About Dairy Goats

Goats along with sheep, were among the earliest domesticated animals. Goat remains have been found at early archaeological sites in Western Asia which suggests that the domestication of goats was originally between 6000 and 7000 
Goats fall into four categories: meat, wool, dairy and dual (multi) purpose. Some goat breeds are dual purpose (e.g. meat and wool, or meat and milk). However, a majority of the current commercial breeds have been developed with specialization to one primary product in mind e.g., milk or dairy.
There are three main type in Kenya  Alpine, Toggenburg and Saanen

Kenya Alpine

Kenya Alpine dairy goat (KADG) is a breed resulting from the grading-up of the local East African goat using pedigree German Alpine germplasm. This was and is still being done using natural service. The breed has four registration classes (genotypes) which include:

Genetic Group	Percent German Alpine blood	Crosses
Foundation	75%	Back cross 1 (R1): PAB x F1 Females
Intermediate	87.5%	Back cross 2 (R2): PAB x F2 Females
Appendix	93.75%	Back cross 3 (R3): PAB x R2 Female
Pedigree	>93.75%	Interse mating of Back cross 3: R2 Male x R2 Female. Offspring will remain 93.75% or more
	OR	PAB x R2 Female -->Grading-up. Offspring will be 93.25% or more

Studies have shown that as the percent of pedigree blood increases, the goat becomes more prolific poducing daily milk yield of 2.4-4.6lts when milked twice daily. Under proper managemnt, the goat can come on heat at 8 months of age. However, the average age at first kidding is usully twice or more than this age. The goat comes to heat every 24 days with a gestation period of 150 days.

The KADG is the most promising small stock dairy breed in Kenya since it has been widely accepted in many Districts in Central, Eastern and Western provinces; however maximal production is more dependent on the level of management as opposed to the genotype.

KADG goat ears are pricked and the hair is long. The goat is medium size. Colour black and brown but considerable variations occur. Horns are scimitar shaped. The adult male weighs 65 kg, female 60 kg. The breed is valued for its milk and meat. Milk yield 2.4-4.6 lit/ day. Butterfat 3.6%.

 Toggenburg

 Toggenburg is another commercial dairy breed under smallholder production systems in medium to high agricultural potential environment in Kenya. It originated from Toggenburg in Switzerland.

They have an average birth weight of 3.27 kg with a weaning weight of 19.12 kg and average daily gain of 136 g/day. Studies have shown that the smallholder farmers are able to maintain comparably high levels of milk production in the first three parities, with yields of 475±9 lts in the first parity, 507±9 lts in the second parity and 513±13 lts in the third parity. The Kidding interval has a range of 302±117 days. Studies have demonstrated that the Toggenburg goats are able to perform and thrive reasonably well under the low-input farming conditions.

Colour: brown, chocolate, fawn with white line each side of the face from above the eyes to muzzle, edges of ears, on rump and tail. Legs white from knees down. Males tend to have longer hair than the female.

There are two sub-types of Toggenburg:
The British Toggenburg males weigh up to 100 kg and females about 70 kg.
The Swiss Toggenburg males weigh about 70 kg and the females about 50 kg.

Suffer from heat stress in hot climates. Do not thrive if badly housed, kept on poor pasture or put away when they are wet. These are 'high quality animals and should only be kept if conditions are right. For smaller farmers and, particularly, nil grazing situations, cross bred Toggenburgs would be a better option.
Purpose: milk production and cross breeding (improving local breeds). Milk production potential: 5 Iitres/ day under good management . Butter fat 3.8%. Average litter size: 1.8

Is another commercial dairy breed under smallholder production systems in medium to high agricultural potential environment in Kenya. It originated from Toggenburg in Switzerland.

They have an average birth weight of 3.27 kg with a weaning weight of 19.12 kg and average daily gain of 136 g/day. Studies have shown that the smallholder farmers are able to maintain comparably high levels of milk production in the first three parities, with yields of 475±9 lts in the first parity, 507±9 lts in the second parity and 513±13 lts in the third parity. The Kidding interval has a range of 302±117 days. Studies have demonstrated that the Toggenburg goats are able to perform and thrive reasonably well under the low-input farming conditions.

Colour: brown, chocolate, fawn with white line each side of the face from above the eyes to muzzle, edges of ears, on rump and tail. Legs white from knees down. Males tend to have longer hair than the female.

There are two sub-types of Toggenburg:
The British Toggenburg males weigh up to 100 kg and females about 70 kg.
The Swiss Toggenburg males weigh about 70 kg and the females about 50 kg.

Suffer from heat stress in hot climates. Do not thrive if badly housed, kept on poor pasture or put away when they are wet. These are 'high quality animals and should only be kept if conditions are right. For smaller farmers and, particularly, nil grazing situations, cross bred Toggenburgs would be a better option.
Purpose: milk production and cross breeding (improving local breeds). Milk production potential: 5 Iitres/ day under good management . Butter fat 3.8%. Average litter size: 1.8

Saanen

With its origin in West Switzerland, Saanens are the largest and one of the calmest of the dairy breeds. The Saanen breed also produces the most milk on average and tends to have lower butterfat content, about 2.5% - 3%. Estrous cycle length for Saanen goats is 21 days on average, while their average first mating age is 9.7 months. The age at their first use for breeding (kidding age) is 12.9 months. Estrous can be seen from 2-5 year olds.

The breed is large and white/ biscuit in colour with black spots on nose, ears and udder and with pink skin pigmentation. Ears point forwards and upwards. The conformation is good and udders tend to be very well developed. Short coat. Mostly polled. Hermaphrodism is common. This is associated with the gene for polledness and it is advisable to only keep horned bucks for breeding. The face is straight and slightly dished. Does do not respond well to strong sunlight and in very hot areas performs best under shade. Mature male weighs 80-100 kg while mature female weighs 60-70 kg and the breed has a high twining rate. Saanen have outward curving horns.

Purpose: milk production, up to 7 litres of milk per day under good management. Butter fat 3.5%.