Goats (Capra hircus) are among the earliest domesticated animal species, holding significant historical and cultural value. Originating in the Fertile Crescent of Southeast Asia approximately 10,000 to 11,000 years ago, their domestication spread through trade, conflict, and migration, eventually reaching Africa. Today, Africa boasts 96 recognized goat breeds, playing a crucial role in the livelihoods of rural households, especially in East African countries.
A domestic goat kid.
Indigenous Goats in East Africa
Indigenous goats are native breeds adapted to specific regions or countries, thriving without stress. In East Africa, they constitute about 95% of the goat population, primarily bred by smallholder rural households and pastoral communities. These goats enhance livelihoods by providing sustainable food, income, and serving as a valuable investment.
Their resilience allows them to survive in challenging environments, owing to their unique conformation and adaptive traits. The smaller body size and minimal nutritional needs enable them to thrive on limited land resources, integrating into diverse agricultural systems. Known for rapid growth and prolificacy, most indigenous goats start breeding early, often between eight months and one year, and frequently produce twins.
East Africa features several indigenous goat breeds and ecotypes. Due to the lack of defined genotypes, local goat populations are identified by regional and tribal names, as well as coat colors and patterns. Examples include the Sukuma goat in Tanzania and the Galla goat in Kenya. Common indigenous goat breeds in Tanzania include Ujiji, Sukuma, Maasai, Pare, Sonjo, Gogo, and Newala. In Uganda, Mubende, Karamoja, Sebei, Teso, and Kigezi goats are prevalent. Kenya's indigenous goats include the Small East African (SEA) and Galla goats.
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While indigenous goats serve various purposes, they are primarily raised for meat production within subsistence agricultural systems, with most categorized as Small East African goats. These goats are characterized by small body sizes, low birth weights, low milk yields, slow growth rates, and modest mature weights, especially when compared to international breeds like the Boer goat. For example, the SEA goat in Kenya weighs between 1.2 and 1.8 kg at birth and reaches 25 kg at maturity, attaining sexual maturity at four months while weighing 14-16 kg.
Breed Characterization
Describing goats is crucial for farmers to understand and analyze different breeds and populations. Breed characterization involves gathering essential information and making predictions about genetic performance in specific environments. The Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) emphasizes the importance of understanding breed characteristics for informed decisions in livestock development and breeding initiatives.
Indigenous goats in East Africa exhibit diverse morphological differences, including variations in coat color patterns, horn orientations, and ear sizes. Coat color patterns can be plain, patchy, or spotted. Horn orientations vary, with some breeds having straight horns facing backwards (Gogo and Pare) and others having curved horns (Maasai and Galla). Facial structures also differ, with some breeds having a straight face (Pare and Sukuma) and others having a concave face (Sonjo and Gogo).
The Savanna Goat
The Savanna goat breed originated from indigenous goats in South Africa. Bred by farmers from what was known as white Boer goats for several years in South Africa, the white color of these goats is dominant over most other colors, making them highly sought after for slaughter purposes. Cilliers and Sons along the Vaal River became the best-known of the originators of this meat goat breed in 1957.
Natural selection played a significant role in the development of these fertile, easy-to-care-for, heat and drought-resistant animals in the rugged, harsh bush country where temperatures and rainfall can vary to a marked extent. These goats have thick, pliable skins with short white hair and excellent reproduction, muscular development, good bones, and strong legs and hooves. The original Savanna importers in the United States maintained the natural selection development and continued the hardy meat goat breed. They noted that the half Savanna kid got up faster after birth and nursed quicker than their other goats.
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The Savanna breed is relatively new to the United States, having been imported in the late 1990s. The breed is a large framed, extremely well- muscled goat with white color containing a few black pigments found on the ears. The body characteristics resemble those of the Boer goat. The Savanna is not a seasonal breeder, and mating can usually be done at a time that will ensure enough feed is available at kidding. The does have very good mothering ability and great milk production and produce fast-growing kids. Among meat goats, Savanna goats are distinctive for scoring top marks in the reproductive category. They’re highly fertile, produce lots of milk and are naturally good mothers while maintaining good muscularity and hardiness.
Savannah goats are known for their nearly all pure white coat that is short-haired cashmere and thick, along with their thick pliable skins. This breed has strong jaws and lop-style ears that fall alongside the face. Savannah goats are generally docile and mild-mannered and are known for being extremely motherly to their babies. Savannah goats are considered to be a hardy breed and easy keepers, attributed to their disease and parasite resistance, along with strong legs and hooves.
Often the Savanna goats are mistakenly referred to as white Boer goats. Namely, Savanna goat milk production is higher and they are generally more maternal in nature.
They were first recognized as a distinct breed in South Africa in 1993 and were then brought to North America in 1994 by Jurgen Schulz, who imported large numbers of exotic animals (including the Savannah goat).
The American Meat Goat Registry has a breed directory where you can search for breeders specializing in Savannah goats.
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Savanna Goat Characteristics
Colors and Coat
- Nearly all pure white coat
- Short-haired cashmere and thick
- Thick pliable skins
Size
- Large framed
- Extremely well-muscled
Horns
- Strong jaws
- Lop-style ears that fall alongside the face
Head
- Strong jaws
- Lop-style ears that fall alongside the face
Temperament
- Generally docile and mild-mannered
- Known for being extremely motherly to their babies
Hardiness
- Hardy breed and easy keepers
- Disease and parasite resistance
- Strong legs and hooves
The Boer Goat
Europeans arriving in the Cape in the seventeenth century found an established population of goats kept by Khoikhoi peoples. The Boer has been exported to many countries of the world, in all five inhabited continents. The coat is glossy and short; the recommended coloring is white with a reddish-brown head with a white blaze, and pigmented skin. The Boer is a meat breed, and is reared principally for that reason.
The Boer is a large goat: the average weight of an adult male is some 115 kg, with a mean height reported in 1984 at over 94 cm.
| Characteristic | Boer Goat | Savanna Goat |
|---|---|---|
| Origin | South Africa | South Africa |
| Coat Color | White with reddish-brown head | Predominantly white |
| Size | Large | Large |
| Primary Use | Meat production | Meat production |
| Milk Production | Moderate | High |
| Maternal Instincts | Good | Excellent |
The West African Dwarf Goat
The West African Dwarf is a traditional breed of West and Central Africa. The West African Dwarf is a large and variable breed or group of breeds of domestic goat from coastal West and Central Africa, a range extending approximately from Senegal to Congo.
The goats have at various times been exported to European countries and to the United States, initially as zoo animals or for laboratory research. The West African Dwarf goat is achondroplastic, with a typical height of 30 to 50 cm (12 to 20 in). Adult males weigh 20 to 25 kg (44 to 55 lb) and females 18 to 22 kg (40 to 49 lb). Both sexes have horns, which curve outwards and backwards in males. Males also have beards and sometimes manes. Characteristics include a relatively long neck, broad chest, and straight back. Legs are short and the udder is small but generally well-shaped. There are numerous regional breeds or strains within the overall West African Dwarf grouping.
West African Dwarf goats are important in the rural village economy of West Africa. West African Dwarf goats are capable of breeding at twelve to eighteen months. Multiple births are very common, with twins being normal and triplets frequent. The kidding interval averages about 220 days.
A West African Dwarf goat.
