There are many recognized breeds of domestic goat (Capra aegagrus hircus). Goats are raised for their meat, dairy and goatskin production. Goat breeds, especially dairy goats, are some of the oldest defined breeds for which breed standards and records of have been kept.
Angora Goa
The peculiar-looking Angora Goat of Turkey is a breed which was first mentioned in the time of Moses, about 15oo BCE. The fleece taken from an Angora Goat is called “mohair”. A single goat produces between five and eight kilograms of hair per year. Angoras are shorn twice a year, unlike sheep, which are shorn only once.
For a long period of time, Angora goats were bred for their white coat. Now Angora goats produce white, black (deep black to grey and silver), red (the color fades significantly as the goat gets older), and brownish fiber
Dutch Landrace Goat
The long-haired Dutch Landrace is one of the unique-looking goat breed. It is one of the original breeds found in the Netherlands. and as such is related to other northwest European landraces.
Valais Blackneck
The massive-looking Valais Blackneck is impressive for its large and long horns. It is also notable for its long and curly hair. This goat breed is from southern Switzerland and is utilized for the production of meat and milk. It is also characterized by black forequarters and white hindquarters.
Girgentana Goat
The clean-looking and bearded Girgentana goat breed of Italy is in danger of disappearance. It is thought that the ancient origins of this goat breed are in Central-South Asia. The Girgentana Goat has characteristic horns, twisted into a spiral form. It has a very long beard and a primarily white coat with grey-brown hair around the head and throat. It has a good production of high-quality milk.
Irish Goat
The handsome-looking Irish Goat is a breed from Ireland. It is utilized for the production of meat, milk and skin. Irish Goats are nimble-footed on crags and precipitous cliffs and occurs in range of colors but coat usually a mixture of grey, black and brown. Both sexes have horns, larger in the male than in the female.
Boer Goat
The Boer Goat of South Africa was developed for meat production. The name is derived from the Dutch word “Boer” meaning farmer. It has a fast growth rate and excellent carcass qualities, making it one of the most popular breeds of meat goat in the world. Boer goats have a high resistance to disease and adapt well to hot, dry semi-deserts. Boer goats commonly have white bodies and distinctive brown heads and possess long, pendulous ears. They are noted for being docile, fast growing, and having high fertility rates. Does are reported to have superior mothering skills as compared to other goats. Mature Boer bucks weigh between 110-135 kg or 240-300 lb and mature does between 90-100 kg or 200-220 lb.
Nigerian Dwarf
As always, little ones are always regarded as “cute”. The cute Nigerian Dwarf Goat that appears to be wearing a mask is a miniature dairy goat breed of West African ancestry. Originally brought to the United States on ships as food for large cats such as lions, the survivors originally lived in zoos. Nigerian Dwarf Goats are popular as hobby goats due to their easy maintenance and small stature.
Pigmy Goat
And because this also a little one, he’s probably cute. The short and stocky Pygmy Goat is a small breed of domestic goat. Although they produce a very large amount of milk for their size, and can be eaten, they are not typically used for milk or meat, unlike larger dairy and meat goat breeds. Pygmy Goats tend to be more robust and breed more continually throughout the year than either dairy or meat goats. They have stomachs with four compartments.
Makhor
The bearded and massive-looking Markhor with very large, unique cork-screw shaped horns is a goat-antelope of Himalayas. It stands 65 to 115 cm or 26 to 45 in at the shoulder and weigh from 40 to 110 kilograms or 88 to 240 lb. The male has large amount of long shaggy white fur on their neck and chest which can grow to knee-length. Both sexes have corkscrew-shaped horns which can grow up to 160 cm or 63 inches long in males, and up to 25 cm or 9.8 inches in females. During mating season, males fight each other for the attention of females. These fights involve lunging until the two males’ horns are locked together, and then twisting and pushing until one male falls.
Bukharan Makhor
The unique-looking Bukharan Markhor is characterized by unusual spiral horns and long hairs in the neck area. It is also known as Tadjik Markhor and considered as a critically endangered goat-antelope. It is endemic to Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan and Afghanistan.
