Lamancha goat breed
The amazing Lamancha goats have become known for their unusual appearance, and their affectionate and docile nature have won popularity with farmers around the world.
La Mancha goats
Exterior features
The appearance of the short-eared goats of the La Mancha breed is often associated with the Spanish agriculture of the province of La Manch. Nevertheless, American farmers are not ready to concede the palm and insist that the breed in its modern guise saw the light of day thanks to their efforts.
The Lamancha goat got its name and official recognition in America in 1958.
The breed of these animals has established itself as friendly and affectionate, characterized by a balanced character.
The characteristic of the description of the appearance defines these pets as representatives with a large constitution of physique and strong limbs. They have a straight muzzle. The body is covered with short hair, soft to the touch.
The main breed characteristic, which is included in the description of the Lamancha goat breed standard, are their small ears, which can be:
- dwarf, called "elf ears" - up to 5 centimeters long, they are rather thin, pointed or slightly lowered at the tips, with a small cartilage, in the photo and video, such ears resemble the ear of fairy elves,
- corrugated - no more than 2.5 centimeters in size, they have no cartilage or bends, and the ears themselves are pressed close to the head.
The coat color of Lamancha goats can range from dark shades of brown to white. In some cases, spots appear on the cover of goats, which is not a breed defect.
In size, goats of the Lamancha breed reach up to 0.75 meters and gain weight up to 60 kilograms. Lamance goats grow at the withers up to 0.8-0.85 meters and increase their body weight to 65, in rare cases - up to 80 kilograms.
Another distinguishing feature of the general appearance characteristics of the La Manche goat is the large size of the udder.
Productivity figures
Goats of the Lamancha breed are similar in maturity to other goat representatives, capable of breeding from eight to nine months of age. Farmers usually plan the first mating of goats when they reach 1.5 years old and try to choose the autumn period for this.
1.5 months before the gestation of the offspring, the goat is recommended to stop milking milk, so that the animal's body accumulates as much substances as is necessary for the future healthy offspring. This is done gradually, reducing milk yield in terms of the number of approaches and volume.
The duration of the bearing of the offspring by the manches is five months. The very first lambing of goats brings one at a time - a maximum of two cubs. Subsequently, females can bring from 3 to 5 kids annually.
La Mancha goats are a highly yielding breed for milk. Average indicators of milk productivity of its representatives are recorded in the range of 4-5 liters daily. There are record holders that give up to 8 liters of milk per day. The fat content of goat milk averages 4 percent.
Advantages and features of breeding lamanches
According to the reviews of Russian farmers, the Lamancha goat breed has become interesting to many due to its advantages:
- representatives are not distinguished by selectivity in the feed ration,
- goats easily adapt to new places of detention,
- animals do not have a sharp odor specific to many breeds,
- the docile nature of the Lamanches allows them to be friendly with other animals,
- products from Lamanches are in demand in the agricultural market, and the high productivity of goats makes the breeding process profitable,
- high rates of fertility ensure a steady growth in the livestock.
To increase the indicators of milk productivity when breeding the Lamancha goat breed, farmers recommend creating comfortable conditions for animals:
- organize for each individual its own stall,
- equip wooden sunbeds in stalls,
- keep the barn clean and provide goats with dry bedding,
- adhere to the temperature regime in the animal house not lower than 5 degrees.
With a properly balanced diet and compliance with the basic requirements for keeping Lamancha goats, health problems in this breed are extremely rare. Among the main difficulties that a farmer may face in the breeding process:
- mastitis,
- intestinal disorders
- hoof diseases.
They are engaged in breeding and sale of Lamanches throughout Russia, there are mature individuals for sale, you can also buy young animals.
Feed ration
Active and quite active by their nature, Lamancha goats do not refuse to walk in the pasture. They go out on natural fattening at the onset of spring, ending the pasture maintenance after the grass dries up in the fall.
The first walk of goats in the pasture should be planned on a well-warmed upland.
The main food ration should include:
- fresh herbs,
- vegetables, which are given in cut form, raw or boiled up to three kilograms per head per day,
- hay as the main energy source in winter, which contains dried chamomile or alfalfa, while chamomile has a beneficial effect on milk production,
- barley and oatmeal straw as additional supplements to the main diet, but not more than two kilograms per head per day,
- legumes and cake are given to animals no more than 0.3-0.5 kilograms per day.
The access of animals to water must be ensured at all times, especially during the hot season.
Breeding offspring
The Lamancha goat copes with lambing on its own, without having difficulties in childbirth. When keeping young animals, the air temperature is maintained at a level of at least 12 degrees. For newborn kids, a separate stall is equipped.
Initially, for ten days, the kids are fed from the bottle, gradually transferring to drink from the bowl.
Born Lamancha kids with ears more than five centimeters long do not go for further breeding.
After ten days from the moment of birth, the Lamancha goats begin to introduce porridge into the feed ration, a little later - hay and dry foliage. It is recommended to change the feed ration to a new type of food gradually, since with a sharp transition of the kids to roughage, disorders of the digestive system of young animals are often noted.
The very active and playful kids that appeared in the warm season are in a hurry to bring them to the open space.