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Goat breeding in our country is more preferable to dairy breeds. Goat milk is very healthy; it is absorbed much more efficiently by the human body, but it has its own specific taste. One of the famous dairy breeds is the Alpine goat breed.
Breed characteristics
The origin of these animals has French roots that have been diluted Saanenskaya And Toggenburg breeds This was done by American scientists in order to improve the species.
The color of the Alpine goat can be completely different: black and white, black and white and red, etc. In total, 8 species are distinguished. For example, the color of a chamois can be seen in the photo below. A black stripe along the spine, black legs and two stripes on the head are the hallmarks of this breed.
A small head, protruding ears, a large body on graceful legs, an elongated tail, straight horns.
The udder is large with two large teats.
These goats have a fairly large build. The weight of an adult goat is about 60 kg, and that of a male goat is more than 70. The height of the female is 75 cm, the male is 80 cm.
The first lambing will bring one kid, later their number can reach up to 5 in one litter.
Animals of this breed have a friendly character, but at the same time they are quite active, especially in obtaining food.
They have good milk qualities, which will be discussed in more detail.
These animals tolerate winter well. Although they are covered with short, smooth hair, they grow an insulating undercoat in winter.
Milk productivity
An Alpine goat produces 1500 kg of milk per year. The lactation period lasts up to 3 years after pregnancy. The milk has a fat content of 3.5%, a protein content of 3.1%, and has a pleasant taste without a sharp specific odor. The absence of a characteristic odor is mandatory only for purebred representatives of this breed. Milk has a higher density compared to cow's milk. The taste is sweetish, creamy. Like cow's milk, goat's milk is used in the production of cottage cheese and cheese.
Cultivation and breeding
Alpine goats are quite unpretentious to feed and easy to care for, so breeding them will not be exhausting work, but an interesting process that brings results. In addition, these animals are very prolific.
Even mixed offspring have a characteristic color for more than one generation. The characteristic color of the Alpine goat in the photo.
Content requirements
- Despite their endurance in the face of low temperatures, it is advisable to keep Alpine goats in a warm room in winter. This will make the winter milk supply the same as in the summer;
- The room should not be damp, air humidity can be from 40 to 60%;
- Floors must be insulated.Legs are the weak point of ungulates;
- One Alpine goat requires 4 m2 of space. There should be a fenced stall for the mother and her kids;
- The room must be clean.
Therefore, there are cases of saving another breed with the blood of an Alpine breed.
Alpiek is not always crossed with less promising breeds; sometimes it is an equivalent milking species, such as the Nubian goat breed. Dairy characteristics, which are somewhat superior to those of Alpine goats. Nubians are picky eaters and require special food. In addition, they are not adapted to harsh winter climates. A mixture with an alpine breed makes the offspring easy to care for, more hardy, while maintaining high productivity. The color of the Nubiek has the same tones. The photo shows Nubian goats.
Feeding the Alpine breed
Alpine goats are also unpretentious eaters, like others. However, it is worth thinking that normal milk yield will come from an animal that has good health and sufficient nutrition.
The basis of the diet of an Alpine goat is hay; it should always be freely available. In summer, hay replaces pasture with fresh grass. These animals give preference to coarser dry food, so even in summer, when grazing, they look for dry leaves and gnaw the branches of young trees, without touching the lush grass.
Grain feed or vegetable supplements are needed, but much less than hay.
How much hay does an Alpine goat need per year? Are there any norms? The norm is the constant presence of hay in the feeder.However, it was calculated that the approximate amount of consumption is 50 tightly filled bags in which 50 kg of grain are packed per year.
Mineral supplements and salt are desirable.
During pregnancy, good nutrition lays the foundation for the quality of future milk production.
It is advisable to add concentrated feed in winter.
These goats will never touch dirty water, so you need to make sure the water is fresh and the drinking utensils are clean.
Feeding little goats with mother's milk is a condition for their good health and proper development.
Alpine goats in Russia
This breed has been successfully used by Russian goat breeders for a long time. It is very popular in our country as one of the best dairy breeds. In addition, Alpiek is used to refine outbred animals. It is quite difficult to find purebreds, but if external characteristics have been passed on, then a light crossbreed will not interfere with the strong genetics of this breed.
If, nevertheless, the admixture is undesirable, it is worth forking out money to purchase the animal in a serious nursery, where the entire pedigree is traced and documented.
You can see the Alpine breed with your own eyes and listen to what the person who breeds animals of this breed says in the following video:
There are two first-born Alpine goats, one has a milk yield of 2.5 liters per day, 2 weeks after lambing, she gave birth to a goat, a handsome white goat with earrings, his father is La Mancha. The other has less milk yield, 1.6 liters. The kid is a week old, I hope in the future the milk yield will increase, the kid is from Father LaMancha, and if the first kid has long ears, then the second one has small ears, like Father LaMancha, and both are camel, hornless, I plan to continue breeding this breed, but one goat is the one that has more milk with the Nubian, this should be something.
And the offspring will have little milk...yyyy