Come on, admit it! All the goat breeds are confusing, right? You want some goats. But there are so many different types. How do you choose? The process of selecting a breed of goat may seem like a daunting task, and that is not a surprise because there are over 200 unique breeds of goats around the globe! Some goat breeds are not so common, and some are. For simplicity, I’ll walk you through the different breeds of goats and typical functions of goats that are most popular with today’s goat farmer and hobbyist. After we get done here, you should have a clear understanding of the best breeds for different purposes, and which breed may be ideal for you. In this article I’m going to show you the 15 Best Breeds of Goats for Milk, Meat, Pets and More. Choosing the Right Goat Breed Let’s talk about the “why” – why you want to purchase goats. Now, you may have noticed that I said “goats” – in plural, not “a” goat. Goats are social animals, referred to as “herd” animals. They typically don’t flourish in a solitary environment. When you are in the first stages of choosing your own goats, be sure to plan on buying two or more. Keep ‘em happy and healthy. You don’t want a lonely goat on your hands, one that might grieve itself into poor health. So, now you know you should buy at least two goats. Next, let’s look at the most common functions of the various goat breeds, which are: Dairy Meat Fiber Show Goats Brush Clearing Goats Pack Goats Pet Goats As we talk about the breeds, consider the space, facilities, and time you will be allotting to your goats. This helps to break your selection process down into smaller, easier-to-digest pieces. Goats are social animals. They typically don’t flourish in a solitary environment My suggestion, which is what helped us when we were beginners, is to sit down with pen and paper and list the pros and cons of each goat breed and their specific functions. I’m going to show you the 15 best breeds, sorted by category. Let’s get started with the first category, and one of the most popular… Dairy Goats Do you have a need, or a desire, for fresh goat milk? Goat milk is known for its incredible health benefits, and it can also become a part of a business through the sale of milk, cheese and even soap. Dairy goats are prominent in the show ring. In fairgrounds and goat shows, you’ll see barns and show schedules specific to both dairy and meat goats. When purchasing dairy goats, consider the facilities that you have for milking goats. Do you have a relatively dust free area where you will milk the goats? Do you have time available, many months each year, to milk goats on a set schedule twice a day (optimally)? As with any breed of goat that will serve a specific purpose, genetics are important. If you want the finest milk goats, or animals that are hardy, animals that produce healthy kids, or good meat production, pay attention to the genetics – consider registered goats that have proven records in production, or in the show ring. Or if you prefer not to pay the higher cost of registered goats, then at least look closely at your new goat’s dam (mother) or sire (father). This gives you a deeper look into the genetics and attributes that might have passed down. As we dive into each goat breed, keep in mind that genetics, health, and proper feeding and care play directly into hardiness and production of any goat. Dairy Goat Breeds Alpine Medium to large size goat Consistent milk producers – up to a gallon a day with butterfat content 3.5% Long lactation cycle (Note: Great characteristic if you need a goat “in milk” for lengthy time-frames) Easy to handle and loyal Hardy Erect ears, straight nose, coat colors vary Seasonal breeder (Photo Credit: Jean) LaMancha Medium size goat High volume milk – up to 1-2 gallons a day with butterfat content 4% average Energetic and friendly Hardy Small to no ears, straight nose, coat colors vary Seasonal breeder (Photo Credit: Jean) Nubian Medium to large size goat High volume milk – up to 2 gallons a day with butterfat content 4.5% average (Note: Great butterfat content for cheese and soap making) Friendly, gentle and vocal (Note: Nubians love people, but they also let you know) Long pendulous ears – extend about 1” below the muzzle, convex (Roman) nose, coat colors vary Seasonal breeder (Photo Credit: Kersti Nebelsiek) Saanen Large size goat – one of the largest of the dairy breeds Produce large volumes of milk – butterfat content average 2-3% (Note: This breed is touted as the “Holsteins of the dairy goats” because can produce over 2 gallons of milk a day) Easy to handle and quiet in nature Straight or dished nose, erect ears, coat color is light cream or white Seasonal breeder Sable A Saanen goat with any coat color combination except for pure white or light cream (Photo Credit: Efras) Toggenburg Medium size goat Average milk production – butterfat average 3% (Note: Despite the “average” milk production, one Toggenburg holds the all-time milk production record with the American Dairy Goat Association!) Spirited – not as docile as some breeds of dairy goats Erect ears, straight or dished nose, coat is specific in color – light fawn or dark chocolate, white on the sides of their tail, two white stripes down their face, white ears, lower legs are white, and coat is shaggy in winter compared to other goat breeds Seasonal breeder (Photo Credit: Dmitrij Rodionov) Oberhasli Medium size goat Average milk production – butterfat content average 3.75% Docile and quiet Erect ears, straight nose, bay (chamoise) coat color, black dorsal......