Goats are one of the oldest domesticated animals. There are more than 200 breeds in modern livestock farming. Pedigree goats differ not only in their productive orientation, but also in external characteristics, for example, some of them have earrings, while others do not. Let's look at the purpose of goat earrings and what breeds they are typical for.
What are earrings on a goat's neck?
The so-called earrings are fleshy outgrowths covered with hair, which in goats are located under the lower jaw. They do not perform any function and, most likely, have no practical significance. Although it is believed that earrings originated as a protective device - if a predator grabs a goat by the throat, there is a chance that the earrings will come off and the animal will run away.
However, apparently, this is the result of a mutation that once arose, which took hold among representatives of the species. Not all goats have earrings, and not all purebred animals inherit them, even if they are characteristic of the breed.
Sorting by characteristics
Goats with earrings can be found among breeds bred by domestic or foreign breeders, of any direction - dairy, meat, down, wool; they are present in horned and hornless animals, as well as in miniature ones. That is, we can say that earrings are characteristic of the biological species as a whole.
Dairy goat breeds with earrings
Goats of the Russian White breed have earrings. Animals with white wool, universal purpose - they provide milk, meat, fluff, thin skin. Females are fertile - they can bear 3-4 kids in each lamb.
The necks of the famous Saanen goats are also decorated with earrings. The animals are large, white, hornless, with fine hair, graceful build. They are distinguished by long lactation and produce a record amount of milk with excellent taste. An Alpine breed, which is also distinguished by high milk yield and almost continuous lactation. Goats are fertile and can give birth to 4 kids with each birth. Withstands harsh climatic conditions.
Meat goats
The black Anatolian breed is also bred in Russia. In addition to earrings, the animals have a beard and thick and long hair. They can be kept even in Siberia; they are not afraid of cold and wind. In addition to meat, you can get fluff and wool from them, although not in the same quantities as from varieties of special purpose. Not many kids are born, usually 1, sometimes 2.
The Boer meat goat is a large animal, densely built, white in color, with a brown head and upper neck, small horns and drooping ears. They are distinguished by good health, vitality, and can produce 3 offspring in 2 years.
Downy
The Orenburg breed is a leader in the production of thin, soft, elastic fluff. Color – black and white. Individuals are fertile - there is always not one, but several babies in lambing.
The black downy goat produces fine, long, non-shiny down. The animals are small, black, thin-legged and long-eared.
Kashmir goats with earrings they are white or gray; white fluff is valued higher in production. It is very light and does not cause allergies even in children. The animals are large, body length - 1.5 m. Kashmiri queens give birth to only 1 kid.
Wool goats with earrings
Representatives of the Angora breed have small body size and weight, but the animals are valued for their beautiful wool, strong and shiny. Most animals are white, but grey, black and silver are also found. The wool harvest can be carried out more often than usual - 2 times a season, as it grows quickly. They give 1 kid each. In breeding work, Angoras are used to improve the characteristics of other breed varieties.
The Soviet breed is a white animal with a strong and shiny coat. The animals are slightly larger than Angoras, mobile, quickly adapt to the conditions of detention, but are not very fertile.
Hornless breeds
In addition to the Saanen goats, this group includes the related Toggenburg goats. In terms of productivity and fertility, the breed is similar to the Saanen, but differs in the color of its coat - light brown with white areas. Used to improve breeds.
The Lamancha breed also has earrings. The animals are strong, milky, and their colors are white, brown and black. The milk is not spoiled by an unpleasant odor, medium-fat. There are at least 2-3 cubs per lamb (maximum 5).
The Nubian goat, although thermophilic, is unpretentious to food and eats little. They are distinguished by their multiple births and can bear 2 lambs per season. Milk content is up to 1 thousand liters per lactation, milk is odorless, its fat content is up to 6%.
Dwarf representatives
Cameroon goats with earrings are undemanding in terms of housing and feeding conditions, they love warmth, but cannot tolerate humidity. Average weight - 30 kg, height at the withers - 50 cm. Color - from white to brown and black. You can get both meat and milk from them. There are 2 kids per litter.
The Nigerian breed is similar to the Cameroonian. Animals can be classified as the dairy type; from them you can get 1-1.5 liters of milk per day. Lactation lasts 305 days. Coat color is red, white, black. The animals are clean and playful, and can even be trained and kept as a pet. Sociable and friendly. Up to 3 kids are born in the offspring.
Earrings in goats are a fickle sign. They can be inherited from any of the parents, but not always to all the descendants of the same goat.They are also not a breed characteristic; they are not considered a defining characteristic for any breed (the presence or absence of earrings does not indicate the purebred or, conversely, the local origin of the animal).
