Description of the Alpine goat breed
Alpine goats are unpretentious in terms of keeping, are highly resilient and can live in a fairly cold climate. In addition, these animals quickly acclimatize to new natural conditions. Due to the fact that this breed has a calm and docile disposition, it is easy even for novice farmers to work with even goats.
Alpine goats
Distinctive characteristics of the breed
The description of the appearance of females can vary, the colors are white, black, brown, and sometimes there are two and three colors, as well as the original gray color of the coat. The muzzles of all mountain beauties and beauties are straight, they have black erect ears and neat little flat horns.
Purebred individuals are grandiose and harmoniously built animals that have a beautiful smooth coat, pleasant to the touch. A distinctive feature of the Alpine goat breed is a short neck and slender limbs with massive hooves. By these signs in the photo, it is not difficult to distinguish Alpine goats from others. The total height of adult females is 65-75 cm, the standard for the growth of males is 80-85 cm. The average weight of an animal is 65-80 kg, depending on its sex.
There are three varieties of the breed:
- French,
- Swiss,
- British.
The colors and characteristics of these Alpine goats are almost the same. Yes, and by nature they are all very calm and balanced, but at the same time, it is the individuals of this breed that are usually the leaders of a large motley herd.
As for the productivity of the breed, it is very good. Judge for yourself, in a year one female is able to give more than one and a half thousand liters of tasty and healthy milk of the highest quality. Alpine goats are often used in factories to produce first-class products, including elite cheeses.
Feeding
Warm summer months are a favorite season for Alpine goats. During this period, pasture green forage is their main dish. Breeders usually use food waste as a supplement. In addition, if your farm has a backyard, do not rush to throw out the weeds after weeding the beds, the Alpines will eat them for a sweet soul.
During the cold period, the wards should be fed with hay, adding some tasty and healthy roots and vegetables to it. In addition, in winter, it is imperative to include concentrated feed, crushed chalk and special mineral supplements in the daily diet of goats.
Despite the fact that goats of this breed are ready to eat almost everything that you offer them, they are demanding on the quality of water. If the drinking bowls have not been updated for a long time, and the liquid in them has become dirty and cloudy, not a single animal from the livestock will touch it. These animals will prefer flour from thirst over a drink that has dubious colors and smells. Therefore, make it a rule to monitor the condition of the drinkers on a daily basis and change the water in them in a timely manner.
Features of the content
As many farmers claim in their private household video, Alpine goats can be kept in any stable or barn.There are no special requirements for these rooms, the main thing is that they fit in size, be dry and light. Calculate the space so that there is at least three square meters of free space per Alpine adult goat.
The Alpine goat is not at all afraid of severe frosts, for this case it has a warm dense undercoat that protects from any, even the most fierce cold.
Despite a lot of positive qualities, these animals, like most other herbivores, have vulnerabilities. The main one is the hooves. To protect graceful Alpine goats from injuries and falls, the floor in their home must be planked and slightly raised.
It is advisable to make several wooden shelves in the house, at a height of 50-60 cm from the floor level. Do not forget that the Alpine breed of goats, no matter whether they are French or British, one way or another comes from the highlands, so they love to conquer heights, even if artificially created. In addition, these animals are much more willing to sleep on special flooring than on the floor.
Breeding
Good productivity is perhaps the main, but not the only advantage, which is indicated when describing Alpine goats. Already from the first litter of a young female, the herd is replenished with two strong babies, subsequent lambing bring an average of 4-5 kids. All Alpine goats have an excellent breeding propensity. At the same time, young animals rarely get sick, therefore, in 99% of cases, all cubs become beautiful adults after a while.
Alpine goat usually does not experience complications during lambing, so the farmer's help in giving birth is not required. They not only give birth easily and quickly, but also perfectly independently carry out feeding and upbringing of their babies. Females have so much milk that all newborn kids can eat enough.
Breeders are very fond of crossing this breed with others, the feedback on the results obtained is simply overwhelming. Especially if Alpine goats and Nubian beauties are combined.
Due to all its positive qualities and the absence of serious flaws, this alpine mountain frisky goat, popular in narrow circles, is successfully bred by farmers and nurseries not only in our country, but also abroad. With insignificant financial investments, you can get a high income from the sale of milk, which Alpine goats give in Russia. If you are just planning to try yourself in the role of a farmer and want to start a business selling goat milk, pay attention to this particular breed and remember that the colors of the Alpine mountain goats do not in any way affect their productivity and ability to reproduce.
If you are wondering how much one adult of the breed in question costs, you can always find this information on the Internet. On average, the price of such a goat, depending on the area, age and other characteristics, varies from 6 to 10 thousand rubles. By comparison, Saanen goats are much cheaper. A dairy female costs about 3000, the price may vary in different regions. Now you know what kind of animals Alpine goats are.