Description of the goats of the Anglo-Nubian breed

Anglo-Nubian goats have an unusual appearance and excellent meat and dairy characteristics. This breed of goats was introduced relatively recently, and was imported to the territory of the CIS countries in the 1990s-2000s

Anglo-Nubian goats

Because of their pedigree data, these goats are now actively bred on livestock farms and on private farms, and farmers respect this breed for high-fat milk and high productivity.

Description of the breed

Purebred Anglo-Nubian goats are quite expensive. Their price ranges from 100 to 200 thousand rubles per head. Because they are rarely used as beef cattle, they are kept only for milk.

The Anglo-Nubian goat is easily recognized among others.It is characterized by:

• the body is long and powerful;
• the legs are thin, incommensurable with the body;
• the neck is very elongated;
• ears are wide and long, hanging slightly below the chin, are the hallmark of the breed;
• the coat is short, stiff and smooth;
• there are no brushes on the face;
• the nose has the hump is a Roman profile;
• eyes are almond-shaped, expressive, mobile;
• the udder is large, round, tightly attached to the hips;
• the nipples have an elongated shape.

Despite the fact that the animal is quite strong and large, oh to have an extraordinary grace. An adult female weighs about 65-70 kg with a height of 70-75 cm at the withers. Goats are much more massive and can reach 80-90 kg with a height of at least 85 cm at the withers. The record weight of the goat of this breed reaches 125 kg. The Anglo-Nubian goat breed has firmly taken its place on the podium of the most popular types of livestock.

The color of the animals can vary. There are individuals of such colors:

• black;
• chocolate;
• piebald;
• bay;
• spotty;
• cream;
• white;
• white-brown.

Females are mostly hornless due to the presence of a dominant gene. Males are owners of luxurious horns.

The character of goats is calm and affectionate, but sometimes noisy and aggressive individuals are found. This behavior is often associated with breeders’ mistakes regarding small cattle.Animals kept in poor conditions often show aggression towards humans and their relatives, and this does not depend on their origin.

Breeding milk

Anglo-Nubian goats and their characteristics indicate that these animals are excellent dairy producers. The milk of Anglo-Nubian goats is very appreciated due to its high fat content. The fat content ranges from 5 to 9%, a record for small cattle.

Milk with such fat content is used for the production of goat cheeses and cottage cheese. The yield of the finished product is much higher than when using milk of other breeds. This is due to the increased content of proteins in it.

Goat milk is close in composition to breast milk. They feed their children if the mother for some reason does not have her own.

An unpleasant feature of goat milk is its specific smell. It arises due to poor animal welfare conditions or uncleanliness of the milkmaid. In order for the milk to have a normal color and smell, it is necessary: ​​

• wash your hands and udder before milking;
• milk the milk in a clean bowl;
• clean in a timely manner in the place where livestock are kept;
• do not feed the goats with bitter herbs.

Also, the presence of extraneous taste may indicate mastitis or damage to the udder alveoli. Milk may run rancid if the female was not started on time before delivery (did not stop lactation).

A distinctive feature of the Anglo-Nubian goats is that the quality of milk is not very dependent on their living conditions.

Animals are not picky about food or keeping conditions. Their milk has no extraneous taste. Cheeses are made from it with a creamy finish, due to the high fat content of milk.

Goats who gave birth for the first time give about 3 liters of milk per day, if the female is properly milked and her diet has enough protein, fat and carbohydrates. Female productivity can be significantly reduced due to malnutrition and lack of nutrients. After each subsequent birth, the milk yield increases and ultimately can reach 6.5 -7 liters. These are very good results for small cattle.

Lactation lasts for 300 days. The maximum productivity of the animal is achieved in the first 3-4 months after birth and then gradually decreases. By the start-up period, milk yield may decrease by more than 2 times.

Keeping Anglo-Nubian goats

Animals are unpretentious to the conditions of detention. Anglo-Nubian goats and their characteristics indicate that animals can safely tolerate temperature differences within reasonable limits. The first bred individuals of this breed did not respond well to high air humidity, but as soon as the Swiss goats were included in the selection, this deficiency was eradicated.

The first Anglo-Nubian goats brought to Russia did not tolerate winter temperatures, but after a few generations the animals acclimatized and adapted to severe frosts.

Goats in during the mating season, a specific smell is not emitted, which can affect the taste of milk in females, which means that animals of both sexes can be kept in the same room. But goats do not tolerate neighborhood with other farm animals. This can cause stress and, as a result, a decrease in milk yield.

In the stall, the goats should have floorings elevated above the floor where the pets could rest. Anglo-Nubian goats are very fond of hills and climb them with pleasure. This means that goats should not be grazed near cars or other things that animals can damage with their hooves.

Anglo-Nubian goats ration

Goats of this breed are not particularly picky in food. In the summer, they are content with wild herbs and green mass of plants growing in grazing places. With a sufficient amount of juicy food in the goats menu, their milk yield increases significantly.

During lactation it is recommended to feed the goat after grazing.

For this, animals are given 1-2 kg wheat or oats. The grain is given in crushed form, so that it is easier to digest and more quickly absorbed by the animal.Bran is also steamed with a decoction of herbs that improve lactation: dill, fennel, flax seeds. If there are problems with goat’s scuffling, it is recommended to feed it with soybean and sunflower meal.

In winter, goats are fed with hay and straw. The latter is eaten less readily. Hay must be harvested in the summer at the rate of 5-6 kg per individual herd. The lack of succulent feed during this period is made up for by vegetables and fruits. During autumn leaf fall, you can also collect fallen leaves, which will surely appeal to pets.

Many breeders feed their goats with willow branches harvested in summer and tied in brooms. Dry nettle is an excellent source of vitamins for adult goats and young animals.

Disadvantages of Anglo-Nubian goats

Like any breeding product, the Anglo-Nubian goat breed has its advantages and disadvantages. The following factors can be attributed to the breed:

• Intolerance of close proximity to other animals. This applies even to goats other Because of this, Anglo-Nubians are difficult to keep on livestock farms.
• The motley color of goats attracts a large number of blood-sucking insects. Frequent bites excite the animal, which can result in a decrease in milk yield.
• Individuals who have recently arrived from abroad can hardly tolerate temperature changes. They need to create greenhouse conditions. After several generations, animals acclimatize.

Intolerance to low temperatures can be attributed not only to the minuses. In regions with very hot and dry summers, goats feel great, unlike other breeds.

How not to make a mistake with the choice

If the breeder decided to replenish his farm with goats of the Anglo-Nubian breed, he needs to know how not to make a mistake when buying an animal. Sometimes unscrupulous sellers can give out one kind of goat after another.

The price of Anglo-Nubian goats is quite high, which means you can easily stumble upon a “fake”. To avoid this, you should buy young animals only from trusted breeders or at agricultural exhibitions.

Conclusion

The Anglo-Nubian goat breed is an excellent producer of meat and dairy products. Most breeders use it to produce high-quality milk, but in the USA it is grown as a meat breed. The meat of the Anglo-Nubians is tender and juicy, without a specific smell, which makes this product popular among consumers.