Ibex
The Alpine goat is so named because of its place of origin - the Alps. This is a mountain animal, the distinctive features of which are agility and grace. The Alpine is one of the most popular and widespread goat breeds in the world.
The ancestors of the alpiek are goats that lived on the farms of the small town of Savoy (France). These animals got there straight from Persia (now Iran). Alpines lived in the mountains, sometimes they could be found in an open field. The ancestors of modern Alpine goats were painted in a luxurious color. In France, it was noted that the birth of little kids is a real surprise, and all because it was not possible to understand in advance what color the newborns would be.
By the end of the 19th century, animals were brought to Switzerland and Great Britain, soon America began to breed the breed. The breed was formed with the help of other varieties. As a result, American scientists bred a completely new breed, larger and stronger than its Alpine relatives. In Russia, animals were first seen at the end of the 20th century. Now in our country they are actively engaged in the cultivation of alpieques. Goats are popular in Belarus, Ukraine, America and several other countries.
Description of the breed
Russian farmers prefer to breed goats because of their unusual color, pleasant milk taste, good adaptability to any conditions of keeping and friendly nature. Breed traits (usually a variegated color or a color in several tones) are transmitted even after many generations. Typically, an alpine goat looks like this: a white neck, dark gray shoulders, or a reddish color that turns brown, passing to the shoulders.
The body is large, the head is small, the ears are straight, with a well-defined withers. The tail is long. The neck is not long, thin, the narrow sacrum is slightly lowered. The coat is short in summer with lengthening on the ridge. The main feature of the Alpine goat is a long lactation period and a voluminous udder. The horns are oval and flat, sometimes hornless individuals can be found. The hooves of a goat are tough to the touch, but elastic on the inside.
Alpies are quite hardy animals. When cold weather sets in, a light fluff can be seen on the goat's body, which completely subsides by summer. This is why cold winters can be easily tolerated by goats. The breed is undemanding to grooming, which helps it adapt to any weather and any diet. By nature, goats are peaceful and quiet, they love the owners, they treat them well. They become leaders in the herd.
There are about seven main types of alpine colors, but most often there is a variegated color, as well as a color with a light neck.
The popularity of the breed in Russia
The Alpine breed is popular in Russia due to its high productivity, unpretentiousness to keeping conditions. With little cash costs, you can get good revenue by selling dairy and meat products. If you are thinking about purchasing an alpine goat, carefully study all possible options, find a good farm and visit it personally.
Unfortunately, it is not so easy to find a pure breed in our country. Alpines give color to their offspring, thanks to which many careless goat keepers make money on this. They breed common goats with purebred goats and give offspring as purebred goats. Also, dishonest breeders can interbreed close relatives, which also adversely affects the offspring. People who buy these kids end up dissatisfied with the taste of the milk and the size of the milk yield.
Therefore, it is necessary to carefully approach the question of finding a farm or nursery for choosing a thoroughbred goat. Be sure to try the milk, assess the general condition of the farm, study the housing conditions and the number of livestock. Only after these events, purchase an Alpine goat. Remember: you are buying an animal not for the sake of an interesting look, but for the sake of good milk, healthy offspring and stable milk yield.
Alpine goat productivity
Alpine goats have gained such popularity also because they have excellent milk production. If you take proper care of the female, she can give up to 1 ton of milk per year (fat content from 3 to 3.3%). Lactation lasts a long time, from one to three years, the goat is milked easily. You can make cottage cheese and cheese from the product. Milk does not have a specific smell (if the goat is a pure breed), ideal for baby food. The taste is sweetish, creamy, the consistency is dense.
Meat production is not a hallmark of Alpine goats. Many farmers say the meat is satisfactory. By adulthood, the female gains weight on average 60 kilograms, the male - 78. Alpine goats are also used for the supply of meat, but the most valuable resource is milk. Wool is a decoration and protection from the cold. It is short, smooth, so making it a good thread or knitting it won't work.
Alpines have several main varieties. These are British, Swiss, French Alpine goats and Rock goats.
Advantages and disadvantages of the breed
Alpine goat breed has a lot of advantages, because of which it is chosen by farmers around the world:
- good adaptability to any weather conditions;
- kind, good and friendly character towards the owner;
- excellent fertility;
- milk tastes good, without a characteristic odor;
- good endurance, no dependence on the owner.
The list of virtues is impressive, but sometimes the breed is not easy to master. All goats need proper grooming, which can be complicated by the following disadvantages:
- animals do not tolerate drafts;
- goats are selfish in the herd, each striving to take a leading position;
- the alpine is very picky about the quality of water, she will not drink even a little dirty liquid.
Animal breeding
If you use "interbreeding", the alpine can please with worthy offspring. In interbreeding, animals belonging to different breeds are selected for mating. Newborn kids can surpass their parents in health and productivity. Alpines bring offspring rather quickly. After the first mating, the herd is replenished with several kids - females rarely bring one animal at a time (maximum 5 kids). Young kids practically do not get sick and have a high survival rate. Childbirth is easy, the participation of the breeder in this process is not required. Also, goats independently raise and feed their offspring.
The only condition is comfortable conditions for pregnant females and a correct feeding diet. Spoiled, poor quality feed, very cold water can cause miscarriage. Protect the goat from stress, shock and shock. In the last months of bearing the kid, you need to protect the female from dampness and bad weather conditions. Walk your goat on level pastures to prevent the female from jumping over fences and ditches. It is also strongly discouraged to feed the goat - this can complicate childbirth.
Alpine goat breeding is an efficient business. According to Russian livestock breeders, this is one of the best and most profitable breeds. There are practically no problems with it, so they are suitable even for a novice farmer. The funds spent on the purchase of the breed, the arrangement of the farm will not only be able to quickly pay off, but also bring a good profit. In Russia, you can find an alpine in the North Caucasus, where the weather is most favorable for them. If you want to start an alpine goat breeding business, you need to:
- Draw up a detailed business plan that reflects the financial component of the project.
- Study in detail the rules for caring for animals, draw up a plan for feeding animals, as well as a plan for selling products.
- Register as an individual entrepreneur. Submit an application for the purchase of land, obtain a sanitary and epidemiological conclusion of Rospotrebnadzor, register property rights or sign a lease agreement for premises and land.
- Find suppliers and start a breeding business.
The cost of an Alpine goat in our country varies from 15 to 50 thousand rubles.
Important points of breeding and keeping alpine goats
Alpine goats are not picky and do not need special conditions. You can keep them in a stable or regular barn. It is necessary to allocate about 4-5 m² for one animal. It is necessary that the place in which the alpies live is dry, light, spacious. The pen should be kept at moderate humidity. Daylighting, small standby light at night. It is good if supply and exhaust ventilation is equipped. Walls can be upholstered with thermal insulation, for example, mineral wool. Keeping the females warm will keep the milk supply at the same level.
It is best to lay wooden planks, cover them on top with soft straw or hay. Make sure that there are sun loungers on the floor so the flock will feel comfortable. If there is a sunbed in the room, the goat will never lie on the floor. Livestock breeders recommend equipping shelves of planks, located at a height of about 60 cm from the floor. Goats love to climb high. Milking goats must be kept separately. It is also recommended to equip a separate room for brood goats.
Video - Keeping goats in a subsidiary farm
From the video you will learn in detail about the maintenance of goats. An experienced farmer talks about the premises for these pets. Several pens of different capacities, equipment for milking and feeding - this is a video about the Milkin House farm, which is located in the Moscow Region. In the video, you will also learn about the secrets of saving space and the basic rules of caring for animals.
Feeding
In the warm season, it is necessary to lead goats to pastures. Grazing is ideal food for animals. The summer ration should consist of green fodder, it is allowed to feed the goats with food waste. If the farm has a vegetable garden, you can feed the weeds to the pets. Goats love to gnaw on tree branches. Professional livestock breeders recommend adding table salt to the diet - in the wild, alpines are looking for it in the rocks.
In winter, alpiecs should be fed hay. They willingly eat roots and vegetables. Also, in cold weather, it is necessary to add chalk and mineral additives to the feed. Give food 3 times a day at a certain time (according to the schedule). First, the combined feed is given, then the juicy feed, the third time - the coarse one. Compound feed can be given together with thick porridge or in liquid form, but you should not brew the feed with boiling water, otherwise all the necessary vitamins and useful additives will disappear from it.
Be sure to include in the diet combined and concentrated feed, cereals. Change the water every day. The Alpine breed needs more drinking water - it affects the quality of milking. Make sure the bowls are always clean. Watch your diet closely. Do not feed birch branches to alpine goats, as this can cause various diseases in livestock. Do not forget about proper feeding of pregnant females, because this is the key to a good and healthy offspring.
Goats usually gore each other while feeding. That is why feeding should be done on an individual basis.
Video - Alpine goat in a personal subsidiary farm
Personal subsidiary plots are non-entrepreneurial activities to meet the needs for food on the provided plot of land, more often in rural areas. The heroes of the program are animals, and this episode tells about beautiful alpies. Veterinarians, zoopsychologists and breeders talk about their profession and the relationship between humans and animals.
Conclusion
Alpine goats are one of the most famous and respected breeds among farmers and livestock breeders. Quiet disposition, good stability, independence from the farmer, fertility and quality milk - these are the main advantages of this breed. To obtain positive productivity, it is necessary to provide the goats with proper care in compliance with all the norms of their life. Only in this case will the alpine girls please the owner with good results.