The 12 Best Goat Breeds to Raise on Your Farm
Goats are intelligent and active animals that can be a great addition to your homestead. With so many breeds available, it can be difficult to choose the one that’s best for you. That's why I've recruited our favorite guest poster, Jessica, to write this post on the top (ie, most popular) goat breeds you can consider.
This article will explore 12 goat breeds in detail, including which is the best for dairy, meat, and fiber production.
Depending on what you want your goats for, there are many excellent options, including the Angora, Pygmy, and Boer. When you decide, you can enhance your homestead with milk, meat, and fiber production income.
Read on for everything you need to know about the best goat breeds for the homestead.
**J&R Pierce Family Farm is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to allow sites to earn advertising fees by linking to products on Amazon. I often link to Amazon when recommending certain products, and if you choose to purchase, I may earn a small percentage of the sale. It costs you nothing extra, and all recommended products are ones that I personally vouch for.**
What is the Best Breed of Goat to Buy?
You can choose from several excellent breeds of goats, depending on your plans for them. The most popular breeds include the following:
Alpine
LaMancha
Nubian
Saanen
Boer
Spanish
Kiko
Tennessee Fainting
Pygmy
Nigerian Dwarf
Angora
Pygora
To learn more about some of the best goat breeds available, you can watch this video:
What is the Best Goat?
Several excellent breeds of goats exist, each offering a different benefit. Here’s a look at 12 of the best breeds available.
Alpine Goat
The Alpine goat was introduced in North America in 1922. This breed is on the heftier side, with males weighing in at 170 pounds and females weighing 135 pounds. Males stand roughly 31 inches at the shoulder, while females are approximately 30 inches.
Both sexes feature large curved horns, which primarily regulate the goat’s body temperature. For this reason, if you choose to raise this breed, it is highly recommended that you do not remove the horns, as you could potentially cause untimely death.
Interestingly, they are the only goats with erect ears. The Alpine goat has smooth, shiny fur that comes in an assortment of colors, each with its unique name. Both sexes feature beards that frame their faces.
Alpine goats are a dairy breed that offers high milk production. They require a balanced diet for their high nutritional needs. They’re well-known for their calm and friendly dispositions.
These goats are an excellent choice because they’re a hardy breed that can acclimate to nearly any climate. However, they are genetically predisposed to climbing and jumping, which can become a point of frustration as they continuously find ways to escape.
LaMancha Goats
LaMancha goats have an average height of 28 inches for females and 30 inches for males. Females generally weigh around 130 pounds, while males weigh an average of 160 pounds. This is a hardy breed known for its adaptability to many different climates.
These goats feature short, glossy fur in many colors and patterns. Bucks are known for their beards, but the does have a minimal presentation. Most notable about their appearance is the lack of noticeable ears.
The LaMancha makes an excellent dairy goat breed because of its highly docile nature. Additionally, if you’re interested in having a pet goat, they’re ideal because they’re friendly, loving, affectionate, and easy to manage.
In addition to being good milkers, they produce excellent milk protein and butterfat, making the milk perfect for cheese production. The milk is sweet, rich, and not overly heavy. They can produce milk for up to two years without needing to give birth in between.
The only significant downside to this breed is its propensity for escape. You’ll need a tall, solid fence to keep it from getting out.
Nubian Goats
The most distinctive feature of the Nubian goat breed is its head. It features a Roman nose with long, wide, pendulous ears that lie close to the temple but flare slightly to form a bell shape. They have mostly reddish hair that is short, glossy, and fine.
The Nubian goat hails from the Middle East, making it more accustomed to hot climates. It also has a longer breeding season than many other dairy goat breeds. Their milk is widely recognized for its high butterfat content.
Adult females weigh at least 135 pounds, while males are a minimum of 175 pounds. They have a minimum height of 30 inches for females and 35 inches for males.
Unlike other dairy breeds, the Nubian goat has been used by some farmers as a meat and dairy source.
There’s one significant downside to this breed, and that’s how loud it is. Whether it wants to get your attention, be fed, is uncomfortable, or just wants to make noise, your Nubian goat will be loud and heard for a significant distance from your property.
Saanen Goats
The mature height of Saanen goats is roughly 2.5 feet at the withers. The adult weight of females is approximately 170 pounds, with the males weighing slightly more.
Their hair is soft, short, and smooth. Any examples of coarse hair can be a disqualifier for the breed. In addition, they’re quite leggy compared to many meat breeds, but this allows for much easier access when milking.
This breed is considered to be very hardy with excellent disease resistance. If you’re in the market for a pet, the Saanen breed is an excellent choice based on its calm temperament and much quieter display of emotions than the Nubian.
They are excellent milk producers, making them an ideal choice for dairy operations. They’ll require standard nutrition, but you can supplement their diet to improve milk production.
Boer Goats
The Boer goat breed has a general appearance consisting of a white body with a red head and at least a partially red neck. Their ears are large and pendulous.
Some research suggests that using the Boer goat in the more humid climates of the United States could lead to greater susceptibility to internal parasites.
Initially, when the Boer goat was imported to the United States, the numbers were very low, causing a shortage and high prices. Because of this, animals that should have been culled were used in breeding, and others were pampered, resulting in a softer breed.
This is the largest goat breed, with males weighing 200-340 pounds and females weighing 190-230 pounds. They grow quickly, producing clean carcasses.
Spanish Goats
Spanish goats are not restricted to being any color or pattern. They have a moderate size and growth rate. These goats are considered highly tolerant of difficult conditions, with the ability to forage on local plants and tolerance to internal parasites.
They generally have horns that are large and twisted on the bucks. Their ears are large and held forward and horizontally next to the head. They have smooth, short coats but may have longer hair on the lower extremities.
The most significant downside to raising Spanish goats is handling predators. Many animals prey on the younger goats.
Kiko Goats
The Kiko goat is a solid cream or white color, sometimes with a shade of black. Does are an average of 26 to 30 inches tall, while bucks are 30 to 37 inches tall. Does will weigh 100 to 180 pounds, while bucks will weigh 200 to 250 pounds.
Both sexes have horns, but the males’ horns grow much larger, twisting backward. The females’ remain shorter and only twist slightly. Their purpose is to help defend against predators and regulate their body temperatures.
They are hardy and parasite resistant. However, despite having horns, they are prone to predator attacks, as they have no real defenses. You must provide adequate fencing and shelter to ensure they are well-protected from all threats.
Tennessee Fainting Goats
The Tennessee Fainting goat received its name from its habit of going stiff and occasionally falling over when startled. It’s not a genuine fainting spell, as it’s more of a muscular reaction related to the nervous system.
They have a concave to reasonably straight facial profile with potentially bulging eyes and forehead. Their ears are generally medium-sized and horizontal. Most of these goats will have large, twisted horns; others will be polled.
Their coats can range from smooth and short to shaggy and long. Those with shaggy hair are more hardy to colder temperatures. Some of these goats can even produce Cashmere fiber
This breed is popular because its “fainting” condition makes it much easier to contain, as it limits how high the goats can jump, how much stress they can put on a fence, and how well they can climb. In addition, they’re reasonably parasite resistant.
The downside to the Tennessee Fainting goat breed is that it has a slower growth rate. Additionally, it’s one of the more difficult breeds to find.
Pygmy Goats
The Pygmy goat is one of the smallest breeds of goat, with males growing to 23 inches tall and females to 22 inches tall. Males will weigh between 60 and 86 pounds while females will weigh anywhere from 53 to 75 pounds.
These goats feature stocky bodies and short legs. They also have a broad, deep bar. When considering their head, you’ll notice a broad forehead, wattles, and horns.
Both sexes have beards, but males have longer, more flowing beards and manes. Females are bulkier with thicker horns.
They’re used as meat, dairy, and pet options. The primary problem you could face with raising these goats is the number of predators they face. In addition to dogs and coyotes, you must worry about other animals, such as bobcats and eagles.
Nigerian Dwarf Goats
Nigerian Dwarf goats aren’t restricted to any single color; however, their most common colors are gold, chocolate, and black. Does will stand no higher than 22.5 inches, while bucks will peak at 23.5 inches. Their maximum weight will cap off at around 75 pounds.
Originally chosen as a companion animal, it was quickly found that the Dwarf goat produces milk high in butterfat, making it excellent quality for cheese production. Does can be used for their milk for up to ten months before needing to give birth again.
The breed is hardy and very gentle, making it an ideal choice. In addition, due to its small size, it is not an exceptional escape artist, allowing you a much easier time keeping it contained.
The downside of this breed is much the same as the Pygmy with all the predators. You’ll need to ensure you have provided proper fencing and shelter to help protect against these threats.
Angora Goats
The Angora goat breed is popular for its mohair. Mohair can be spun into fabric or yarn, is very durable, and can be easily dyed. In addition, these goats are also used for their milk and meat.
They also make excellent pets because of their extremely docile nature. However, this same nature requires that they have extra protection from predators, as they will not be able to stand up for themselves. They’re also susceptible to cold and dampness.
Angora goats have white fleece or mohair that continuously grows. Generally, you will cut it twice annually to sell to the textile industry.
Pygora Goats
The Pygora goat is a cross between the Angora and Pygmy goat breeds. Adult females will weigh between 65 and 75 pounds, while the males will weigh between 75 and 95 pounds. Females must be a minimum of 18 inches, while males must be a minimum of 23 inches.
This fiber goat can produce three different types of fleece depending on its fur type: mohair, cashmere, or a combination. The downside to this breed is that fiber production is much lower than with larger breeds.
What is the Best Goat for Beginners?
The top choice for beginners is Pygmy goats. They’re easy to get along with because of their extremely docile natures. In addition, they are small and can’t escape like larger goat breeds, making them much more user-friendly for first-time goat owners.
What is the Best Goat for Fiber?
The Angora goat is the best option for fiber. Mohair-producing goats are the most productive fiber producers in the animal world. They can be shorn twice annually.
What is the Best Goat for Milk?
The Saanen goat can produce two to three gallons of milk daily. However, it’s a bit low on the buttermilk content compared to that of other breeds. If you’re looking for the highest producer, this is it.
What is the Best Goat for Meat?
The best meat-producing breed is the Boer goat. It is well known for its fast growth and excellent carcass. They’re the perfect choice for raising meat on the homestead, as they are highly adaptable and can thrive under most conditions.
What is the Most Low Maintenance Goat Breed?
The Spanish goat is the most low-maintenance goat breed. It’s resistant to parasites and diseases, is ideal for brush clearing, and adapts easily to challenging climate conditions. Overall, this breed needs very little from you.
Tips for Choosing the Best Goat Breed
When choosing the right goat breed for your current situation, there are several factors you’ll need to consider, including the following:
Your purpose for the goat (dairy, meat, fiber)
Your budget
Available space
Personality of the breed
Your neighbors
Once you determine what you want the goat for, you’ll need to decide how much you can afford to spend. Remember, you’ll need to, at minimum, buy a pair of goats or have a plan to pair your new goat with another animal. They require companionship to remain happy.
You’ll need an appropriate amount of space to house your new goat, so you don’t want to select the largest breed possible when you only have room for a Pygmy. You’ll also want to consider your neighbors and whether they can handle a breed like the Nubian.
Quick Goat Care Tips to Get You Started
When you have goats, there are certain things you must do to ensure they are well cared for. While these may seem straightforward, it’s very easy to accidentally overlook them.
You’ll need to provide shelter for your goats. They won’t want to be out in the rain any more than you.
Unless you have a Dwarf or Pygmy goat, you’ll need to ensure your fence is tall enough to prevent an escape. Remember, goats are natural-born climbers and jumpers. A short fence is nothing to them.
Make sure they have access to hay, minerals, and supplements. The best thing is to allow your goats access to the pasture daily, as this will provide the most well-balanced diet.
Goats also need entertainment. They need things they can climb and jump on. Just don’t place them too close to the fence so they can escape.
Final Thoughts
While goats can be tricky at escaping, their benefits far outweigh their downsides. From companionship to high-quality dairy, meat, and fiber, goats are an extremely beneficial addition to make to your homestead.
Consider one of these breeds today - and if you're already raising goats, let me know in the comments - what kind of breed is your favorite?
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