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This goat breed was registered not so long ago, but quickly attracted attention. Many goat breeders fall in love with these goats at first sight, while others, on the contrary, do not recognize them as a separate breed at all. At the very least, LaMancha goats will definitely not leave anyone indifferent. What is so attractive about them that for many years now it has sometimes caused heated debates and discussions?
History of the breed
In Spain there is a historical province called La Mancha. On the other hand, it is known that back in the 17th-19th centuries, Spanish missionaries brought short-eared goats with them to America for breeding for both meat and milk. Goats have spread throughout many regions of Latin and South America, and have also entered the United States. They were crossed with many local breeds, but the short-eared breed often continued to dominate.
In the middle of the last century, several American breeders from California decided to create a new dairy breed and took short-eared goats as a basis, which were crossed with the highest-yielding representatives of other dairy breeds: Saanen, Nubian, alpine and others. As a result, a separate breed was registered in 1958, which received the official name La Mancha.
At the same time, short-eared goats continue to exist in the territory of modern Spain and in adjacent regions. There is also an opinion that such goats are most common in the vicinity of the northern latitude of 40 degrees. Indeed, there is documentary evidence of short-eared goats found in Iran, Turkey, Cyprus and Czechoslovakia. Even in our country they are quite common in Karachay-Cherkessia and the Rostov region. Moreover, they have been found there for a long time, and were not brought from America. And it should be noted that almost all owners of short-eared goats note their gentle nature and pleasant taste of milk. But by inertia, all short-eared goats are called by one name - Lamancha.
Description of the breed
The color of this breed can be very diverse, including uniform and with spots. According to the standard, the muzzle should be straight, but sometimes there is a so-called Roman nose, apparently inherited from the Nubian great-great relatives.
The LaMancha goat breed is of medium size, goats usually grow at the withers about 71-72 cm, male goats - 76 cm. If we talk about body weight, then an adult goat should weigh at least 52 kg, respectively, the weight of a goat should not be less than 64 kg. The animals have a strong build, proportional size with an elongated muzzle.
The coat is usually quite short, but smooth and soft.
The udder is well developed, usually round in shape and quite voluminous with well-defined nipples.
There are both polled animals and those with horns.
But the most important difference of this breed is, of course, its very unique ears. To a person seeing La Mancha goats for the first time in his life, it may seem that they are generally earless. There are actually two varieties:
- The ears of a gopher (or ground squirrel) are very short, up to 2.5 cm long, with almost no cartilage or bends.
- Elf ears - look like very small ears, up to 4-5 cm long with a small cartilage.
Because if both mother and father have elf ears, then the likelihood of offspring with normal ears increases.
Breed characteristics: advantages and disadvantages
The initial goal of developing a new breed was to obtain the most promising dairy breed, so that it would take all the best traits from its predecessors. The goal was partially achieved. Since the average fat content of milk has been increased to 4%, against 3.5% of the main part of the so-called Swiss goats (that is, Alpine, Saanen, Toggenburg and Oberhasli). The fat content of Nubian goat milk (4-5%) is slightly below the level of fat content, although in terms of taste characteristics it may already be approaching the characteristic creamy taste of milk from Nubians.
In terms of average milk yield, the LaMancha breed stands approximately in the middle between all of the above breeds, ahead of the Nubians and falling short of the Saaners and Alpines.True, it is worth noting that owners of LaMancha goats talk about the uniformity of milk yield throughout the year, and this is definitely a positive sign. Since the peak values of milk yield in themselves mean little if in the last months of lactation the goat greatly reduces the amount of milk, which is not at all uncommon in many dairy animals. On average, we can say that La Mancha goats produce about 4-5 liters of milk per day. Although there are also record holders capable of producing up to 8 or 9 liters per day during the peak season.
Watch the video of the milking of a LaMancha goat to evaluate the milk production of this breed:
Thus, the LaMancha breed has many advantages, thanks to which it is very popular all over the world:
- Unpretentiousness and resistance to various conditions of keeping and feeding.
- There is no unpleasant odor, including from breeding goats.
- Good reproduction rates, can produce 3-5 kids annually.
- Milk productivity at average levels is quite stable throughout the year; milk with high fat content is ideal for making cheese. (For example: from 30 liters of milk you can get 4.5-5 kg of the most valuable goat cheese).
- The calm and affectionate character makes keeping goats of this breed a real pleasure.
- Some breeders note the variety of possible colors as an advantage of this breed - you will never get bored with LaMancha goats.
The only disadvantages of the LaMancha breed are its small ears, to which it is difficult to attach an identification tag. Therefore, the mark is usually placed on the area near the tail.
Maintenance and care
LaMancha goats are really very unpretentious in their maintenance and easily adapt to the conditions that you can provide them. But in order for a goat to delight you with its valuable milk for many years, the basic care requirements must be met.
For the LaMancha goats to live, an ordinary insulated barn is enough, in which a concrete floor is poured with a slope to allow liquid to drain. In a common room, it is advisable to provide each animal with its own stall so that it feels its territory, but can constantly “talk” with its neighbors. In the stall, the floor is covered with a sufficient layer of straw for warmth in winter, and wooden loungers are required, because goats love to lie on a hill and rarely lie down on the floor. In addition, they will be much warmer in winter.
Feeding goats must be regular and complete. In summer, they usually find everything they need on their own, provided they are given enough space to graze. It is only necessary that in hot weather they have access to drinking water around the clock.
Only in this case the quantity and quality of milk will completely satisfy you.
For the winter period, it is necessary to stock up a sufficient amount of hay, based on an average consumption of about 5 kg per day per individual. Also very healthy and tasty for dairy goats La Mancha in winter has a variety of brooms made from trees and shrubs. Willow brooms are considered the most valuable, eating which has a beneficial effect on the functioning of the stomach.It is better to prepare them in the summer and dry them under a canopy. The photo below shows with what pleasure the goats eat the willow.
In winter, it is advisable that the temperature in the goat house does not fall below +5°C. And, the main thing, of course, is to promptly clean the room where the animals are kept and change their bedding regularly, since what goats really don’t like is dampness.
If you follow these simple requirements, then the LaMancha goats, distinguished by their very calm, affectionate and unpretentious disposition, will fit well into your homestead life and will delight you with their tasty and healing milk for a long time.
