Goat Breed Introduction
Taiwan Native goat
Breed Characteristics
Taiwanese goats are mostly black or brown in color and have a smaller body size compared to foreign breeds. They have long beards under their jaws, and both males and females develop beards and horns upon maturity. Their skin is relatively thick, and they possess a strong constitution, making them highly resilient to rough feeding conditions and heat. They also have excellent reproductive capabilities, with no distinct seasonal estrus. On average, they give birth more than once a year, with an average litter size of 1.86 kids per birth. The gestation period is approximately 147 days. However, their milk production is low, averaging only about 200 ml per day. Taiwanese goats are primarily raised for meat production. At one year of age, they typically weigh around 20-25 kg, with a body length of 50-55 cm, a height of 45-47 cm, and a chest circumference of 58-62 cm.
Breed Origin
As early as the Yuan Dynasty, records indicate that goats were raised along the western coastal areas of Taiwan, including the Penghu region. Today, most Taiwanese goats refer to black goats, which are believed to have been brought by early settlers from southern China and gradually proliferated. Although small populations of brown goats, possibly introduced from Southeast Asia, were once found in eastern Taiwan, they have become nearly extinct in recent years.
Breed Characteristics
Saanen goats are mostly white or cream-colored, with pink or yellowish-brown skin. Some goats may have black spots on the skin near the udder, eyes, ears, and nose. Their ears are upright and slightly tilted forward, and their nasal bridge is either straight or slightly concave. They may have horns or be polled, and the neck often has wattles. Saanen goats have a gentle temperament, and both males and females have beards. In temperate regions, Saanen goats commonly have long hair on their back and thighs, but after being introduced to Taiwan, they undergo varying degrees of molting to adapt to the subtropical climate. Mature female Saanen goats weigh around 65 kg, have a sturdy frame, and exhibit strong vitality. Breeding males stand over 80 cm tall and weigh more than 100 kg. Saanen does have a long lactation period, with a milk fat content of about 3.5%. Their average daily milk yield exceeds 3 kg, with exceptional individuals producing up to 6 kg. The lactation period lasts 8 to 9 months. The average litter size per birth is 1.8 kids. They have excellent reproductive performance but are less tolerant of heat and rough feeding conditions.
Breed Origin
Originally from the Saanen Valley in Switzerland, Saanen goats have been introduced and bred in regions such as the Americas, Europe, Australia, and Japan. In 1919 (Republic of China Year 8), Japanese breeder Kiyou Kamiya was the first to introduce Saanen goats to Taiwan, specifically in Taipei. Around 1931 (Republic of China Year 20), the then-Taiwan Governor-General's Office imported additional Saanen goats to be raised at breeding farms in Hengchun and Chiayi. After Taiwan's restoration, more breeding goats were gradually imported, making Saanen goats one of the primary dairy goat breeds in Taiwan.
Breed Characteristics
The coat color is not uniform across the body, with brown being the dominant color. The ears are white, and the face has a distinctive white stripe extending from above the eyes downward. The hair below the knee joint to the hooves is also white, as well as triangular white patches on both sides of the tail base. Female goats have medium-length hair, while males have significantly longer hair. The ears are small and stand upright, tilted slightly forward. Mature male goats can weigh over 100 kg, while mature females can exceed 55 kg. Their body size is smaller than that of the Saanen breed but retains the typical dairy goat physique. The average daily milk yield ranges from 3 to 5 kg, and the lactation period can extend beyond nine months. Toggenburg goats have a strong constitution, excellent adaptability, and are easy to raise.
Breed Origin
Originally from the Toggenburg Valley in Switzerland, Toggenburg goats perform better in cold climates and have a milk fat content of 3.7%. In 1919 (Republic of China Year 8), Japanese breeder Kiyou Kamiya introduced Toggenburg goats to Taiwan from Japan alongside Saanen goats. After Taiwan's restoration, additional imports were made. However, the number of Toggenburg goats raised by dairy farmers in Taiwan remains relatively low today.
Breed Characteristics
Alpine goats are medium to large in size, with medium-length hair and a complex coat color. Their coloration is not fixed, as it consists of various combinations of black, white, reddish-brown, gray, and brown. Generally, these colors can be categorized into eight different patterns. According to the French classification, they are as follows:
1. Cou Blanc: The front body and neck are white, while the rear body is black. The head has both black and white colors.
2. Cou Clair: The front body is yellow-brown, dark yellow, ivory, or gray, while the rear body is black.
3. Cou Noir: The front body is black, while the rear body is white.
4. Sundgau: The entire body is black, but the underside of the belly, tail, and ear edges are white, with a distinct white stripe on the face.
5. Chamoisee: Reddish-brown body with a brown face and black stripes, a black dorsal stripe, and black legs. Sometimes, black extends from the neck and shoulders down to the chest.
6. Two-Tone Chamoisee: The front body is light-colored, while the rear body is brown or gray.
7. Pied: Spotted or mottled coat pattern.
8. Broken Chamoisee: Striped reddish-brown or spotted distribution.
9. Broken Pattern: If any of the above patterns are broken with white, they are classified as a Broken Pattern, such as Broken Cou Blanc (any variation in the above patterns broken with white should be described as a broken pattern, such as a broken cou blanc).
The coat color of Alpine goats varies greatly. Mature males can weigh over 80 kg, while females can reach 60 kg or more. Male goats have beards, and many individuals have wattles on their necks. Their ears are small and upright, and they can be either horned or polled. Alpine goats are highly adaptable to rough feeding conditions. Their average daily milk yield exceeds 3 kg, which is slightly higher than that of Toggenburg goats but slightly lower than that of Saanen goats. Female Alpine goats have a long lactation period, a strong constitution, and excellent adaptability to different climates, making them one of the primary dairy goat breeds in Taiwan.
Breed Origin
The Alpine goat originates from the Alpine region of Switzerland. However, in both the United States and Taiwan, the primary source of imported Alpine goats is the French Alpine, which has been selectively bred in France.
The Nubian goat is a well-known dual-purpose breed used for both milk and meat production. Its most distinctive features are its Roman nose (arched nose) and long, pendulous ears, which extend about 2.5 cm beyond the nose tip. It is a medium-to-large-sized breed. The coat colors include black, brown, and tan, with brown being the most common. Many individuals have white patches. Their hair is short and smooth. Nubian goats have excellent reproductive performance, with a high frequency of multiple births. They have better meat production capabilities compared to other dairy goat breeds and are classified as a large dual-purpose breed. Mature females stand 76 cm tall and weigh over 62 kg, while breeding males stand 81 cm tall and weigh over 100 kg. Nubian goats have a high milk fat content ranging from 3.5% to 6.5%, but their average milk yield is lower, and their lactation period is shorter compared to other dairy breeds.
Breed Origin
This breed was originally developed and named in the United Kingdom as Anglo-Nubian. During the selective breeding process, bucks from Egypt and India were introduced, giving the breed tropical goat lineage, which enables it to adapt well to Taiwan's hot and humid climate.
The Livestock Research Institute in Taiwan has conducted grading-up experiments using Nubian goats with local native goats. Today, Nubian goats are also one of the major dairy goat breeds in Taiwan.
Breed Characteristics
The Boer goat is a large-sized breed with a varied coat color, commonly seen with a gray-white body and dark brown or brown head and neck. In recent years, pure black and red strains have also been selectively bred. This breed is known for its rapid weight gain, high reproductive efficiency, early maturity, strong maternal instincts, excellent resistance to rough feeding conditions, and strong disease resistance. It is regarded as the world's only selectively bred ideal meat goat breed. Boer goats have a robust body structure typical of meat animals. Mature males weigh around 110-135 kg, while females weigh approximately 90-100 kg. Their daily weight gain can reach 0.2 kg or more. The average kidding rate is 200%, with a twinning rate of 56-65% and a triplet rate of 15-33%. Although Boer goats are a large breed, males reach sexual maturity as early as six months, while females take slightly longer, reaching maturity at 10-12 months. They can breed year-round, but estrus occurs most frequently in autumn, while it is less common in spring and summer. Boer goats adapt well to both subtropical and tropical climates and perform well even under extensive grazing management.
Breed Origin
The word "Boer" originally refers to the Afrikaner, the Dutch-descended population of South Africa. The Boer goat is a native African breed, though it may have some genetic influence from European, North African, and Indian goats. Due to long-term selective breeding and improvement by South African Afrikaners, the breed was named after them.
Many years ago, the Australian company Australian Breeding Management Pty. Ltd. (ABM) collected Boer goat embryos from South Africa and conducted embryo transfers on an offshore Australian island. Under strict quarantine conditions, the Boer goat kids born from these embryos were only allowed to be transported to mainland Australia after weaning. As a result, this group of goats became the only Boer goats outside South Africa that were free from infectious disease risks and could be safely exported worldwide.
In 1995 (Republic of China Year 84), Taiwan also imported Boer goat semen and live goats from Australia in batches. Later, additional semen was introduced from North America.
Barbado Sheep
Breed Characteristics
The Barbados sheep, also known as the Blackbelly sheep, has a very charming appearance. Its coat is light brown, but the chest, underside of the belly, and inner sides of the legs are covered with deep black fur, giving it the name Blackbelly sheep. It is a delicious meat sheep breed with no strong mutton odor. However, there are currently no professional farms in Taiwan raising them in large numbers for meat production. Instead, they are mainly kept in various tourist attractions for viewing purposes.
This breed is not restricted by seasonal breeding and can produce two litters per year, with each litter consisting of 2 to 3 lambs. At one year of age, males weigh approximately 60 kg, while females weigh around 48 kg. The slaughter yield ranges from 50% to 55%. Barbados sheep have strong adaptability to different environments and high disease resistance, making them well-suited for hot and humid regions. They have also shown excellent performance in Taiwan's hot southern areas.
Although they are not currently valued by the market, their long-term domestication has allowed them to adapt well to local conditions. The Blackbelly sheep has become one of Taiwan's valuable livestock genetic resources.
Breed Origin
The Barbados sheep is a type of Blackbelly sheep, originating from a cross between West African hair sheep and European wool sheep. In the 17th century, it was introduced from West Africa to the Caribbean and the West Indies by Spanish and Portuguese traders, eventually forming a stable population in Barbados. Historical records trace its breeding history back to 1657. In 1975 (Republic of China Year 64), the President of Barbados visited Taiwan and gifted two rams and three ewes of the country's national treasure, the Blackbelly sheep, to former President Yen Chia-kan. These sheep were raised at the Hengchun Branch of the Livestock Research Institute, where breeding research was conducted, leading to the propagation of their offspring. In 1983 (Republic of China Year 72), crossbreeding trials were attempted using Corriedale and Romney sheep, but the results were not satisfactory. In 1986 (Republic of China Year 75), the population was classified into four genetic lines based on coat color characteristics, and selective breeding programs were implemented. In 1989 and 1992 (Republic of China Years 78 and 81), horned Blackbelly rams were introduced from the United States for crossbreeding. Currently, only a small conservation group of about 50 sheep remains.