There are various goat breeds available throughout the world. Some of those goat breeds are suitable for meat production, some are popular as dairy goats.
Some goats produce high quality skins and some goats are raised for their fiber/mohair production. Some people also prefer raising goats as pets. There are more than 300 breeds of goat available throughout the world.
This breeds of goats are different from one to another by their size, shape, characteristics and production type.
Generally goats are raised for milk, meat, skin and hair/mohair production. For specific production purpose, you have to chose specific breeds of goats.
Not all goats are suitable for all types of production purpose. And in case of commercial goat farming, you must have to chose best breeds for your business.
Different Types of Goat Breeds
There are different types of goats available in the world for farming. Goat breeds are classified in different groups according to their production.
Here we are shortly describing about the different types of goats.
Dairy Goat Breeds
This type of goats are famous for their milk production. Saanen, Toggenburg, Barbari, Jamunapari etc. are highly milk productive breeds of goats. Some dairy goats also suitable for meat production.
Meat Goat Breeds
This type of goats become highly meat productive. Some goats produce good quality meat. Boer, Mato, Black Bengal etc. are some highly meat productive goat breeds.
Kids Productive Goat Breeds
This type of goats produce numerous baby goats per kidding. Black Bengal, Katjang etc. are highly baby productive goat breeds.
Skin Productive Goat Breeds
This type of goats produce high quality skin. And their skin is very popular and valuable in the international market. Black Bengal, Maradi etc. are some good quality skin productive goat breeds.
Breed name, production purpose and origin of some popular breeds of goat are listed in the following chart.
Breed Name | Purpose | Origin |
African Pygmy | Milk, Meat, Pet | Cameroon |
Alpine | Milk | French Alps |
Altai Mountain | Fiber | Altai Republic |
Anglo Nubian | Milk, Fiber | United Kingdom |
Angora | Fiber | Turkey |
Appenzell | Milk | Switzerland |
Arapawa | Meat, Milk | New Zealand |
Argentata dell’Etna | Milk | Italy |
Aspromonte | Milk, Meat | Italy |
Barbari | Meat | India |
Beetal | Meat, Milk | Punjab Region |
Bionda dell’Adamello | Milk | Italy |
Black Bengal | Meat, Skin, Reproduction | Bangladesh |
Boer | Meat, Reproduction | South Africa |
British Alpine | Milk | United Kingdom |
Cashmere | Cashmere Wool | Vary |
Chamois Colored | Meat, Milk | Switzerland |
Changthangi | Meat, Fiber | Tibet |
Damascus | Milk | Syria |
Danish Landrace | Milk | Denmark |
Dera Din Panah | Milk | Pakistan |
Don | Milk, Skin, Fiber | Russia |
Dutch Landrace | Milk | Netherlands |
Fainting | Meat, Pet | United States |
Garganica | Milk, Skin | Italy |
Girgentana | Milk | Italy |
Golden Guernsey | Milk | United Kingdom |
Icelandic | Meat, Fiber | Norway |
Irish | Meat, Milk | Ireland |
Jamunapari | Milk | India |
Jakharana | Meat, Milk | India |
Jining Grey | Fiber, Skin | China |
Jonica | Milk | Italy |
Kaghani | Meat, Fiber | Pakistan |
Kamori | Milk | Pakistan |
Kalahari Red | Meat | South Africa |
Khari | Meat, Skin | Nepal |
Kiko | Meat | New Zealand |
Kinder | Meat, Milk | United States |
Kri-Kri | Meat | Eastern Mediterranean |
Kutchi | Meat, Milk | India |
Lamancha | Meat, Milk | United States |
Laoshan | Milk | China |
Maltese | Milk | Malta |
Marwari | Meat, Milk | India |
Mehsana | Meat, Milk | India |
Mini Oberhasli | Milk | United States |
Murcia Granada | Milk | Spain |
Murciana | Meat, Milk | Spain |
Nigerian Dwarf | Milk | West Africa |
Nigora | Milk, Fiber | United States |
Oberhasli | Milk | Swiss Alps |
Orobica | Milk | Italy |
Osmanabadi | Meat | India |
Peacock | Milk | Switzerland |
Pygora | Fiber | United States |
Pygmy | Meat, Milk, Pet | Cameroon |
Rove | Meat | France |
Russian White | MIlk | Russia |
Saanen | Milk | Switzerland |
Sahelian | Meat, Milk, Skin | West Africa |
San Clemente Island | San Clemente Island | |
Sarda | Meat, Milk | Italy |
Sirohi | Meat, Milk | India |
Spanish | Meat | Spain |
Sojat | Meat, Milk | India |
Somali | Meat, Milk, Skin | Somali |
Stiefelgeiss | Meat | Switzerland |
Surti | Milk | India |
Tauernsheck | Milk | Austria |
Thuringian | Milk | Germany |
Toggenburg | Milk | Switzerland |
Valais Blackneck | Meat, Milk | Switzerland |
Verata | Meat, Milk | Spain |
West African Dwarf | Meat, Milk | West and Central Africa |
White Shorthaired | Milk | Czech Republic |
Zalawadi | Meat, Milk, Fiber | India |
Zhongwei | Fiber, Skin | China |
Frequently Asked Questions
Many people ask questions about different types of goat breeds. Here we are trying to list the most common questions about different breeds of goat, and trying to answer them. Hope you will find your answer. Don’t hesitate to ask us if you have more questions.
What breed of goat is best for beginners?
Pygmy and Nubian goats are considered as best for the beginners. Other good breeds for the beginners are Alpine, Boer, Nigerian Dwarf, LaMancha, Kiko and Saanens. You can choose from any of these breeds to start your goat farming business.
What is the most common breed of goat?
Nubian is the most common and most popular breed of goat. It is a dual-purpose breed which is good for both meat and milk production purposes.
What are the best breeds of goat?
Actually, which breed is best for you depends on numerous factors. However, some best breeds of goat are Alpine, Boer, Saanen, Nubian, Oberhasli, Kiko, LaMancha, Nigerian Dwarf etc.
What are the three types of goats?
The three types of goat are;
- Domestic goats
- Wild goats and
- Mountain goats
In terms of production purpose, the goats are also of three types which are;
- Meat goats
- Dairy goats
- Hair producing goats
How many goats should I start with?
Actual number depends on numerous factors. The number can simply be 1 or hundreds or even thousands.
Which goats are quietest?
Oberhasli is considered as the quietest breed of goats.
Which is the best goat for farming?
It’s actually depends on your production purpose. If you go for meat production, then Boer, Black Bengal, Kalahari Red, Kiko, Fainting, Nubian, Rangeland, Sirohi, Spanish and Verata goats will be very good for you. But if you go for milk production, then Alpine, Saanen, LaMancha, Jamunapari, Toggenburg, Nubian, Oberhasli, Golden Guernsey, Sable and Nigerian Dwarf goats will be good for you!
What breed of goats are used for meat?
Some best goats for meat production are Boer, Black Bengal, Kalahari Red, Kiko, Fainting, Nubian, Rangeland, Sirohi, Spanish, Verata etc.
What breed of goats are used for milk?
Some best goats for milk production are Alpine, Saanen, LaMancha, Jamunapari, Toggenburg, Nubian, Oberhasli, Golden Guernsey, Sable, Nigerian Dwarf etc.
What is the smallest goat breed?
Pygmy is the smallest breed of goat.
What is the biggest breed of goat?
Boer is the biggest goat breed.
What goat breed is most profitable?
Depends on your production purpose. Raising Saanen goats goats will be very profitable for milk production, and Boer goats will be very good for meat production.
Can you mix goat breeds?
Yes. Mixing or crossbreeding is a common practice. And it is generally done for upgrading the qualities of a goat.
Which goat is a true meat goat?
Boer is considered as a true meat goat.
What breed of goat has no horns?
Toggenburg, Maltese and Miniature Oberhasli goats are naturally polled.
What is a male goat called?
A male goat is called a buck.
What is a female goat called?
A female goat is called a doe.
What is a baby goat called?
A baby goat is called a kid.
What kind of goats scream?
Nubian goats are known for being extremely loud and talkative.
Which goat is known as the Queen of milk?
Saanen goat known as the queen of milk.
What kind of goat is best for eating weeds?
Boer and Spanish goats are considered for this purpose. Read which goat breed eat the most weeds. https://www.roysfarm.com/which-goat-breed-eat-the-most-weeds/
How long does a goat live?
Average lifespan of a goat is between 15 and 18 years.
How much housing space required per goat?
Generally, a goat require 12-15 square feet housing space.
Which goat breed grows fastest?
Boer goat is a very fast growing breed of goat.
What are the best goats for meat and milk?
The goats which are good for both meat and milk production are called dual-purpose goats. Some good dual-purpose goats are Alpine, Nubian, Pygmy, Nigerian Dwarf etc.
Who is known as poor man’s cow?
Mahatma Gandhi described goats as “Poor man’s cow” since they are key in ensuring the socio-economic sustainability in villages of developing countries like India.
What is the rarest breed of goat?
Arapawa is the rarest breed of goat, which is critically close to extinction.
Which goats are best for raising as pets?
Some good breed for raising as pets are Pygmy, Oberhasli, Saanen, Mimi Alpines, Nigerian Dwarf, Mini Nubians, LaMancha etc.
Where can I get wad goat for breeding in Nigeria