Sahelian Goat Breed – Everything You Need to Know

The Sahelian goat prefers the Saharan and Sub-Saharan type climates and as they are not very trypano-tolerant they cannot survive for very long in the more forest of wooded areas.

These goats are great for the nomadic lifestyle of the desert and adapt well to the types of vegetation found in these deserts.

Sahelian Goat Goat Quick Profile Overview

A West African beauty that’s stamina and adaptability are just as prized as their beauty.
Country of Origin:	West Africa
Other Names:	Cheèvre bariolée, Fulani, Gorane, Nioro, Niafounké, Sahélienne, Sahel and West African Longlegged.
Breed Size:	Small
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Main Purpose:	Milk, skin and meat
Can be used for	Breeding, Meat, Milk, Pets, Skin
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Temperament:	They are tough and quite independent but are friendly
Good with Kids?	They can be good around supervised children
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Ideal Environment:	They like hot desert type environments
Ideal Climate:	All climates but are better in the heat
Conservation Status:	Not Listed by the *ALC Status/ Rarity: Common
Health Issues?	No known health issues
Good Starter Goat?	Yes, they do make a great starter goat and do not need too much maintenance
Goat Associations:	No known goat associations
Goat Clubs:	No know breeders clubs
Note: *ALC stands for American Livestock Conservancy

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS

The Sahelian goat breeds are thin and compact with a narrow body, shallow chest and they have really stiff wiry type hair. They have long agile legs and what is known as semi-pendulous ears as they are not soft and droopy like most goat types with pendulous drooping ears.
Color(s):	Gray, black, brown, pure white, red, cream, pied, brown or various color splashes, patches or sprinkles on their coats No color differences between the doe and buck
Goat⇒	Doe	buck
Breed Weight:	34 kg	56.7 kg
Breed Height:	75 cm at withers	85 cm at withers
Hair:	Stiff/wiry short hair	Stiff/wiry short hair
Ears:	Long and stiff that is held alongside their head	Long and stiff that is held alongside their head
Horns:	Short, straight and spiralled	Short, straight and spiralled
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

DOE BREEDING & MILKING INFORMATION

They breed once a year and tend to have a set breeding pattern every year
Breeding Period/cycle:	Usually lasts 12 to 36 hours Ave. 21 days/18 to 24 days
Gestation Period:	Usually around 5 months
Kids:	They will usually only have 1 kid per litter, but some have had 2
Good Mothers?	They will tend to and care for their young until they are weaned
Lactation Period:	Usually around 250 to 284 days. Most common is 284 days
Milk Quality:	They do not produce a lot of milk but it is of a decent quality
Milking Level:	They are not too hard to milk
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GOOD TO KNOW

Some more useful information about the lovely Sahelian goat breed
Where to buy them:	They are not usually found in the USA it is best to check with the various American Goat Associations of which you can find the links at the end of this article
Agility:	They are quick, nimble and can get through the most amazing gaps
Interact with other animals:	They do not mind sharing their space with other animals having been raised in arid environments they are used to sharing their space

GENERAL INFORMATION:

Most Sahelian goats have wattles and a few of them, both males and females have been known to have short beards.

The does Udders are split into two as is the male’s scrotum in the Sahelian breed of goat.

HISTORY

A quick guide to the Sahelian goat’s history. There is not much written about the history of this breed.

The Sahelian breed belongs to a breed group of goats called the Savanna group of goats. This group of goats has many subtypes that are raised in the Saharan and sub-Saharan regions.

The Sahelian breed is widely distributed through the north and north-west of Mali. These goats are more suited to the Saharan and sub-Saharan type of environment and climates.