Having decided to get a goat in order to get tasty and healthy milk from it, farmers prefer the Saanen breed. Saanen goats are considered the best for the dairy direction for many reasons. In this article you will learn how to contain representatives of this breed so that they will gladden you with high-quality milk in large quantities for a long time.
Breed description
The breed was bred half a century ago, but gained popularity only in the twentieth century, and today it is bred all over the world. It is considered the best breed of the dairy direction.
Appearance
Representatives of this species are distinguished by a beautiful, bright, aristocratic appearance:
| Head | Small, elegant. |
| The ears | Triangular in shape, raised up and tilted forward. |
| Horns | In most cases, absent, only occasionally horned individuals are found. |
| Neck | Long, slightly flattened on the sides, may have “earrings” on the bottom. |
| Torso | Strong, wide. |
| Wool | Short, has a white color. Rarely may have a creamy tint. |
| Udder | Large, round or pear-shaped. |
| Legs | Smooth, strong. |
| Hooves | Yellow, straight. |
| Tail | Small, has a horizontal position. |
Productive Characteristics
Zaanen breed is valued by farmers for its productivity, and milk - for high quality, proven utility and moderate fat content (4%). In addition, this valuable product has a delicate creamy taste, free from unpleasant odors.
How much milk does it give?
A sexually mature female can produce up to a thousand liters of milk per year. The more lamb the goat had, the more milk it would produce. After the fourth birth with one female, you can get up to 12 liters of valuable product for daily milk yield. With proper care, some representatives of the breed are able to produce more than two thousand liters of milk per year.
Did you know? Goat milk contains immunoglobulins, and for many centuries has been used by mankind to treat and prevent diseases, even such as allergies and tuberculosis. In addition, it is able to remove radionuclides from the body.
Advantages and disadvantages of the breed
Having decided to get a Saanen goat, it is worth getting acquainted with all the pros and cons of this breed.
- pros
- High productivity.
- The lactation period is up to 11 months per year.
- High level of acclimatization.
- Calm, friendly character.
- Excellent, dominant genetics, if crossing with other breeds is provided.
- Good fertility - up to 250 kids per 100 goats per year.
- Pleasant smell of both the animal and milk.
- The quality and fat content of milk significantly wins compared to cow.
- Willingness to graze in any areas: plains, mountains or ravines.
- Minuses
- Relative whimsical content.
- Frequent crosses can affect purebred breeds.
- The high cost of purebred representatives with pedigree books.
Which goat is better: Saanen or Nubian?
Another breed that is famous for its large milk yield is the Nubian. These artiodactyls can produce up to a thousand liters of milk per year. Milk of Nubian goats also has excellent quality and pleasant gentle taste without extraneous odors. The fat content of the product is higher than that of Saanen - up to 8%. Also, Nubian animals are valued for their tender, odorless meat. The breed is friendly, does not show aggression. Another advantage of the Nubian breed is that its representatives are quite prolific.
One female leads 4-6 kids a year. Young growth is rapidly growing and rapidly gaining weight. But there are features that disadvantageously characterize the Nubian breed. It was bred in the South African climate, so it is very thermophilic, poorly adapted to the cold climate and does not tolerate harsh winters. In addition, milk productivity is directly related to a varied diet rich in vitamins and minerals, which is difficult to organize in our climate zone.
Did you know? In 1906, in France, at the World Congress of Pediatricians, goat milk was recognized as the best natural substitute for women. This product replaces the natural feeding of most cubs of animals, if for some reason it is not possible.
Difference of Saanen goats from other breeds
Zaanensky goats have a number of features that distinguish them from their "relatives" of other breeds:
- The short, stiff hair of these animals has a beautiful white color.
- Large, strong, wide body.
- Quite a lot of weight (especially for goats).
- High performance.
- Excellent milk quality.
- Pickiness in nutrition and maintenance.
- The ability to quickly acclimatize in different conditions.
Breeding Features
Starting to breed these animals, you need to understand the features of their milking, keeping, feeding, and grazing.
How to milk?
Milk the goat should be twice a day: morning and evening. If the animal has not yet given birth, there will be little milk, but after the first lambing, its quantity will increase. The maximum productivity of these artiodactyls occurs after the third or fourth birth.
Important! From improper and inaccurate milking in goats, cracks in the nipples may appear. In these cases, the udder is wiped several times a day with a solution of potassium permanganate to minimize the risk of infection of the wounds, after which the cracks should be treated with petroleum jelly.
Conditions for keeping
In order for the goats to be healthy and well milked, the temperature in the barn where they live should not be lower than +7 ° C and not higher than +19 ° C all year round. Humidity - not higher than 75%. These animals greatly value cleanliness. Litter should be changed at least once a week. Their place of detention should not be located near cesspools or contaminated water bodies. You need to clean the barn from vital products every day.
Twice a year, it is necessary to disinfect the premises where animals constantly live. For the health of representatives of this breed is of great importance and clean air. The stable must be ventilated so that the animals receive a maximum of clean air, but are protected from drafts. Separate compartments with an area of up to two square meters are built for dairy goats.
Feeding
As already mentioned above, for good performance and healthy goats, their diet should be balanced, containing a large amount of vitamins and minerals. The following is a list of products that must be present in the diet of Saanen goats:
- Silage. Artiodactyls prefer hay from legumes and cereals.
- Corn. Before serving, it should be detailed.
- Brooms from willow twigs, birch, oak and linden leaves. Farmers usually treat their pets with this treat in the winter.
- Bran.
- Concentrated feed.
- Juicy fruits and vegetables: cabbage, fodder beets, carrots, potatoes, apples.
- Salt.
Important! Do not give goats food waste from your table. This can negatively affect the health status of pets, the number of milk yield and the quality of milk.
Watering
The frequency of drinking goats - twice a day: morning and evening. For drinking, animals are offered only clean, warm and, most importantly, fresh water.
Grazing
As for the territory for walking, the Saanen goats are not selective in this matter. They will graze on the plains, and in the highlands, and in ravines. Since the breed loves fresh air, it needs to spend at least five hours a day on a walk in the warm season and about two hours a day in winter. A sufficient frequency and duration of grazing will positively affect both the general health of the animals and the appearance of their coat.
Frequent diseases
Saanen goats have good immunity against viruses and are very rarely ill. With proper care and a balanced diet, you can ensure that pets do not get sick at all. However, there are some ailments that await artiodactyls:
- Poisoning. His animal can be obtained by eating poisonous plants or poor-quality food. In order to exclude this threat, always check what you give your pets to eat, and also do not let the animals graze in areas where a lot of poisonous grass grows.
- Injuries. They happen to all animals and every farmer needs to know that the main thing is to provide first aid on time. It consists in applying a tire to a broken limb or treating a wound with a solution of potassium permanganate with iodine, as well as immediately contacting a veterinarian for advice.
- Hoof inflammation. The goat begins to limp, sick hooves heat up. In this case, it is necessary to trim the ungulate horn (if any) and treat the end of the animal’s leg with a potassium permanganate solution.
Did you know? Male goats mature earlier than females. Since six months they have already been used as inseminators. Therefore, starting from this age, it is better to relocate young males for about six months, so that the rest have the opportunity to form.
Zaanen goats rightfully occupy the first place in the ranking of all dairy breeds. Breeding them will not cause much trouble, but the quantity and quality of milk will convince you that the decision to get goats of this breed is the right one.
