There are numerous 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.
1. 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.
2. 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.
3. Kids Productive Goat Breeds
This type of goats produce numerous baby goats per kidding. Black Bengal, Katjang etc. are highly baby productive goat breeds.
4. 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.
List of Top 80 Popular 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 |
Where can I get wad goat for breeding in Nigeria