Breed Standards

French Alpine

The French Alpine originated in France. It is a large animal, and generally excels in stature. Even when quite large, they should remain refined and never be coarse. Alpines are alertly graceful, hardy, adaptable animals that thrive in any climate while maintaining good health and excellent production. They are known for being exceptionally curious, and friendly, although sometimes independent and strong willed. They are also known for their long lactation, producing large quantities of high quality milk. French Alpines are acceptable in any color pattern, although pure white animals and bucks with standard Toggenburg color and markings are discriminated against. The head is long. The bridge of the nose is straight or slightly dished. Ears are upright, alert, fine, and somewhat narrow. The hair is medium to short.

Color patterns in the Alpine are often referred to by French names: cou Clair (light-colored neck), cou blanc (white neck, black rear quarters), cou noir (black front quarters and white hindquarters), sundgau (black with white facial stripes, white below knees and hocks, white on either side of the tail),chamoisée (any shade or mixture of brown, often with a black stripe along the back and white markings on the face) or two-tone chamoisée (usually a lighter color on the forequarters), and pied (broken with white, spotted, or mottled). A "broken" pattern has large white areas obscuring the basic colors. Mature Alpine does should be at least 30" tall at the withers and should weigh at least 135 pounds. Mature Alpine bucks should be at least 32" tall at the withers and should weigh at least 160 pounds.

Lamancha

The LaMancha was developed in the USA. It has roots in Spain, but its full genetic history is somewhat obscure. LaManchas vary greatly in size, and often tend to be somewhat shorter and blockier than most other breeds of dairy goats. Taller, more refined animals are seen and are acceptable as well. They are widely respected for their docile, even temperament and steady production of milk of fairly high fat content.

The hair is short, fine and glossy. The LaMancha face is straight or slightly dished, with the ears being the distinctive breed characteristic. There are two types of LaMancha ears. "Gopher" type ears contain no cartilage but only a ring of skin around the auditory canal. "Elf" type ears contain a small amount of cartilage and a small amount of skin that may turn either up or down from the cartilage but should be no longer than two inches. One type of ear has no advantage over the other when evaluating does, however only gopher ears are acceptable on bucks. Any pattern, color, or combination of colors is acceptable.

Mature LaMancha does should be at least 28" tall at the withers and should weigh at least 130 pounds. Mature LaMancha bucks should be at least 30" tall at the withers and should weigh at least 155 pounds.

Nigerian Dwarf

The Nigerian Dwarf is a miniature dairy goat originating from West Africa and developed in the United States. The balanced proportions of the Nigerian Dwarf give it an appearance similar to the larger, Swiss breeds of dairy goats. Shorter height is the primary breed characteristic of the Nigerian Dwarf, with does measuring no more than 22 1/2” at the withers and bucks measuring no more than 23 1/2" at the withers.

They are known for their high quality milk, often with exceptionally high butterfat content. Nigerian Dwarves are gregarious, friendly, hardy animals that thrive in almost any climate.The medium length earsare erect and alert. The face is either straight or slightly dished. Thecoat is of medium length, and straight. The Nigerian Dwarf is the only dairy breed known to occasionally have blue eyes. Both brown & blue eyed animals are encountered with no preference being given to either eye color. Any pattern, color, or combination of colors is acceptable.

Mature Nigerian Dwarf does should be no more than 22 1/2” tall at the withers. Mature Nigerian Dwarf bucks should be no more than 23 1/2" tall at the withers.

Nubian

The Nubian is a relatively large, proud dairy goat of mixed origin. The ancestors of today's Nubian have African and Indian heritage, developed further in England, where they are known as Anglo-Nubians. They are known for high quality, high butterfat milk production. They are also noted for being a quite vocal breed. Nubians often carry more muscling/fleshing than the Swiss breeds.

The head is the distinctive breed characteristic, with the facial profile between the eyes and the muzzle being strongly convex. The ears are long, wide and pendulous, extending beyond the muzzle when held flat along the face. They lie close to the head at the temple and flare slightly out and well forward at the rounded tip, forming a "bell" shape. The ears are thin, with the cartilage well defined. The hair is short, fine and glossy. Any pattern, color, or combination of colors is acceptable.

Mature Nubian does should be at least 30" tall at the withers, and should weigh at least 135 pounds. Mature Nubian bucks should be at least 32" tall at the withers, and should weigh at least 160 pounds.

Oberhasli

The Oberhasli is a dairy goat found in the Brienzer region of Switzerland near Bern, where it is known as the Oberhasli-Brienzer. It was formerly called the Swiss Alpine in the USA. This breed is of medium size, vigorous and alert in appearance. It is noted for its rich red bay color and quiet, gentle temperament. The natural coat is a uniform red bay, ranging from light red bay to dark red bay; or a solid black in does. Bucks must have the red bay color to be registered.

Minimum markings in the bay Oberhasli are: two black stripes down the face from above each eye to a black muzzle; forehead nearly all black; ears black inside and bay outside; black stripe from the base of each ear coming to a point just back of the poll and continuing along the neck and back as a dorsal stripe; a black belly; black legs below the knees and hocks. The skin, including udder, is light gray to black. A few white hairs through the coat and about the ears and/or nose are permitted. Bucks often have more black on the head than does, black whiskers, and black hair along the shoulders and lower chest with a mantle of black along the back. Bucks frequently have more white hair than does.

Oberhasli heads vary with the most distinctive type being shorter in length than the other Swiss breeds. This head type has a deep jaw and broad muzzle with wide forehead and prominent eyes. The short erect ears are set low and pointed forward. The face is dished or straight.

Mature Oberhasli does should be at least 28" tall at the withers, and should weigh at least 120 pounds. Mature Oberhasli bucks should be at least 30" tall at the withers, and should weigh at least 150 pounds.

Pygmy

The Pygmy goat has African origins. It is genetically small, cobby, and compact. Its frame is clearly defined and well angulated. Its limbs and head are short relative to body length. It is full barreled and well muscled. The body circumference in relation to height and weight is proportionately greater than that of other breeds. The short, broad head has a concave or dished profile, and is large in proportion to body size. The ears are small, alert, and erect. The Pygmy Goat is hardy, alert, and animated, good natured and gregarious. They produce high quality milk, often with exceptionally high butterfat content. The full coat of straight, medium long hair varies in density with seasons and climates.

On does, beards may be nonexistent or sparse or trimmed. On bucks, abundant hair growth is desirable; the beard to be full, long, and flowing, the copious mane draping, cape-like across the shoulders. Any pattern, color, or combination of colors is acceptable.

Mature Pygmy does should be no taller than 22 1/2” at the withers, with cannons that do not exceed 3.7” in length. Mature Pygmy bucks should be no taller than 23 1/2” at the withers, with cannons that do not exceed 4.6” in length.

Sannen

The Saanen is from Switzerland. It is the largest of the all the dairy breeds. Saanen hair may be short and fine, although a fringe over the spine and thighs is often present. The hair is white to creamy white, with white being preferred.Ears are medium to large, and should be erect and alertly carried, preferably pointing forward. The face may be straight or dished.

The Saanen doe has a majestic air about her, combined with her large size, consistency in producing large quantities of milk, sturdiness, vitality, ease of management, herd compatibility, a mellow "eager to please" temperament, and capacity to tolerate environmental change; has earned her the name, by some, "Queen of the Dairy Goats."

Mature Saanen does should be at least 30" tall at the withers, and should weigh at least 135 pounds. Mature Saanen bucks should be at least 32" tall at the withers, and should weigh at least 160 pounds.

Sable

The Sable is a color variation of the Saanen breed. Sables can be the offspring of Sables or Saanens. Other than color, this breed is identical to the Saanen. Sables may be any color except solid pale cream or white.

Mature Sable does should be at least 30" tall at the withers, and should weigh at least 135 pounds. Mature Sable bucks should be at least 32" tall at the withers, and should weigh at least 160 pounds.

Toggenburg

The Toggenburg is from the Toggenburg Valley in Switzerland. This breed is small to medium in size, sturdy, vigorous, and alert in appearance. It is known for its productivity and calm nature. The hair varies from short to long, but is always soft, and fine. The ears should be small, erect and point forward. Facial lines must be dished or straight (dished preferred). Its color is solid, varying from light fawn to dark chocolate with no preference for any shade.

Distinct white markings are as follows: white trimmed ears with dark area in the center; two white stripes down the face from above each eye to the muzzle; hind legs white from hocks to hooves; forelegs white from knees downward with dark vertical stripe below knee acceptable; a white triangle on each side of the tail; white spot may be present at root of wattles or in that area if no wattles are present. Varying degrees of cream markings instead of pure white are acceptable, but not desirable.

Mature Toggenburg does should be at least 26" tall at the withers, and should weigh at least 120 pounds. Mature Toggenburg bucks should be at least 28" tall at the withers, and should weigh at least 145 pounds.