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Goat breeding is one of the oldest branches of animal husbandry. To date, there are over 200 breeds of these animals. Basically, goats are bred for products such as milk, wool or down. Meat goat breeding in Our Country is relatively poorly developed. At the same time, goat meat has excellent taste qualities. It is no less tasty than lamb, while it contains much less fat. In addition, in Central Asia and Siberia there are coarse-haired meat goat breeds that provide meat, milk, and wool. However, their productivity is not very high.
Characteristic features of breeds of meat orientation
The main purpose of breeding such animals is to obtain a significant amount of high quality meat. There are a number of signs by which you can recognize the meat direction of the animal.
- The udder is small and high. The milk yield from beef goats is small. Milk is only enough to feed the young. The lactation period is short;
- The belly is large;
- Barrel-shaped body with rounded sides.
This description can characterize almost any meat breed. The meat of such goats is the most tender and juicy in taste, without aftertaste and unpleasant smell. Since ancient times, goat meat has been considered a dietary meat with a healing effect. It is especially useful for people suffering from gastrointestinal, cardiovascular diseases, blood diseases. Consider the most popular meat-type goat breeds.
The most popular beef goats
Boer
An unusually beautiful and unusual outwardly South African breed. A charming hook-nosed muzzle with a somewhat haughty expression and unusually intelligent eyes looks from the photo. Farmers – immigrants from Europe – crossed the best native goats with meat goats imported from Europe. Since South African farmers were called Boers, the newly bred breed received the corresponding name.
Boer goat meat has a low fat content, tasty and very soft. Animals of the Boer breed have not only tasty meat, but also strong skins and good quality wool. Animals are relatively small, but very powerful. They have well-developed muscles, a powerful back and a strong chest. The mass of goats reaches 135 kg, goats – 100 kg. The main color of the Boer goats is white, but on the head, chest and neck there are spots of a brownish-reddish hue. As with animals of the Nubian breed, the ears are large and drooping. There are small neat horns.
The characteristics of this breed are as follows. Goats have a gentle, affectionate character. The goat brings offspring three times within 2 years. The weight of a newborn kid is about 4 kilograms. Kids grow and develop very quickly, gaining up to a quarter of a kilogram per day. South African goats are gentle and caring mothers. Animals have good immunity, excellent health.
Kiko
These beauties are native to New Zealand. “Kiko” in translation from the language of the Polynesian people Maori means “meat”. So everything is natural. The breed was obtained as a result of crossing the best European meat goats with Polynesian wild goats of the dairy direction.
The mass of goats and kiko goats is from 60 to 70 kg. Larger weight is rare. Pregnancy of goats is multiple. For a lamb, a goat brings 2-3 kids. Babies, despite their small size, are distinguished by good immunity and significant weight gain. Goats have little milk, but it is quite enough to feed the kids.
Animals are distinguished by a dense physique, the color is most often brown, but there are also colored animals. Goats have long beards and large horns. Ears are large, hanging. Thick wool helps animals feel comfortable on cool mountain pastures.
Kiko meat goats are unusually loving mothers. They care so touchingly about their offspring that this can only cause respect and delight.
Animals perfectly tolerate all the hardships associated with an unfavorable climate. If we talk about the climate, then farmers in Siberia and other regions with an unfavorable climate can start such beauties. The breed is very popular with American, New Zealand and Australian farmers.
Greek
As the saying goes, you can’t take a word out of a song. The homeland of these animals is the ancient Greek land. Lots of color options. Brown, white and black goats are born with equal probability. The head is small, slightly flattened, the neck is long. The horns are large, giving a majestic appearance to small animals. Thanks to strong elastic hooves, goats feel quite comfortable on the mountainous slopes of Greece, covered with stones.
The udder of goats is round, compact. Livestock breeders can admire photos of Greek goats for a long time. The whole appearance of the animal – beautiful and a little awkward – resembles the ancient Greek deity, the goat-legged Pan, the patron saint of shepherds and domestic animals, who protects herds from snakes and wolves.
The mass of adult goats is 60 kg. The lactation period is short. The mass of milk per year from one goat is only 100 kg. Despite the small amount, milk is unusually tasty, fatty. It is used to prepare the famous Greek cheese and butter. Milk is used both independently and mixed with sheep’s milk. But the main product obtained from Greek goats is meat. It is very beautiful, pink in color, juicy and unusually pleasant to the taste. There is absolutely no smell at all.
The advantage of this breed is its absolute unpretentiousness to feed and conditions of detention. Animals are content with the most meager food, they are not averse to eating garlic and young branches of coniferous trees. Animals are popular in Greece, especially in Crete.
Black Anatolian
This breed is common in Our Country, among fans of meat goat breeding. Goats are most often black, black-brown. Gray individuals are less common. Anatolians are a mixed breed. They are bred for meat, down and wool. Both goats and goats are characterized by a beard and peculiar “earrings”. Goats have little milk, but it is enough to feed the kids. Animals tolerate temperature extremes very well. However, the wool of Anatolian goats needs care, as it quickly falls off and absorbs odors like a sponge.
These are unusually healthy animals, with excellent immunity. They thrive in harsh climates. Neither cold nor unfavorable ecology interfere with them. They are quite comfortable even in the Siberian expanses.
Nubian
Another combined breed of goats for meat and dairy purposes. The owners of these animals are guaranteed a supply of tasty meat and fatty nutritious milk. Goats are large (about 60 kg), the weight of male record holders reaches 100 kg. Milk yield increases from one lambing to another. Females bring offspring twice a year. The pregnancy is multiple. For one lamb, a goat brings 2-3 kids. The video shows these unusual animals well.
The Nubians also have serious shortcomings. For example, they suffer more than other breeds from blood-sucking insects. They are also unsuitable for commercial farms. Having a somewhat wayward character, goats do not tolerate neighborhood with other domestic animals.
Conclusion
It is quite possible that over time meat goat breeding will also take root in Our Country: after all, it is very profitable! With the right organization of animal husbandry, the breeding of meat goats can be very profitable.