Consider the pros and cons of buying a kid, dry yearling, or milker. It was first imported in 1906 and again in 1920, but the goats from these two importations were absorbed into the general population of goats of mixed heritage prevalent across the United States. Goats are fun, smart, curious, adventuresome, and affectionate. Goats are cute and can be fun, but they[s] can be [/s] are a challenge to take care of. Experience Level: Goats need good shelter too, can't get cold/wet.... Dexters can take the weather. Phone: 704-286-3801 4) Milk. The trouble is they just put on fat quickly. While this certainly merits the classification of the Oberhasli as a rare breed, it is a sign that the genetic material is still there for a dedicated breeder to work with. Novice, Notes:Record is 4,665 lbs of milk per year, Less fearful of water and trail obstacles than other goats, Does can be pushy with each other. Careful selection of breeding stock has paid off, however. Scarcity. 2 Breeds of livestock, Toggenburg goats, ansi.okstate.edu 3 Heidi, Johanna Spyri, Random House, 1986 edition 4 Figures from Purdue University. After their fourth year you now have a goat that constantly has his head in the hay feeder. Our herd is healthy and CAE-free. Sweet milk flavor. But along with the advantages, there are also some disadvantages of goat farming business. Many believed that polled to polled (P/P) breeding causes a high percentage of inter-sexed kids. Lack of proper knowledge and traditional goat farming system are the main disadvantages of goat … However, the difficult work of increasing the breed’s numbers without incurring severe inbreeding problems was just beginning. Home Forums > General Category > Dairy Goat Info > Oberhasli vs Alpine? If you are here for the first time, look through the FAQ first and then start reading the blogs. There are several advantages to raising goats. Pros and Cons per breed 1 . Our goats are friendly and sociable, as well as mischievous! The legs are black below the knees and hocks and the ears are black on the inside. Temperament: When not pursuing hobbies ranging from music to cooking to birdwatching, she can usually be found researching, writing, or living out the country dream. The U.S. standard describes a minimum height for mature Oberhasli does as 28"/71cm at the withers with a minimum weight of 120#/54.54kg. This breed is of medium size, vigorous and alert in appearance. Goats are really easy to raise and can provide you with meat and milk. American Dairy Goat Association, PO Box 865, Spindale, NC 28160. Pros. Why your go-to-market strategy should be industry focused; Dec. 1, 2020. Boer: The Boer is a heavier goat that was developed in South Africa. Adult Weight: Mature goats are medium in size. The Oberhasli that I had, and lost just before she kidded the first time was considerably larger boned than the Nubians or Alpines. Raising goats is a great way to save money and become more self-sufficient as a family. Oberhasli Goat Characteristics. The Oberhasli is frequently easy for its human handlers to get along with. Fat goats suffer on the trail, and it’s hard to help them lose fat after an off season. When placed in a herd containing other breeds, the Oberhasli will rule the roost—especially when food is involved. Table 1. There may be a few white hairs through the coat and about the ears of the Oberhasli goat. Backyard goats can, indeed, become a source of milk for you and your family. Pack Goats are a steeper learning curve than most believe. Pros and Cons of Disbudding Your Goat. Cons of Owning Goats. Communication with several P/P breeders revealed no inter-sexed kids born. Oberhasli Goat History and Gene Pool. Oberhasli Goats. They can support a self-sustaining lifestyle. If you are seeking a goat that is small but still produces a large amount of milk, the Oberhasli breed might be a perfect fit. However, it can be used as a land management tool and as a pack animal. Pence of Kansas City, Missouri, in 1936. Visit goat shows, ADGA or local club meetings and ask lots of questions. The breed was initially called the Swiss Alpine. For several decades, the Oberhasli, then known as the Swiss Alpine, was considered a mere subset of the French Alpine breed. An estimated 1,700 can be found across the country. Goats are escape artists- Goats will get out of their fence period-exclamation point. All purebred Oberhasli in America descend from one buck and four does, three of them already bred, introduced by Dr. H.O. Two black stripes from the eyes to the black muzzle give a distinctive facial appearance. Gardeners swear by tossing their goat manure into the compost pile. The Oberhasli face is straight or dished with no evidence of a Roman nose. 1 S torey’s Guide to Raising Dairy Goats, J. Belanger, Storey Books, 2001, p 10. Vocal tendencies. For my family, I think there are more pros than there are cons. Goat farming is definitely a popular and profitable business. Copyright © 2013–2021 All rights reserved. Taste the milk produced at the herd you are considering buying your goat from. They just will, it happens all the time. Status: No content on this site may be reproduced in any way without prior written permission. I believe it has more to do with breeding closely related lines. It offers nutrition, breaks down easily, and creates good tilth. If you're wondering whether or not to buy dairy goats take a look at our list of PROS and CONS, developed from owning 16 goats! While each breed has its pros and cons, the most important factor in breed selection is the individual animals you are purchasing. Disbudding, the procedure to burn of the horn buds off of goat kids, is not a pleasant procedure. In 1936, five chamois-colored goats from … The Oberhasli of Switzerland has long been known for three things—its distinctive color pattern, its milk production, and its antiquity. The forehead is nearly all black, and black stripes run from the base of each ear to a point just behind the poll and continue along the neck and back to the tail as a dorsal stripe. Steady disposition. Polled goats and intersex. Each breed was developed with the same goal in mind: fertile, low maintenance goats able to survive in harsh conditions. Farming can be a difficult job. The main health requirements of this breed are proper care of hardworking dairy does and due attention to keeping inbreeding levels low. The Oberhasli is alert in appearance with a friendly, gentle disposition. Plus being a rare breed. They’re strong pack animals. Originally published in the May/June 2009 issue of Dairy Goat Journal and regularly vetted for accuracy. By the time it was first registered in Switzerland, it was already an old breed. Oberhasli Goat The Oberhasli (also known as the Oberhasli Brienzer) is a dairy breed developed in the mountainous cantons of Bern, Freiburg, Glarus, and Graubunden in Switzerland. If you have nutrient-dense pasture, you can sustain 6-8 goats per acre and will pay less to bring your goats to maturity. And 6. Ability as an escape artist. $16.95. Breed Facts The Oberhasli is a modern American breed of dairy goat.It derives from the subtype of Chamois Colored Goat from the Oberhasli district of the Bernese Oberland in central Switzerland.All purebred members of the breed descend from five Chamois Colored Goats imported to the United States in 1936. Most Oberhasli does tend to be on the dominant side. Oberhasli. Docile Michelle is the author of three country living books. Fat, muscle-bound goats also have a … Goats are pesky- That whole personality thing is great until you get an overbearing goat that climbs in your car, on your picnic table, all over your porch, anywhere and everywhere you don’t want them to be. Dairy Jump to Latest Follow ... You may find that Guernsey goats fill the bill- easy to keep like ND's, really laid back temperments, teats easy to grab like larger goats, size somewhere between ND and Oberhasli. I wouldn't mind borrowing some for brush control should I have the need, but nothing permanent. Raising Oberhasli Goats: Pros & Cons Oberhasli goats are known to be a calm breed that's not easily scared. Dairy Goat Info - Your Online Dairy Goat Resource and Community. They still have many more goat years ahead of them. It is a good choice for the person who wants dairy goats for milk, from hardy thrifty animals, who appreciates the vivid rust-red coloration, wants something slightly out of the ordinary, and likes the Swiss type head (upright ears). ... size somewhere between ND and Oberhasli. Low … Use: A herdbook for record-keeping purposes was accordingly founded in 1980. As you do your research, peruse our guide to goat breeds to learn more about the uses, temperament, and health of each type of goat, as well as a summary of its pros and cons. Filed Under: The Farm Tagged With: Dairy, Goats, Livestock. Many of the Oberhasli suffered from shortcomings in health and production at first. With a little bit of coaching I can save you some time and a lot of heartache. What Are the Pros and Cons of Raising Goats? The Backyard Goat Motivated by her experience growing up on a small farm near Wichita, Kansas, Michelle Lindsey started Homestead on the Range to supply Kansas country living enthusiasts with the innovative resources that they need to succeed and has now been keeping families informed and inspired for over five years. Bucks range in height from 30–34", and does 28–32", with weights of 100–150 pounds. If you decide to use the links to make a purchase, please be aware that we will receive a small compensation. Packgoats.com is Your Source For Pack Goat Information and Gear. We are pleased to offer high quality, ADGA registered, show goats, breeding stock and cuddly pet goats. Before purchasing a goat, look at all the pros and cons. Dec. 2, 2020. We have dairy goats and we get enough milk from one doe to feed our family, make homemade soap with it, and share with others. The pros are that you can buy a goat sooner (because you won’t have to wait around for a particular breed to come up for sale) and you can spend less money. Reference: Oberhasli Dairy Goat Homepage. And a fair amount of milk. Strength as pack animals. NIGERIAN DWARF pros an cons. Although active and alert, it is still completely calm and docile. This evolution of the breed’s name and identification has been one reason that its population in the United States has remained fairly small. The Oberhasli has a black belly and light gray to black udder. Goats are brown, with hues between light tan and deep reddish brown, and have black points. This latter trait, in fact, has largely obscured its history. Prezi Video + Unsplash: Access over two million images to tell your story through video Should I buy dairy goats? Pros and Cons of Miniature livestock ... little pains too. She is also a serious student of history, specializing in Kansas, agriculture, and the American West. Many people who own goats compare them to dogs – they play, don’t smell bad, and can be trained to follow you or play. Prepare a safe, sheltered, ventilated pen, plus an exercise yard and/or safe pasture. Primary the color of the Oberhasli goats is chamois. Saanen goats – 15 – 18 years ; Oberhasli goats – 12 years ; So when next your young goat less than these age limits are shaking and looking as though eternity is calling, rush them to a veterinary hospital or call a Vet for help. The cons are that if you ever plan on showing your goat in the future at a fair or FFA event, you won’t be able to if it’s a mixed breed. However, Oman and her friends and associates eventually realized that there were just enough purebred Oberhasli in the United States to form a registry. They are the second highest in cream production in dairy goats- we are constantly amazed at the cream that tops our milk each day! Of course, plenty of people love the bouncy, jovial personality many other dairy goat breeds are known for, so Oberhasli's quiet demeanor may be a pro or a con to you. Recovering GOATS FOR SALE. In 1977, the breed name Oberhasli was adopted, and registration records were separated from the Alpines. We raise both Oberhasli and Nigerian Dwarf dairy goats and we often have a few for sale. Being aware of realistic pros and cons before investing your money, time and heart into goat keeping is a very important first step! Its color is chamois. Minimums for bucks are 30"/76cm in height and 150#/68.18kg in weight. Oberhasli goat is a medium sized animal, which is alert and vigorous in appearance. It can be vocal. The latter is a particularly good option for extra male kids when whethered. Oberhasli – This dairy goat breed originated in Switzerland. Variable milk production. Blog. Chamois is described as: Bey – ranging from light to deep red bay, with the later most desirable. The color of the does may also be solid black, but not the bucks. History: In 1906 and 1920 Swiss chamois-colored goats were imported into the United States and were bred with American and French Alpine goats for hybrid vigor, firmly establishing the American Alpine breed. I also learned that if you want to keep goats for milk, your doe will have to be bred every year. It fears little, so it can afford to be friendly. For more information, please read our affiliate disclosure. The milk is incredibly rich and creamy and boasts a 3.5 percent butterfat content. Additionally, bitterweed susceptibility of Spanish x Boer cross goats, Rambouillet sheep, Dorper x Barbado cross sheep, and Angora goats is evaluated (table 1). The Oberhasli is almost exclusively a dairy animal. While the does are a dependable source of milk, bucks and wethers are also useful as pack animals because of their strength and calm demeanor. Some goat packers prefer Oberhaslis because they are said to be less fearful of water and other trail obstacles than are other breeds. Hardiness. Enter your email address to receive new posts via email. Most major health problems in the Oberhasli have been resolved. All have been raising goats for decades. This breed can easily adapt to cold climates. The breed is well known internationally, and it is relatively numerous in Switzerland. The Oberhasli (also known as the Oberhasli Brienzer) is a dairy breed developed in the mountainous cantons of Bern, Freiburg, Glarus, and Graubunden in Switzerland. Oberhasli goats produce one and a half gallons of milk a day on average. ... out of my Oberhasli X Alpine doe and my reg. But we do know how the Oberhasli came to be established in America. The Oberhasli breed is also known for the sweet tasting milk it produces. To disbud or not to disbud, that’s a controversial question. None of the Swiss lines were kept pure or recognized as a separate breed in Alpine herdbooks. Oberhasli goats were first imported to the United States in the early 1900s, though it was not until 1936 that purebred herds were established and maintained. Chamois is described as: Bay - ranging from light to a deep red bay with the later most desirable. The descendants of these goats were for a time in danger of sharing the fate of their predecessors. The breed’s color pattern is called chamoisee. We have been raising goats for over 20 years and would love to help you start your own herd. Goats get parasites- Remember that whole goats … Cons. Does may be black but chamois is preferred. Despite what you may have heard, goats aren’t smelly, messy or eat things like tin cans. Feed efficiency. A few white hairs through the coat and about the ears are permitted. The Oberhasli is known to produce very sweet, yummy milk. - Sue Weaver It seems that every goat owner has a strong opinion for or against goats with horns. The Oberhasli is a Swiss dairy goat. Adaptability to many climates, particularly cold ones. Its registrations were included in the Alpine studbook, and its genetics contributed to the Alpine breed. Ober buck. They also like to be in your face. Oberhasli goats were first imported to the United States in the early 1900s, though it was not until 1936 that purebred herds were established and maintained. Throughout this site you will find affiliate links to items that we have read or used and highly recommend. Thank you! Adaptability to many climates, particularly cold ones. As a full-time farmer, your work is tending to the goats. We have a herd of about 20 goats and are building our milking lines with the hope to eventually open a small creamery to produce goat cheese. We raise Oberhasli goats, an alpine dairy breed listed as status "recovering" by The Livestock Conservancy. The Oberhasli is now considerably improved in build and dairy abilities. By using this site you are agreeing to our terms of use. 100 – 125 lbs So, if you are an existing goat farmer or want to start a new business, then you should learn about the disadvantages of goat farming business. Very few were kept pure, and most of these belonged to Esther Oman of California.