Types Of Goats
The goat is one of the first animals to have been domesticated as far as 6,000 years ago, which is confirmed by the goat remains found in archaeological sites all over the world. The various types of goats fall under three general categories. These categories are: dairy goats, meat goats, and there is also a third category which includes the rest of the various types of goats.
The Alpine goat, the Lamancha goat, and the Oberhasli goat are the most common types of goats belonging to the first category.
As the name suggests, the Alpine has its origins in the Alps; it is somewhere between medium-sized and large-sized and it is an animal that can adapt to different environments. The Alpine goat, sometimes called French-Alpine, is usually black and white in color (although you may see Alpine goats with a variety of colors), and it produces on average a 3.5% butterfat milk.
The Lamancha goat, on the other hand, is Spanish in origin, despite the fact that nowadays it is mostly developed in the States. It is a medium-sized animal with a good overall health that produces milk with 4.2% butterfat. Lamancha goats are known for their tiny ears and for being friendly with people. As for the third of the dairy types of goats, the Oberhasli goat (also known as ‘Swiss Alpine’) is famous for its ‘Chamoisee’ color, and its milk contains about 3.6% butterfat. Other types of dairy goats are the Nigerian dwarf, the Nubian goat, and the Toggenburg goat.
Moving on to meat goats, one usually comes across four types of goats: the Boer, the Kiko, the Spanish meat goat, and the Tenessee fainting goat.
Boer and Kiko goats are both large and strong animals. The first was originally developed in South Africa, while the second is found solely in New Zealand, an animal that was selected for its surviving abilities under a variety of weather conditions. In contrast to Boer and Kiko goats, the other two types of goats in this category are rather small breeds but with a strong muscular body. The Spanish meat goat is obviously of European origin, but it has been developed in North America from the time the first European explorers brought it with them. As for the Tennessee Fainting goats, also known as Mytonic, Stiff-legged, or Nervous goat, they are known for their myotonia congenital. Myotonia congenital refers to the fact that the muscles become rock-stiff and locked, whenever these goats are taken by surprise.
With respect to the last category of the remaining breeds, this includes types of goats that are equally famous with those mentioned above.
The Angora goat, for example, is known for its long and curly fur. It has its origins in Turkey and it is one of the most docile types of goats. Pygmy goats, however, are bred in African; sometimes they are developed for their meat, and other times they are kept as a pet thanks to their docile and gentle nature. Last but not least, the Kinder goat is also a small breed that shares half of its genetic makeup with Nubian goats and the other half with Pygmies.
