found. The hairline of a goat is of medium length, but short-haired individuals also come across. The wool of a Russian goat contains about 15% of fluff; when combed, up to 200 g of fluff is obtained annually.

The lactation period lasts 7-8 months. During lactation, a goat gives up to 600 liters of milk, the fat content of the product is 4 - 5.3%. Under favorable conditions and abundant feeding, the lactation period of a goat can be lengthened. The largest milk yield from a goat of the Russian breed is 1000 liters. Goat skin is famous for its high quality.

Goats of the Russian breed are distinguished by good fertility. In the second and third lambing of the uterus, 2-3 cubs are born. The average fertility rate is at the level of 150 - 200 kids from 100 queen goats per lamb. The precocity of the breed is good. For 7 - 8 months, newborn goats gain 20 -28 kg. During the same period, goats grow up to 25 - 32 kg.

The main breeds of goats that are bred in Russia are the following - first of all, the well-known Zaanen, there are Alpine and Nubian. Lots of mestizos. Goat's milk is in great demand due to its greater nutritional qualities than cow's, which determines the profitability of goat breeding.

Goat meat is used for food mainly in the steppe regions of the country - this is not typical for cities. Goat hair is used in the manufacture of textiles, but not on an industrial scale.

Buy a breeding goat of the Saanen breed can be done quite easily, its cost is about 10,000 rubles. When purchasing a breeding Saanen goat in breeding reproducers or from private breeders, it is necessary to inquire about its breeding cards, making copies of them, and the productive characteristics of the parents. If the plans include further breeding of goats and the sale of breeding goats, then, naturally, the Saanen goat is better suited for this.

It is clear that goats that do not differ in breed characteristics will cost less - an average of 4-6 thousand rubles, but no one guarantees the stability of their milk yield and the quality of milk. It is also necessary to check the availability of vaccinations and veterinary certificates. Goats are vaccinated against brucellosis and other diseases, which must be confirmed by relevant certificates.

Sale of breeding goats usually draws attention to their exterior characteristics. The Saanen goat is very decorative - pure white or milky in color, with characteristic earrings - woolen curls - on the neck. About 40% of Saanen goats are born hornless.

Buying breeding goats to improve the pedigree qualities of the livestock, it is imperative to track all the genetic lines of her ancestors. The qualities of the ancestors will certainly appear in the offspring. And it is necessary to deal with the gradual improvement of genetic lines - this will improve production characteristics.