The Valais Blackneck goat is a very beautiful breed of domestic goat. It is a multi-purpose goat breed, and mainly raised for meat, milk and vegetation management.
The breed is actually from the canton of Valais, in southern Switzerland, and neighboring areas of northern Italy. The largest number of Valais Blackneck goat is available in the area of Visp (Viège). And it is also present in modest numbers in Austria and Germany.
The Valais Blackneck goat is raised in the provinces of Verbania and Vercelli within Italy. And it is one of the forty-three autochthonous Italian goat breeds of limited distribution for which a herdbook is kept by the Associazione Nazionale della Pastorizia, the Italian national association of sheep- and goat-breeders.
Total numbers of the Valais Blackneck goat was 3000-3400 at the end of 2013 in Switzerland and either 191 or 446 in Italy. Germany reported 429 goats and Austria 100-300 in 2012. Now the breed is used for both meat and milk production.
Valais Blackneck goat is also known by many other names such as French: Chèvre des Glaciers, Col Noir du Valais or Race de Viège; German: Gletschergeiss or Walliser Schwarzhalsziege; and Italian: Vallesana or Vallese. Read more information about this goat breed below.
Valais Blackneck Goat Characteristics
The Valais Blackneck goat is a very beautiful medium-large sized breed of goat. It has a distinctive coloring, black forequarters and white hindquarters (black from the nose to behind the shoulder and white from there to the tail). The line between the two colors is well defined and impressive.
The English Bagot goat, which is similarly colored, is thought to derive from this breed by descent from one presented to Richard II of England in 1380. The Valais Blackneck goats have long, wavy hair, and both bucks and does have arched medium length horns.
Average height of the bucks is about 85 cm, and 75 cm for the does. And minimum weight of the bucks is 75 kg, and minimum 55 kg for does. Photo & info from Wikipedia.
Uses
It is a multi-purpose breed of goat. It is mainly raised as a dairy goat and also good for meat production. The breed is also good for vegetation management.
Special Considerations
Valais Blackneck goats are very active and hardy animals. The breed is grown in mountainous ares of the province of Verbania and Vercelli (Piedmont) in Italy.
The does are pretty good milk producers. And on average, a doe can produce about 500 kg of milk in a lactation period of 210 days. The breed is also very good for meat production.
The carcass of these goats is nicely lean and the muscling is moderately thick. Total number of this goat breed is increasing gradually. Review full breed profile of this breed in the following table.
| Breed Name | Valais Blackneck |
| Other Names | Valais Blackneck goat is also known by many other names such as French: Chèvre des Glaciers, Col Noir du Valais or Race de Viège; German: Gletschergeiss or Walliser Schwarzhalsziege; and Italian: Vallesana or Vallese. |
| Breed Purpose | Meat & Milk |
| Breed Size | Medium-Large |
| Buck | Minimum 75 kg |
| Doe | Minimum 55 kg |
| Horns | Yes |
| Climate Tolerance | All Climates |
| Coat Color | Black & White |
| Good for Stall Fed | Not Sure |
| Rarity | Common |
| Country/Place of Origin | Austria, Germany, Italy, Switzerland |
