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This Christmas, when I went to visit my family in my hometown, my grandmother cutely wished to have a goat as a pet. She has been fulfilling my needs and wishes since I was a kid so I decided to buy one for her.
Frankly, she is not so into regular things. She has a unique taste, so I started searching for a goat that is unique in any way. My research made it clear to me that only a few goat breeds have achieved a particular height and are quite rarely seen on local farms. I immediately knew, one of those breeds can put a smile on my grandma’s face.
The giant goat breeds I have come to known till now are;
Giant Goat Breeds
- Boer
- Kalahari Red
- Savanna
- Saneen
- Kiko
- Alpine
And I guess, my hunt has ended as I’m finding the Saneen goat breed quite up to my grandmother’s mark. Now that I know all the important details about these goat breeds, I decided to share them with you all. Without further ado, Let’s discuss each breed separately
1. Boer
The Boer goat breed was developed by Dutch farmers in 1900. This goat breed, in no time, becomes famous because of the rapid growth rate and supernatural carcass qualities.
The first Boer goat was brought to the United States in 1993 and then the Boer Goat Association opened it’s way to the world. Their heads are usually red whereas the rest of the body is pure white.
Because of the fastest-growing rate, the Boer goats are mainly kept and raised for meat but the unusual appearance and gentle nature also make it a great pet and show animal.
Common Names
Gentle giants, American Boer
Weight
Male
200 – 340 lbs
Female
190 – 230 lbs
Height
Male
60 – 78 cm
Female
60 – 74 cm
Prominent Feature
Redhead, fast growth rate, high fertility
Use
Meat, show goat, pet
2. Kalahari Red
Kalahari Red is another famous giant goat breed that originates from South Africa. They got this “Kalahari Red” name because of their red coat and the desert Kalahari they belong to. Their red coat is known for protecting them from the sun and diseases. Some of the Kalahari goats are famous as Pakistani goat breeds.
The body structure of the Kalahari Red goat is quite similar to the African Boer goat. Red goats are often demanded to breed to increase hardiness and carcass size.
The Kalahari Red goats are famous for their extra delicious tender meat. The Kalahari Red are dedicated parents. This giant breed is admired for its hardiness.
Common Names
Kalahari goat
Weight
Male
230 – 254 lbs
Female
145 – 165 lbs
Height
Male
50 -60 cm
Female
50- 55 cm
Prominent Features
Red coat and long floppy ears
Use
Meat
3. Savanna
Savanna goats are well recognized for their broad muscular bodies. This low-maintenance goat breed was developed by the Cilliers family of Douglas in 1957.
Savanna goat has got a lot of similarities with American Boer, less roman nose and shorter ears make them stand out in the crowd. This breed has got stronger horns that are curved back from the crown in a symmetrical way.
Savanna is a hardy goat breed that can survive heat, intense sunshine, rain, cold, and harsh climate. Moreover, Savanna’s are aggressive, protective, and fertile.
Common Names
Savanna or mistakenly called White Boer goat
Weight
Male
200 – 250 lbs
Female
125 – 200 lbs
Height
Male
48 – 62 cm
Female
48 – 60 cm
Prominent Features
Less-roman nose, short ears, muscular bodies
Use
Milk and meat
4. Saneen
Saneen is a swiss domestic breed that is widely distributed in more than 80 countries of the world. The saneen goats are excellent milk producers that usually yield 3-4% milk fat.
Saneens can have pure white or light creamy coats. These domestic goats need more protein than most goat breeds, well-nutritioned Saneens can live up to 15 years.
The Saneen goats are famous for the sweet, gentle, and hardy nature. Because of their impressive milk production, they are often referred to as “Queen of Milk.”
Common Names
Queen of Milk, Saneen
Weight
Male
160 – 290 lbs
Female
120- 187 lbs
Height
Male
80 – 91 cm
Female
80 – 85 cm
Prominent Features
Excellent milking ability
Use
Milk
5. Kiko
The Kiko goat breed originates from New Zealand. This breed was developed to get the muscular and productive indigenous outcome.
Like all the above-mentioned giant goats, this goat breed is also known for its fast-growing hardy nature. Garrick and Anne Batten are believed to be its developers.
The Kikos are “purebreds” that are found in almost all parts of the world. They are active, prolific, athletic. The kikos were brought to the United States in 1995, they are still the most beloved part of various farms.
Common Names
Kikos
Weight
Male
250 – 300 lbs
Female
100 – 180 lbs
Height
Male
76 – 94 cm
Female
76 – 90 cm
Prominent Features
Erect ears, smooth supple dark pigmented skin
Use
Dual-purpose, Milk, and Meat (Mainly for meat)
6. Alpine
Alpine is medium to a large-sized goat that was developed in the Swiss Alps in the 19th century. Their popularity brought them to the United States in 1922. Later, as the word of mouth got out, their demand in the rest of the world started growing.
This giant goat breed can be found in all possible colors and combinations from white/ grey to brown or black. Their milk is often used in making butter, soap, cheese, ice cream, and various other processed dairy products.
The maximum height this breed achieves is 81cm. They are gentle, friendly, strong, and independent in all senses. Alpines are often compared with Saneen because of their good milking ability.
Common Names
French Alpine, Alpine goat
Weight
Male
176 – 220 lbs
Female
135 – 155 lbs
Height
Male
70 – 81 cm
Female
70 – 76 cm
Prominent Features
Erect ears,
Use
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Milk and crossbreeding
These were the few goat breeds that are often called Giant goat breeds because of their height. The tallest of all the above-mentioned goat breeds is ” Saneen” as the fully grown mature Saneen can achieve a height up to 91 cm. Saneens, which originates from the valley of Switzerland, is not just popular because of their height but for their excellent milking ability as well. Their milk is super healthy and easily digestible.
There could also be some other breeds as well but my thorough research introduced me to these few giant goat breeds only. The views and information provided here are gathered from the livestock keepers and the internet, so the chances of human error are pretty high.
If you are reading this article to get one giant breed for your farm, I would suggest you do a little more research and believe what the majority says. However, if you are here solely to expand your knowledge, I appreciate you for the time you have invested and the attention you paid to my writing. Lastly, I’m honored if this article has been a source of expanding your knowledge.
Resources
- Science Direct
- Dairy Goat Breeds Saneen
- Department of Animal Sciences
- Breeds of Livestock – Alpine Goats
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