In meat goats, meat is especially tasty, hearty and healthy. This product has dietary properties. Today, breeders are engaged in large-scale breeding of meat goats. With all the recommendations for a particular breed, this is a very lucrative activity.
General characteristics of meat breeds
A distinctive feature of meat goats is a quick weight gain. Kids get 500 g per day. The mass of adult males is under 100 kg, goats - 85 kg. Upon reaching the age of 8-12 months (depending on the breed) and the appropriate weight, the animals go to slaughter.
Characteristic features of meat goats:
- large body with well-developed muscles;
- strong back, rounded sides;
- in comparison with dairy goats, an udder of the small sizes;
- strong limbs that can withstand a large body;
- high fecundity (up to 2-3 kids in the litter);
- unpretentiousness in leaving;
- stable immunity.
The meat is dietary, without a specific smell. Goat meat is especially useful for diseases of the blood, cardiovascular system and digestive tract.
Arab
The goat hails from the Republic of Chad. This animal is unpretentious in care and maintenance. Poor vegetation along the roads and clean water are the basis of the daily ration of the representatives of the Arab breed.
The main feature of this breed is a quick weight gain without compound feeds and vitamin supplements. A kid at 8 days weighs 4 kg, and at 4 months already 12 kg. In the litter - up to 2-3 cubs who have stable immunity from birth.
Benefits:
- high rates of adaptation;
- fertility;
- meat productivity;
- strong immunity;
- monotonous diet.
Disadvantages:
- little information on goat care;
- high price.
Anatolian black
This is a Syrian type of goat native to Turkey. Animals have a direct posture, a humpback nose, drooping ears, long hair of black, brown, gray or motley color. Females are smaller - 45-65 kg, and a distinctive feature of goats is elongated spiral-shaped horns with a total weight of 70-90 kg.
Externally, the goat is rich pink in color, tastes like young lamb. There is no smell, stiffness disappears after cooking a meat dish.
Benefits:
- frost resistance due to thick undercoat;
- good adaptability;
- high milk production;
- disease resistance.
Disadvantages:
- the need to comb out the coat;
- a specific smell from the animal;
- little information on breed breeding.
Assam hill
This is an Indian breed of goats that can often be found on the rolling hills of Meghalaya. With low milk production, the animal is more often used in the meat direction. Kids at birth weigh only 1 kg, but quickly gain weight. The body weight of an adult male is 27 kg, females - up to 20 kg.
Outwardly, it is a short-legged animal with a long body and ears protruding in opposite directions. Goats are short-haired, but with a thick undercoat, white or gray. Males have small horns and a short beard, hornless goats.
Benefits:
- appearance appeal;
- high fecundity;
- strong immunity;
- simplicity in leaving and the maintenance.
Disadvantages:
- low milk;
- the difficulty of adapting to new conditions;
- high price.
Bangladeshi
Animals come from Bangladesh. The second name is Black Bengal Goat. Characteristic features are a wide forehead, massive horns, a short body and low limbs. The animal is short-haired, black or dark brown.
Bangladeshi goats go to the slaughter. A kid is born with a body weight of 0.4 kg, but by the age of 4-4.5 months it weighs 8-9 kg. The rates of weight gain are high, with proper care fertility, too (up to 2 kids in the litter).
Benefits:
- compact sizes;
- does not require a large space for content;
- peaceful, balanced character;
- high meat productivity;
- strong immunity.
Disadvantages:
- low milk yield;
- risk of hoof injury;
- rarity of purchase in Russia.
White Andalusian (Celtibarica blank)
This white Spanish goat has an original look. On a small head are ears down, which contrast with towering horns. The goat has a long body, slender legs, short white hair and a small tail.
Blanca of Celtibaric (the second name of the breed) is distinguished by impressive dimensions. The weight of the goat reaches 100 g, while the female weighs no more than 70 kg. Females have a well-developed maternal instinct, so the litter is with the parent for up to 5 months. When goats reach a weight of 25-30 kg, the young growth is relocated.
Benefits:
- quick weight gain of kids;
- a majestic view;
- high fecundity.
Disadvantages:
- low immunity of kids;
- risk of hoof injury;
- features of the content.
Boer breed
This is a South African breed with strong immunity. Externally, the animal is small in size but stocky. The weight of the goats reaches 135 kg, while the females are smaller - no more than 100 kg.
Goats are attractive in appearance. They have a hunchbacked nose, long hanging ears and very smart eyes. The coat is short, brown spots are visible on the head, neck and chest. The nature of the goat is non-conflict, amenable to training. Females of the Boer breed in 2 years give birth three times. The weight of the kids is up to 4 kg, a rapid increase is observed - 500 g per day. The meat is similar to veal, without a specific smell.
Benefits:
- high productivity;
- fast weight gain;
- strong immunity.
Disadvantages:
- risk of hoof injury;
- low fecundity in the cold;
- poor adaptive performance.
East African
This dwarf goat breed is bred in such regions of Africa as Kenya, Zimbabwe, Uganda. Despite its compact size, slaughter yield is 44%. Animals are slaughtered after reaching a weight of 14 kg.
Distinctive features of the breed - unpretentiousness in the care and feeding. Goats gain weight with poor feed. It is important to clarify the meat direction of animals, since milk production of East African goats is low.
Benefits:
- good gain;
- quick adaptation;
- compactness;
- outward appeal.
Disadvantages:
- rarity of breeding in Russia;
- high price;
- intolerance to extreme cold.
Greek breed
Goats from the island of Crete are distinguished by a variety of colors, attractive external data. The animal has a massive body, small head, horizontally set ears, strong limbs and a short tail. Goats are short-haired, graze in the mountains and in the pasture.
The maximum weight of the animal reaches 60 kg. Fertility rate - no more than 2 kids in the litter. The meat is light pink in color, reminiscent of young veal, without a specific smell and taste.
Benefits:
- unpretentiousness in leaving;
- attractive appearance;
- strong immunity;
- fertility.
Disadvantages:
- the difficulty of acquiring in Russia;
- costly acquisition;
- harm to agriculture (eating green spaces).
Guangzong white
These are Chinese meat goats with sharp ears and long horns. Animals have a direct head profile, a long body, slender legs and a short tail. Chinese goats of white color, short-haired.
The breed is grown for slaughter, has good growth rates. The weight of an adult goat is 33 kg, goats are smaller - no more than 31 kg. Females are highly fertile; up to 2-4 kids in a litter.
Benefits:
- good growth;
- high fecundity;
- disease resistance.
Disadvantages:
- breeding is possible only in subtropical areas;
- cold intolerance;
- risk of hoof injury.
Damara
A goat native to Namibia, has an original coloring. The animal looks attractive, he has a good-natured disposition. The ears are wide and hanging, set on the sides of the head. Small horns laid back, erect. In the litter, up to 2 kids.
Goats were still grown by local tribes, and their milk was considered a sign of wealth. The product has a unique taste, energy value, contains a large amount of protein.
Benefits:
- fertility;
- good growth;
- life expectancy (up to 15 years).
Disadvantages:
- cold intolerance;
- whimsical care;
- rarity of breeding.
Jalonka (West African Dwarf)
These are African goats that are often found on the way from Senegal to Zaire. Animals have a distinctive feature - brown color with a black stripe along the ridge. Individuals are three-colored and white, but those are rare.
Adult goats weigh from 24 to 29 kg, have low rates of milk yield - up to 2 liters per week. Therefore, representatives of the breed often go to the face. The meat has a unique taste, without the specific smell of goat meat.
Benefits:
- resistance to trypanosomes;
- aesthetics of the breed;
- original color;
- unpretentiousness in leaving.
Disadvantages:
- small yields;
- complexity of content;
- risk of hoof injury.
Duan
Another Chinese breed, also known as Maitreya Red Goat. Animals quickly gain weight, active and cheerful, in the offspring bring 2-3 kid. The meat is pale pink, the taste is pleasant, the structure is juicy, the composition is vitamin.
The goats of the Duan breed have short hair of black, gray, motley and brown color, without bald patches. The animals have long ears, planted on the sides of the head, pointed horns of small sizes.
Benefits:
- fertility;
- good growth;
- lack of a specific smell.
Disadvantages:
- complexity of adaptation;
- low milk yield;
- the risk of morbidity in adults;
- weak immunity of kids.
Kannaiadu or Hagan
This is a long-haired goat native to Pakistan and India. The animal has gray, black or brown hair, which is twisted with small ropes and descends from the body. Kannaiadu has not only meat, but also a wool direction (cashmere fibers).
The animal is combed regularly, otherwise the risk of morbidity increases. The average adult weight is 32 kg.
Benefits:
- rarity of the breed;
- quality wool;
- product usefulness;
- flexible character.
Disadvantages:
- little information on goat breeding;
- purchase difficulty;
- the specifics of everyday care.
Criole
The breed first appeared in the Caribbean. This is the result of a long selection with a mediocre result - low milk yield, a small amount of meat and skin. Animals are beautiful in appearance. Goats have a straight profile, short ears and legs, a long brown body. The coat is short, uniform without bald patches. The dominant color is black.
Benefits:
- fertility;
- good adaptability;
- meat direction.
Disadvantages:
- mixed productivity;
- rarity of the breed;
- high price.
Kalahara red goat breed
With an outward resemblance to the Boer breed, the Kalahara goats have their own distinctive features. Among them - the weight of a goat up to 115 kg, goats no more than 70 kg. In addition to a good weight gain (400-600 g per day), pets give milk - up to 150 liters for the entire lactation period. Attention is also drawn to the proud profile and straight posture, richly brown coat.
Benefits:
- impressive external data;
- fast weight gain;
- high milk production;
- meat productivity.
Disadvantages:
- complexity of content;
- weak immunity of young animals;
- high price.
Kiko breed
Goats bred in New Zealand, in translation "kiko" means meat. The weight of adults is 60-70 kg. Goats are small in size, but have a massive body, developed muscles. The coat is short, brownish brown.
Females of the Kiko breed have a well-developed maternal instinct. In the litter - up to 2-3 cubs. Kids quickly gain weight, are unpretentious in the care and feeding. The meat of goats is tender and juicy, used for the preparation of delicacies.
Benefits:
- compactness of individuals;
- frost resistance;
- stable immunity;
- fast weight gain.
Disadvantages:
- whimsical feeding;
- little information on breeding;
- the difficulty of buying in Russia.
Longlin goats
These are Chinese sharp-headed goats, which are more often found in the mountainous regions of the country. Animals are small in size, but highly fertile - 1-2 kid in the litter. An adult male weighs 37 kg, a female - no more than 33 kg. She has a well-developed maternal instinct, and he is inclined to uphold his own territory.
Benefits:
- fertility;
- versatility of feeding;
- fast weight gain;
- quick acclimatization.
Disadvantages:
- intolerance to heat and dampness;
- risk of incidence;
- hoof injuries.
Mato (matou)
This is a Chinese goat breed native to Hubei. These are representatives of the group of sharp-headed goats, which have an aesthetic appearance and complaisant character. Animals of white color, there are short-haired and long-haired varieties.
Matu has a good increase. Goats mature quickly, have a small amount of fat. The weight of an adult is 35 kg, the average annual fecundity is 1-2 kid.
Benefits:
- high growth energy;
- good fertility;
- average indicators of meat productivity;
- fatty, healthy milk.
Disadvantages:
- risk of incidence;
- rarity of the breed;
- high price.
Rove (ditch) - French meat breed
French goat breed bred in the area of Marseille. It has long been used as a source of meat. The popularity of goat meat in France was dynamically declining, so breeders continued to work to increase milk productivity.
The colors of the animals are varied, but this should not cause doubts about the thoroughbredness of the breed. The appearance of characteristic spotting on the body is not excluded. A distinctive feature of the breed is long branched horns up to 1 m long. Goats weigh up to 90 kg, goats weigh up to 60 kg.
Benefits:
- carcass meat yield - up to 50%;
- food versatility;
- quick adaptation in a new place;
- stable immunity.
Disadvantages:
- may show aggression;
- rarity of breeding in Russia.
Sokoto
Goats are native to Nigeria, farmed for slaughter. The meat is no longer an amateur, but its usefulness is difficult to overestimate. Outwardly, the animal seems thin and tall, at the withers reaches 65 cm. The goat weighs 40 kg, the goat - no more than 30 kg. In the litter - 1-2 kid with stable immunity. The goat's suit is brown or red.
Benefits:
- strong immunity;
- high meat productivity;
- appearance appeal;
- flexible character.
Disadvantages:
- difficulty in leaving;
- feeding features;
- risk of hoof injury;
- specific taste of meat.
Sudanese desert
The pet was bred in Sudan, joined the group of dwarf goats. The weight of adults is 30 kg. Outwardly, the goat is unattractive - short light gray hair, screw-shaped horns in males, a humpback nose and drooping ears.
Goats have low milk yield rates (up to 200 ml per day). Meat productivity is also low. Breeding animals is more appropriate in severe climatic conditions, since goats tolerate cold, intense heat, and wind. Climate features do not affect their productivity.
Benefits:
- endurance;
- strong immunity;
- quick adaptation to a new place.
Disadvantages:
- moderate meatiness, milkiness;
- small sizes.
Goats Stifelgeiss
This is a rare breed from Switzerland, which is rarely found on agricultural land in Russia. The hooves have characteristic marks that give the impression that the animal is shod.
There are long-haired and short-haired representatives of the breed, with and without a beard, in color - from beige to deep red. Goats have a large body, well-developed muscles, long and rounded horns.The animal has a terrifying appearance, but in fact is kind, flexible.
The meatiness is high. The weight of an adult male is up to 80 kg, females - about 65 kg. There is no more detailed information about the breed, moreover, the Stifelgeiss goats are on the verge of extinction.
Benefits:
- very tasty meat;
- large sizes;
- good adaptive performance.
Disadvantages:
- rare breed;
- purchase difficulty;
- lack of breeding information.
Landscapes
The birthplace of this breed of goats is Yemen and Saudi Arabia. Animals are small, long-haired, saturated black with small horns and short ears. Outwardly, the representatives of the breed are similar to Gulabi and Kamori.
The meatiness indicators are medium, milk production is moderate. There is no more information about goats. Many breeders do not consider Khizari as a separate breed at all, they are convinced that this is one of the varieties of Pakistani or Indian goats.
Benefits:
- lack of smell in meat;
- outward appeal.
Disadvantages:
- lack of breed information;
- the difficulty of buying in Russia.
Rock Comparison Chart
For clarity, the productivity of meat goats is presented below a familiarization table, which will help beginner goats to quickly determine the breed for further breeding.
Meat Productivity Comparison Chart
Breed | Male weight, kg | The weight of the female, kg | Offspring | Meat productivity indicator |
Boerskaya | 135 | 100 | 2 | tall |
Kiko | 70 | 55 | 2-3 | tall |
Greek | 85 | 65 | 2 | tall |
Anatolian black | 90 | 65 | 1-2 | middle |
Nubian | 100 | 80 | 2-3 | tall |
Sokoto | 40 | 30 | 1-2 | middle |
Rove | 90 | 60 | 1-2 | middle |
Arab | 33 | 25 | 2-3 | middle |
White Andalusian | 100 | 70 | 1-2 | tall |
Guangzong white | 33 | 31 | 2-4 | tall |
Longlinskaya | 37 | 33 | 1-2 | middle |
Kalahara red | 115 | 70 | 1-2 | tall |
Mato | 35 | 33 | 1-2 | middle |
Damara | 70 | 60 | 1-2 | middle |
Jalonka | 29 | 25 | 1-2 | middle |
Kannaiadu | 32 | 30 | 2-3 | low |
Assam hill | 27 | 20 | 2-4 | low |
Stiefelgeiss | 80 | 65 | 1-2 | tall |
Sudanese desert | 30 | 27 | 1 | low |
Criole | 50 | 45 | 1-2 | middle |
Answers to popular questions
Inexperienced goats breeders often have questions related to goat breeding, below are answers to the most popular ones.
- How to grow goats for meat? To get a lot of good quality meat, goats must graze daily and eat properly. Daily grazing not only reduces the consumption of animal feed, but also increases the immunity of animals and the nutritional value of their meat.
- How to prevent the appearance of an unpleasant odor in meat?To remove the specific smell of meat, it is recommended:
- Castrate males at the age of 3-4 months. Castration before slaughter or in the process also improves goat quality.
- A month before slaughter, feed with crops.
- For 30 days, stop walking.
- Slaughter animals on a frosty day.
- Before slaughter, do not feed the goats, but give them only water.
- Is it profitable to breed goats for meat in Russia?Thanks to new, highly productive meat breeds, goat breeding has become a profitable type of business, and goat meat has become a sought-after food product.
When choosing a meat breed of goats for breeding, get acquainted with the detailed characteristics of each. With the right approach, this troublesome, but very interesting activity can bring substantial profits.