Description of Anglo-Nubian goats
Anglo-Nubian goats have an unusual appearance and excellent meat and dairy characteristics. This breed of goats was bred relatively recently, and introduced to the territory of the CIS countries in the 1990s-2000s.
Anglo-Nubian goats
Due to their breed data, these goats are now actively bred on livestock farms and in private households. Farmers respect this breed for its rich milk and high levels of productivity.
Description of the breed
Purebred Anglo-Nubian goats are quite expensive. Their price ranges from 100 to 200 thousand rubles. for one head. It is for this reason that they are rarely used as beef cattle, they are kept only for milk production.
The Anglo-Nubian goat is easily recognizable among others. It is characterized by:
- the body is long and powerful;
- legs are thin, incommensurate with the body;
- the neck is strongly elongated;
- the ears are wide and long, hanging slightly below the chin, are the hallmark of the breed;
- the coat is short, hard and smooth;
- there are no brushes on the face;
- the nose has a hump - Roman profile;
- almond-shaped eyes, expressive, mobile;
- the udder is large, rounded, close to the thighs;
- the nipples are elongated.
Despite the fact that the animal is quite strong and large, it has extraordinary grace. An adult female weighs about 65-70 kg with a growth of 70-75 cm at the withers. Goats are much more massive and can reach 80-90 kg with a height of at least 85 cm at the withers. The record weight of a goat of this breed reaches 125 kg. The Anglo-Nubian goat breed has firmly taken its place on the pedestal of the most popular types of farm livestock.
The color of the animals can vary. There are individuals of such colors:
- black;
- chocolate;
- piebald;
- bay;
- spotted;
- cream;
- white;
- white and brown.
Females are mostly hornless due to the presence of a dominant gene. Males, on the other hand, have luxurious horns.
The nature of goats is calm and affectionate, but sometimes noisy and aggressive individuals are found. This behavior is often associated with breeders' mistakes in relation to small ruminants. Animals kept in poor conditions often show aggression towards humans and their relatives, and this does not depend on their origin.
Milkiness of the breed
Anglo-Nubian goats and their characteristics indicate that these animals are excellent dairy producers. Anglo-Nubian goat milk is highly prized due to its high fat content. The fat content ranges from 5 to 9%, a record figure for small ruminants.
Milk with such a fat content is used for the production of goat cheese and cottage cheese. The finished product yield is much higher than when using milk of other breeds. This is due to the high content of proteins in it.
Goat milk is similar in composition to breast milk. Children are fed to them if the mother, for some reason, lacks her own.
An unpleasant feature of goat milk is its specific smell. It occurs due to poor living conditions of the animal or the untidiness of the milkmaid.In order for milk to have a normal color and smell, you must:
- wash hands and udders before milking;
- milk the milk into a clean container;
- clean up in a timely manner in the place where livestock are kept;
- do not feed the goats with bitter herbs.
Also, the presence of a foreign taste may indicate mastitis or damage to the alveoli of the udder. Milk can turn rancid if the female was not started on time before giving birth (did not stop lactation).
A distinctive feature of the Anglo-Nubian goats is that the quality of milk depends little on their living conditions.
Animals are picky neither to food nor to conditions of detention. Their milk has no off-taste. It is used to make cheeses with a creamy aftertaste due to the high fat content of milk.
Goats who gave birth for the first time give about 3 liters of milk per day, if the female is properly milked, and her diet has enough proteins, fats and carbohydrates. The productivity of females can be significantly reduced due to improper nutrition and lack of nutrients. After each next birth, milk yield increases and eventually can reach 6.5 -7 liters. These are very good results for small ruminants.
Lactation continues for 300 days. The maximum productivity of the animal is achieved in the first 3-4 months after childbirth and then gradually decreases. By the start-up period, milk yield can be reduced by more than 2 times.
Keeping Anglo-Nubian goats
Animals are unpretentious to the conditions of detention. Anglo-Nubian goats and their characteristics indicate that the animals can safely tolerate temperature extremes within reasonable limits. The first bred individuals of this breed did not react well to high humidity, but as soon as Swiss goats were included in the selection, this deficiency was eradicated.
The first Anglo-Nubian goats, brought to Russia, did not tolerate the winter drop in temperature, but after several generations the animals acclimatized and adapted to severe frosts.
During the mating season, goats do not emit a specific odor that can affect the taste of milk in females, which means that animals of both sexes can be kept in the same room. But goats do not tolerate being close to other farm animals. This can cause stress and, as a result, reduce milk production.
In the stall, goats should have decks raised above the floor, where the animals can rest. Anglo-Nubian goats are very fond of hills and climb them with pleasure. This means that goats should not be grazed near cars or other things that animals can hurt with their hooves.
Diet of Anglo-Nubian goats
Goats of this breed are not particularly picky about food. In the summer, they are content with wild grasses and green mass of plants growing in grazing areas. With a sufficient amount of juicy feed in the goat's menu, their milk yield increases significantly.
During lactation, it is recommended to supplement the goat after grazing.
For this in the evening, the animals are given 1-2 kg of wheat or oats. Grain is given in a crushed form so that it is easier to digest and absorbed by animals faster. The bran is also steamed with a decoction of herbs that improve lactation: dill, fennel, flax seeds. If there are problems with the milking of a goat, it is recommended to feed it with soybean and sunflower cake.
In winter, goats are fed with hay and straw. The latter is eaten less readily. Hay must be harvested in the summer at the rate of 5-6 kg for each individual of the herd. The lack of juicy feed during this period is replenished with vegetables and fruits. During the fall, you can also collect fallen leaves, which will definitely please your pets.
Many livestock breeders feed their goats with willow branches, harvested in summer and tied in brooms. Dry nettle is an excellent source of vitamins for adult goats and young animals.
Disadvantages of Anglo-Nubian goats
As with any breeding product, the Anglo-Nubian goat breed has its own advantages and disadvantages.The disadvantages of the breed include the following factors:
- Intolerance to close proximity to other animals. This even applies to goats of a different breed. Because of this, Anglo-Nubians are difficult to maintain on livestock farms.
- The variegated color of goats attracts a large number of blood-sucking insects. Frequent bites excite the animal, which can lead to a decline in milk yield.
- Individuals recently arrived from abroad can hardly tolerate temperature extremes. They need to create greenhouse conditions. After several generations, the animals will acclimate.
Intolerance to low temperatures can be attributed not only to the disadvantages. In regions with very hot and dry summers, goats feel great, unlike other breeds.
How not to be mistaken with a choice
If a livestock breeder decided to replenish his farm with goats of the Anglo-Nubian breed, he needs to know how not to make a mistake when buying an animal. Sometimes unscrupulous sellers can pass off one type of goat for another.
The price of Anglo-Nubian goats is quite high, which means you can easily stumble upon a “fake”. To avoid this, it is worth buying young animals only from trusted breeders or at agricultural exhibitions.
Conclusion
The Anglo-Nubian goat breed is an excellent producer of meat and dairy products. Most breeders use it for high quality milk, but in the USA it is raised as a beef breed. The Anglo-Nubians' meat is tender and juicy, does not have a specific smell, which makes this product in demand among consumers.