The Russian white goat is the most popular dairy breed in Russia. According to milk yields, these goats are as close as possible to the best dairy breeds - Saanen and Toggenburg. Next, we will learn about the features of this breed, how to breed it, and how to avoid mistakes.
The origin of the breed
The breeding lasted for many centuries. The breed has improved gradually, from generation to generation. Work was carried out on increasing productivity, unpretentiousness and the ability to adapt to difficult climatic conditions.
The breed was formed in stages:
- For centuries, "natural selection" has been carried on. The quality of the breed improved as a result of the so-called "folk selection".
- At the end of the 19th century, professional breeders took up the breed, who noticed its potential.
- With the advent of the 20th century, the Russian breed began to be crossed with European goats, which, overtaking Russian goats in productivity, could not survive in the harsh climatic conditions typical for Russia. For crossing, they took males of English, German and Swiss breeds. Such selection did not bring any special results.
- In the 70s and 80s of the 20th century, breeders made a second attempt. Females of the Russian breed were crossed with the famous Toggenburgs and Zaanens. As a result, managed to bring goats with increased milk yield.
Exterior and defects
The breed belongs to the medium-weight group. It is easy to distinguish it from other dairy goats, the Russian White is much less than the Zaanen and Toggenburgs - the undisputed leaders in milk yield.
External signs:
- Body. Strong and elongated. The chest is wide.
- Head. Small, neat. Some individuals have "earrings" under the jaw.
- Neck. In females it is elongated, in males it is short.
- Horns. Bent by a sickle. In goats, they are often twisted back. Hornless goats - up to 15%.
- The ears. Small, upright type.
- Legs. The length is medium, the joints are strong.
- Beard. In males and females.
- Wool. Thick, medium length.
- Color. Mostly white. There are options - grayish color or white with beige markings.
- Udder. The shape is regular, round. Nipples - elongated.
The defect of the breed that determines its purity is lop-earedness. Ideally, the ears should be erect and slightly pointed. Individuals with hanging ears are not allowed to breed.
Male and Female Standards:
Parameters | Goat | Goat |
Live weight, kg | 73 | 52 |
Height at withers, cm | 83 | 54 |
Rump height, cm | 80 | 59 |
Depth of chest, cm | 42 | 29 |
Chest width cm | 19 | 16 |
Oblique torso, cm | 75 | 57 |
Chest girth, cm | 103 | 82 |
Width in Maclocs, cm | 5 | 14 |
Pastern girth, cm | 18 | 8 |
Head length, cm | 20 | 21 |
Forehead width, cm | 12 | 13 |
Goats have a long body, strong bones, well-positioned legs. Goats are also quite large, but in most parameters they are still inferior to males.
Main characteristics of Russian white goats
The breed belongs to dairy goats. The main purpose of its breeding is to obtain milk. All other “items of income” are collateral. As befits milk goats, Russian whites have long nipples, convenient for manual and machine milking.
The main difference between the Russian breed and its foreign counterparts is the presence of fluff under thick coat. This feature is associated with the ability of the breed to survive in harsh conditions.
Productivity
Productivity objects:
- Milk. One goat gives from 500 to 850 liters of milk per year. Milk yield depends on care. Other indicators of milk productivity:
- lactation duration - 270-280 days;
- daily milk yield - 1-2 liters;
- calorie content - 687 kcal / kg;
- fat content - 4-5%;
- protein - 2.8-3.2%;
- casein - 2.1-2.5%;
- lactose - 4.5-6%.
- Meat. Differs in pleasant taste, tender. The output from the carcass is 56%. Due to the high reproductive ability of the breed, young animals are often raised for meat. The weight of individuals depends on gender and ranges from 55-85 kg.
- Wool and down. 150-200 g of fluff per year is combed from one goat. It happens that they comb out 400 g each. Warm, soft threads are made of wool. The amount of hair depends on the subspecies of the breed - there are short and long-haired goats.
- Fertility. Females bring 1-2 kids each year. Lambing frequency - 2 times a year.
- Leather (goat). Goes to the manufacture of expensive leather materials - morocco, chevro.
The Russian White has a milk flow rate of 0.4 kg per minute. The average milking time is 3 minutes.
Males are often used in breeding farms as a material to improve the dairy performance of other breeds. In large herds, Russian white is used for crossbreeding with Saanen goats and other foreign breeds that transmit a gene of high milk productivity
Goat temper
The breed is distinguished by its balanced disposition. Other character traits of White Russian goats:
- not prone to butting;
- changeable - from obedience quickly passes to stubbornness;
- smart;
- voracious - they eat greedily;
- savvy and like to dominate - hornless females suffer from this, who do not know how to resist horned fellow tribesmen;
- in the event of fright or illness, they can show hostility.
Watch the video below for an overview of the Russian White goat breed:
Distribution Areas
The most widespread Russian white goat, as well as its subspecies - the Gorky breed, received in the central and north-western regions of the Russian Federation. Here in most farms these goats are bred. In the farms of the Moscow, Leningrad, Ivanovo and Yaroslavl regions, the total population of the breed reaches hundreds of thousands of heads.
In addition to these areas, Russian white goats are also actively grown in the Krasnodar Territory, Mordovia, Saratov and other regions of the Russian Federation. White goats are popular in Belarus and Ukraine.
Advantages and disadvantages
Over hundreds of years of natural "evolution", as well as as a result of systematic selection, the breed has gained advantages:
- They give a lot of milk.
- Hardy.
- Odorless milk.
- Friendly and outgoing. Recognize the owner of the herd as the leader, and obey him.
Disadvantages of Russian White Goats:
- There is a tendency towards degeneration of the breed. With the maintenance of heterosexual individuals in one pen, offspring can be born weak and painful. As a result of such a mating, freaks are born.
- Pugnacity at a young age.
Nuances of content
There is nothing complicated or special in the content of the Russian white breed - these goats are prolific, unpretentious and hardy. The main thing they need is clean and dry sheds, as well as a complete diet.
Space requirements for white Russian breed
Requirements for the goat's rue and conditions of detention:
- Dry and clean goat's rue, well ventilated, but free of drafts. Goats do not tolerate blowing winds - they get sick. Fresh air reduces the risk of morbidity.
- The floors are made with a slope. The floors are made of concrete on which the boards are laid. Sawdust or straw is thrown on top so that the animals do not freeze their hooves and legs.
- The air in the stable should be moderately humid. With excessively damp rooms, the risks of developing viruses and infections are growing.
- Cleaning is regular. If not cleaned in a stable, parasitic insects can be found on walls and straw.
In the south, goats can be grazed all year round. In temperate latitudes, the pasture-stall method or keeping in a stall is practiced. The breed is suitable for both small private farms and large-scale breeding.
How and what to feed?
The condition for high milk yield is a competent diet. Until the onset of cold weather, grass feeds goats. Goats are especially eager to eat clover, alfalfa and wheatgrass.
Goat feeding tips:
- Vico-oat mixture. A mixture of hay from cereals and legumes. The feeding rate is 2 kg, but the best option is free access.
- Corn silage. It is given during the period of active milking. Norm - up to 1 kg per day.
- Dry bean hay - up to 400 g.
- Vegetables and fruits. Up to 300 g per day.
- Chalk and salt. They are added to feed in cold weather. Or they put compressed salt and chalk in bowls near the drinking bowls.
- Herb brooms - nettles and quinoa, or from branches - aspen, birch, oak.
- Water. Goats should have free access to fresh drinking water - it is changed 2 times a day. It is advisable to warm up the water in winter.
Goats gladly eat young branches near shrubs, gnaw bark from trees. These animals should not be allowed near fruit and berry plantations.
We recommend reading an article about feeding goats in the winter.
Mating: features for the Russian white breed
The breed is based on wild and outbred ancestors, from which the Russian White got early puberty. Young goats are ready for mating as early as 3 months. But they should be mated no earlier than 7-9 months. The ideal age for mating is 1 year.
Types of mating
The frequency of hunting for goats is from 17 to 22 days. There are usually 5-7 days for mating - during this time the female is restless.
Mating options:
- Artificial insemination. The most reliable and effective method. The procedure is carried out by a veterinarian who is armed with high-quality seed material, ensuring a successful result.
- Hand mate. The owner selects individuals for mating. It is important to avoid mating between closely related individuals.
- Free mating. Animals mate randomly, as they are kept together - males and females.
It is best to breed animals in the fall so that the kids are born in the spring - spring offspring are considered the most powerful and hardy.
Pregnancy and lambing features
Pregnancy lasts from 143 to 155 days. Prepare in advance everything you need for lambing:
- warm water;
- scissors;
- clean rags.
Usually goats manage without human help. In rare cases, you may need the help of a veterinarian. You can find out about fast lambing by the restless behavior of the female.
The order and features of lambing:
- The first cub is born head first, followed by the other side.
- They remove mucus from the mouth and nose by cutting off the umbilical cord and disinfect it.
- An hour after the appearance of the kids, the afterbirth enters. It must be removed quickly.
It happens that a kid is born breathless. You can help him - they wipe his muzzle from the mucus and breathe air into his mouth. Also, the newborn is placed on its back and the legs are bent and unbend. Usually, these activities help the cub to breathe.
When the newborns are dry, they are watered with colostrum and placed in a special goat's house for young animals. If you leave offspring with the mother, her milk production will drop, and it will be difficult to restore it.
Little kids: weight, how much is in the litter, how to care
The kid’s weight at birth is 2.4-3.7 kg. Young growth grows quickly, by 6-8 months the weight of the animal reaches 25-30 kg. In a litter more often 1-2 kid, three rarely. Cubs are developing rapidly and are very viable. They quickly get to their feet, actively gain weight and start grazing early with an adult herd.
Feeding Features:
- The kids, as it should be dairy breeds, are soldered through the nipple. For 10 days they are given colostrum to drink, then they are taught to drink from a bowl.
- At first, the kids are given milk 4 times a day, then 3 times.
- On the 2nd month, liquid porridge and mashed potatoes with warm milk are introduced into the diet. Little kids are starting to eat hay. In 20 days they can be accustomed to compound feed. Goats raised for milk yield are fed milk for 3-4 months.
Read an article on how and what to feed the kids.
How to milk a goat?
It is convenient to milk the Russian White by hand, but thanks to the machine milking it is possible to speed up milking. If there are several dozen heads on the farm, then the best way to get milk is to use a milking machine.
Parts of the milking machine:
- Container - milk is fed into it. The inside of the can is coated with an antimicrobial special composition.
- Milking mechanism.
- Pump with motor.
- Glasses with suction cups or clamps.
- Milk hose.
Milking procedure:
- Fix the animal so that it stands without interfering with the operation of the apparatus.
- Near the goat, put a bowl of food - something tasty.
- Shave the udder.
- Ankle nipples with a disinfectant.
- Milk the first jets by hand into a separate container. Milk should be clean, without blood and curdled clots. Their presence indicates illness. Such milk is not suitable for consumption.
- If there are no impurities in the milk, wipe the udder with a dry and clean towel.
- Attach the heated teat cups to the udder.
- Detach the glasses from the nipples. Feel the udder - if there is still milk in it, express it with your hands.
- Lubricate the nipples with antimicrobial agent again.
- Wash and dry the appliance - this should be done after each milking.
The maximum number of milking units is 5. The goats are placed in the milking stalls. The goat gives the maximum milk after lambing. Intensive lactation lasts about eight months.
How to buy a purebred goat?
If a person has no experience in raising goats, he can easily be sold a thoroughbred animal. When buying goats, it is useful to know the signs of a purebred Russian White:
- The color of the coat is snow-white.
- Beautiful and healthy hooves.
Visit the farm - see how the work is going there. On this basis, they learn that both meat and milk will not have a specific smell of goat.
Frequent diseases in the breed
The breed is characterized by increased resistance to diseases characteristic of local goats. Russian White has a relatively long life - 10-15 years, including due to high immunity. The breed rarely suffers from colds, brucellosis and botulism, but it is not completely immune from infectious and other types of diseases.
Goats of this breed can be sick:
- Tympania. This bloating that occurs during an early pasture on pastures - the dew has not yet descended. In the early stages, the disease is easily treated. If measures are not taken in time, the animal dies.
- Parasitic diseases. Lice and ticks are often found in goat hair. It is necessary to periodically wash and comb the animals.
The breed practically does not suffer from vitamin deficiencies and hypervitaminosis - even eating hay alone, White goats remain healthy.
Differences from Zaanensky goats
In appearance, Russian white and Zaanen goats are very similar. Differences:
- Beard. This is the main difference. All Russian goats have a beard - females and males, only in the latter it is more magnificent.
- Behavior. Saanen goats are calmer in nature.
- The size. Saanen goats are larger and have stricter body proportions.
Where to buy purebred Russian white goats?
The Russian white goat is bred in all regions of Russia - from southern to northern. It is better to buy goats in nurseries, for example:
- In the kennel "Koziy Dvor" located in Krasnoyarsk. Here you can buy both adults and young, as well as covered and milking goats, breeding and castrated goats.
- At the farm "Valeria" (Nizhny Tagil). They offer milking goats at an affordable cost. Milk yield - up to 4 liters per day.
White Russian goats are cheaper than European breeds:
- a breeding goat-producer costs 15-20 thousand rubles;
- cash goats - from 5 to 12 thousand rubles;
- kids - 1-3 thousand rubles.
Outbred white goats are often offered on the market, passing them off as "Russian White". They ask for them 3-3.5 thousand rubles.
Mistakes in keeping goats
Mistakes made by inexperienced goat breeders:
- Overfeeding the kids. This can lead to bloating. It is necessary to monitor the amount of feed dispensed. Overeating can lead to death.
- Early coverage. It damages the health and productivity of goats. It is better to start the first coating at the age of one year. Then the goat will be stable in milk yield and avoid many diseases. Females that are early coated are prone to complications during lambing, they do not tolerate the postpartum period, age quickly and have to be sent for slaughter ahead of time.
- Crushing to the first lambing. Often in young goats born to mothers with high milk yield, the udder grows even before covering. If there is no milk in the udder, do not milk it. When the goat begins to milk, it stops developing. The nutrients needed for its development go into milk.
In addition, due to early milking, the udder is formed incorrectly - it becomes saggy and easily injured while walking, it can bleed and become inflamed. - Family ties. It is impossible to get strong offspring and high milk yield due to the crossing of related individuals.
- Lack of walking in winter. Young animals and pregnant females especially need walks. They need sun and movement. They strengthen the immune system and the skeleton. Pregnant goats need walking for prophylaxis - to make delivery easier. The walk should last at least an hour, if the goat just stands and chews hay, there is little sense from such a walk - it should actively move.
- Overfeeding a goat after giving birth. The goat is given only hay, water and brooms for the first 10 days. Booze, grain, compound feed and succulent feed can cause udder swelling, stomach stoppage and death. It is also strictly forbidden to feed goats after birth with talkers - you can provoke edema and mastitis. Improper feeding can lead to a stop of rumen function and, as a result, to the death of goats.
- Hasty cutting of uncovered goats. The animal should rest for 2.5 months. It can then be run like a covered goat and then milked.
- Poor diet during pregnancy. Deficiency of vitamins and minerals leads to the birth of weakened offspring and poor milk yield.
- Hooves are rarely trimmed. Hooves should be trimmed from 3 months. Cutting frequency - every 2.5-3 months. Long hooves torment animals. Hoof rot and other complications may develop.
Goat Reviews
Maria N., 55 years old, amateur goat breeder, Kostroma region. I have long dreamed of raising a breeding stock, but I was afraid that the foreign goats would not take root with us, they would not withstand our frosts. I learned about the Russian white breed, and bought in one farm a covered goat. Now I have a small herd of one producer and seven goats. I sell milk in my village and take it to the city for sale. The milk is delicious, it doesn't smell - people appreciate it.
Vasily S., 66 years old, novice goat breeder, Kaliningrad region. He decided to have a goat when he retired. Since there is no experience, I chose an unpretentious breed - Russian White. The goat is obedient, kind, not stubborn, there are no health problems. It grazes all day in summer. For the winter I translate to a stable. I milk 4-5 liters each. Enough for myself, and I also sell to neighbors.
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The Russian White breed is suitable not only for a small private farm, but also for a large farm. These goats are optimally adapted to the local climate, practically do not get sick, are unpretentious in food, productive and give delicious milk.
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Russia. City Novosibirsk
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