Description of goats of the Toggenburg breed
A certain tendency is observed among farmers: the Toggenburg breed of goats is considered the most common and beloved by livestock breeders. And this is no coincidence: such a commitment to this breed is due to the excellent adaptive qualities of goats. They perfectly tolerate various temperature levels and changes in environmental conditions. But Toggenburg goats have their own specific nuances in care.
Toggenburg goat breed
The Toggenburg breed of goats got its name from the area in Scotland - the Toggenburg Valley. It was there that the first individual of this breed was bred. Breeders noted good milk yield, high fertility and excellent adaptability, as a result of which today Toggenburgs can be found in almost every corner of the world.
Characteristics and description of the breed
The Toggenburg breed has its own distinctive features that distinguish its representatives from other individuals. Farmers identify a considerable number of distinctive features and qualities of these goats, including:
- small body;
- lack of horns;
- straight and even back;
- coat densely covering the body (often short);
- the presence of a dark strip of six on the head (the rest of the hair sections have a light brown tint);
- the presence of long pile on the back and legs;
- growth according to averaged data from 60 to 70 cm;
- fleshy ears and elongated head;
- good development of the sacral part of the trunk;
- proportional arrangement of straight and high legs;
- good udder development in females.
The Toggenburg goats are popular with farmers for several reasons. One of them is high productivity. During the lactation period, a female of this breed can give up to a ton of milk. Elite varieties of cheeses are made from milk obtained from goats of this breed.
The meat of this breed of goats, despite its high cost, is one of the most favorite dishes of gourmets and chefs. The coat of the Toggenburg goat breed is also highly valued: it is silky and pleasant to the touch. Some farmers breed these animals solely for the sake of high quality fur.
Advantages and disadvantages of the breed
Toggenburg goats are widespread in different regions of the world: these are Western Europe (Germany, Switzerland, Austria), and the countries of South and North America, and Eastern Europe (Ukraine, some regions of Russia, Belarus, Poland, etc.), and Australia ... Animals have gained such popularity due to the huge number of positive qualities:
- these animals have a flexible mind and calmness, they are attached to the owner and obedient;
- Toggenburg goats are fertile;
- animals easily adapt to temperature extremes and have good adaptability;
- they are well prepared for life in different climatic conditions and feel great both in flat and mountainous areas;
- their content guarantees the receipt of high quality meat;
- milk yield in such goats remains stable throughout the year, moreover, this figure is quite high;
- the external qualities of the Toggenburgs are also at their best: they are stately, tall, and in some regions they are grown exclusively for wool;
- the pickiness and submissiveness of such individuals is widely known.
No one is flawless. And this breed has its drawbacks, but they are literally overshadowed by all the positive characteristics. But the disadvantages are also worth mentioning: the quality and taste of the milk of such individuals directly affects the quality of the feed they consume.
Experienced goat breeders know all the intricacies of breeding such animals, but beginners have a question: how to care for them, how to feed them and how to breed them? And this is the right direction of thought, because everywhere there are aspects of care and maintenance, which need to be discussed in more detail.
Features of care and nutrition
Toggenburg goats tolerate cold better than hot weather, so the temperature of the room where they are kept in the summer should not exceed 18-20 ° С, and during the winter cold weather the thermometer should not fall below -5 ° С. In winter, such animals can be kept in well-insulated rooms without additional heating, because the Toggenburg goat already has a fairly warm wool.
The organization of living quarters for the Toggenburgs does not require special financial or physical costs. The only important aspect that should be taken into account is the organization of the living space and the floor: it is better to equip the floor with concrete, with a slight slope for the drainage of liquids. On top of it, the goat breeder equips wooden loungers with straw bedding.
Each individual of this breed requires its own stall, separated from the others by a partition. It is better to separate females from males and young animals, which require an abundance of sunlight and fresh air for full growth and development.
A separate and very important point that significantly affects the quality of the milk and meat products obtained is the diet. Here are the main points to follow:
- In summer, an adult needs 7 kg of green food (grass, etc.) every day.
- In winter, an adult should be given 3 kg of grain feed and various additives daily.
- It is advisable to include pumpkin, boiled potatoes, beets, straw and hay in the menu of animals.
- The daily diet should include 15 g of salt and 20 g of chalk. They should be dissolved in water or given with food.
- It is necessary to adhere to a strict daily routine and nutrition: in the morning, goats should be given a drink, at lunchtime - juicy and green food, and leave the roughest food (grain feed, etc.) for the evening.
- Daily feeding should take place at the same time interval so that the regimen is not disturbed.
In addition to nutrition, content also plays an important role. Toggenburg goats are unpretentious, but their own characteristics are everywhere. Novice goat breeders need to familiarize themselves with them in order to have an idea of what they will be dealing with:
- The barn should be located away from the cesspools, it should be dry and clean.
- The goat house must have good ventilation and access to sunlight, because Toggenburg goats need ultraviolet rays.
- It is necessary to conduct a daily examination of the animals for the presence of any signs of disease. It is also important to wash each individual and monitor the overall cleanliness of the room.
- The udder requires special attention: it needs to be lubricated, massaged and examined for irritations, rashes, etc.
- When breeding, in order to get good offspring, it is worth choosing goats with high milk production, and males with excellent indicators of immunity and activity. All representatives must be healthy.
Choosing the Toggenburg breed for breeding, goat breeders should pay attention to all the subtleties of keeping, growing, feeding and caring for such goats.Whether it is worth it or not, it is up to the farmer himself to decide, but the world community recognizes this breed as one of the most versatile and widespread among a wide variety of other species.
Conclusion
If you provide the Toggenburg goats with care, they will bring the owners extremely joy. The goal of breeding is also important: obtaining meat, wool or milk. Depending on this, the conditions for caring for a goat vary: for example, individuals raised for milk must follow a certain diet, and at the age of up to 3-4 months, they must maintain milk nutrition.
Breeding Toggenburg goats is profitable: investments are required only in the initial construction of the premises (barn). Further costs are only for the purchase of feed. Even they can be cut by harvesting it yourself. The Toggenburgs are an excellent solution for starting a goat breeding business.