The white goat of Saanen
The Saanen white goat is one of the most widely exported dairy breeds in the world. It can produce an average of 900 litres of milk per lactation, but some can produce more than 1,000 litres. Unlike its ancestors, which were bred for meat as well as leather, this modern breed is highly prized for its placidity. In general, they are hornless, although some have a pair of horns pointing backwards.
History
The white Saanen goat originated over 9,000 years ago in southwestern Asia. It lived in arid countries, but the modern breed was first bred in Switzerland about three centuries ago. Breeders discovered that these animals are not only producers of leather and meat, but also of a large quantity of milk.
Thanks to its fame, it quickly spread throughout the world, especially in Africa and North America. In France, it has become the second most numerous goat breed and today represents a quarter of the goats raised in the country.
Appearance
With a straight profile head, the Saanen goat is stocky and easy to recognize thanks to its white or beige color. Its coat is dense, short and silky. The chest is wide, deep and long. It has a large capacity in the thorax. On its broad shoulder is a well-fleshed withers.
This goat breed is also distinguished by its large size, between 90 cm and 1 m. The females weigh between 50 and 80 kg, while the males weigh 90 to 120 kg.
Maintenance
The Saanen goat is easy to care for. It is a herbivore and a ruminant. Its breeding does not present any particular difficulty, as it grazes on grass, bushes, grasses, brambles and twigs. It also eats cabbage, hay, crushed oats, corn and even potatoes as a supplement. This breed of goat can survive in dry land. It is often raised on the mountains. It needs to drink 10 litres of water and eat 12 kg of food per day.
Character and behaviour
The Saanen goat is also very calm. She is docile and walks easily in the mountains. But it likes to spend time in the battery. This breed is able to adapt to all types of farming, even intensive. It is also very agile and can easily climb very steep slopes and rocks.
Health
The Saanen goat can get sick. It can be prone to digestive problems and diarrhea. This animal must graze on oak leaves to get rid of certain intestinal worms. Finally, coxiellosis or Q fever is a fairly common disease in the goat breed. It is of bacterial origin.
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