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Saanen Goat Breed – Everything You Need to Know

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The Saanen is one of the productive dairy breeds that originate from Switzerland. This all-white goat is one of the top milk-producing goats and takes to most environments well. Hence the reason it is one of the most common dairy goats in America.

The Saanen is also said to be really easy to raise so easy in fact that even a child can raise one!

They are said to be one of if not the most popular goat amongst goat owners around the world.

Saanen Goat Quick Profile Overview

The Saanen are one of the most popular goat breeds in the world and their milk can be used for most things that cow’s milk can.
Country of Origin: Switzerland
Other Names: Chevre de Gessenay (French), Saaneziege (German) or Capra di Saanen (Italian)
Breed Size: Medium/large
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Main Purpose: Milk production
Can be used for Breeding, Milk, Pets, Show
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Temperament: They are quiet, calm and sweet.
Good with Kids? They are one of the best goat breeds around children
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Ideal Environment: They are adaptive to most gardens even a larger back garden
Ideal Climate: They do better in the cold but adapt to the heat
Conservation Status: Not Listed by the *ALC
They are quite common and readily available at Saanen breeders
Health Issues? They have been bred to be immune to a lot of common diseases
Good Starter Goat? This is an excellent starter goat and is highly recommend for the first-time goat owner.
Goat Associations: National Saanen Breeders Association
Goat Clubs: The clubs are not readily available to the public so please check with the National Saanen Breeders Association as listed above.
Note: *ALC stands for American Livestock Conservancy

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS

The Saanen is said to carry themselves with an air of grace and dignity. These sweet gentle goats are of medium size with, medium length legs and beautiful white coats. Their face is more of a long heart shape with a smaller bridge across it than other breeds. The Males bridge it a lot thicker than the females but not as broad as the Nubians or Boer goats.
The does is a lot more delicate in stature than the buck. With her face more defined small and feminine. Her coloring is exactly the same and they even have little beards.
The buck has a full beard that looks like a fake Santa beard and his whole body is normally pure white making him look like a marshmallow
Color(s): White or a creamy/biscuit color. Some do have a few small spots on their bodies or around their heads.
No color variances that distinguishes the male from the female
Goat⇒ Doe buck
Breed Weight: 123 lbs. 187 lbs.
Breed Height: 80 cm at withers 80 cm at withers
Hair: Short but can grow and become coarse Short and fine. Their hair can grow long and become quite coarse. They may have longer hair along the ridge of their spine/back and on the top of their legs.
Ears: They are the same color as her body and they stand erect from the side of her head They have erect ears that are usually the same color as their bodies or they can be a fawn/biscuit color inside.
Horns: Her horns grow up and curl back from her head If their horns are not disbudded as a kid, they will grow straight back from the head and curl toward their back of their bodies
Matures at age: 5 to 15 months 3 to 15 months
Puberty Age: 4 to 10 months 4 to 9 months
Breeding Age: 18 months 1 year
Breeding Traits: 1 Breeding cycle Cover 20 to 30 does in 1 season
They can be bred once a year and will give birth at about 20 weeks
The Saanen will be ready to breed again the following year around the same time.

DOE BREEDING & MILKING INFORMATION

They can be bred once a year and will give birth at about 20 weeks.
The Saanen will be ready to breed again the following year around the same time.
Breeding Period/cycle: Usually lasts 12 to 36 hours
Ave. 21 days/18 to 24 days
Gestation Period: Usually around 148 to 155 day but most are 150 days
Kids: The will have 1 to 2 kids per litter some have had up to 3
Good Mothers? They make good mothers
Lactation Period: Usually around 250 to 284 days. Most common is 284 days
Milk Quality: Low butterfat content. Her milk is like the low-fat cow’s milk found at supermarkets
Milking Level: Her udders are well places and well proportioned
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GOOD TO KNOW

Some more information about the Saanen Goat breed
Where to buy them: Redwood Hill Farm, Hoyt Farms and the National Saanen Breeders Association or the American Goat Federation or American Dairy Goat Association (ADGA) will have up to date breeders information for in and around your area.
Agility: These are Swiss goats and Swiss goats are known to be able to climb the most precarious of cliff faces. They can also jump quite high and will climb a tree if they want the leaves at the top.
Interact with other animals: These friendly goats love to socialize and have no problem mingle with cows, dogs or any other domestic or farm animal there may be./td>

GENERAL INFORMATION:

These goats love people and are so gentle that they are really a good goat to have as a pet.
They prefer the milder climates to the heat and they are prone to skin cancer in hot sunny conditions due to their tender light-colored skins.

HISTORY

The Saanen are from the Saanen in western Switzerland. They are the largest of the Swiss dairy goats and have been exported around the world for centuries.
These beautiful goats were selected for their superior milk production and skin color. They are also very hardy goats and not susceptible to most common diseases. Their only downfall is that their skin is prone to skin cancer in rarely hot climates due to its light color.

They have been exported worldwide since 1893 and were imported into America in 1904 where they became America’s first registered goat breed.
They are also used as a base breed for the development of a lot of other newer breeds.

Today they are the most sought-after dairy breed in America due to their milk-producing consistency, how easy they are to keep and maintain. They are also top-quality exhibition goats with their easy temperaments and perfect posture making them star quality.

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