Zaanenskaya is a milk breed of goats, originally from the Saanen Valley in Switzerland. It is also known as “Chèvre de Gessenay” in French and “Saanenziege” in German. Zaanen goats are the largest in size among dairy goat breeds. They are productive and they are bred in all regions, they are grown in commercial farms for the production of milk.
Zaanen goats have been exported to many countries since the 19th century, their farmers were bought due to high productivity.
The characteristics of the goats are Zaanen
This is one of the largest dairy goats in the world and the largest Swiss goat. Basically, the breed of completely white or creamy white color, in some copies, small pigmented areas are formed on the skin. The wool is short and thin, “bangs” usually grows over the spine and hips.
Goats do not tolerate strong sun, because these are paleskinned animals that are horned and rash. Their tails in the shape of a brush. Straight ears, directed up and forward. The average living weight of an adult female is from 60 to 70 kg. A goat is slightly larger than a goat in size, the average living weight of an adult producer goat from 70 to 90 kg.
What the Zaanen goats eat
Goats eat any grass and find food even on meager pastures. The breed is bred for intensive development in natural conditions and is developing poorly if it lives on one hay on the farm. The milk breed of goats Zaanen requires:
Breeding, offspring and crossdrawing
The breed multiplies throughout the year. One doe brings one or a pair of goats. Representatives of the species are often used to cross and improve local goat breeds. Black subspecies was recognized as a new breed in New Zealand in the 1980s.
Life expectancy, reproduction cycles
These goats live for about 10 years, puberty reaches the age of 3 to 12 months. The reproduction season falls on the fall, the female cycle lasts from 17 to 23 days. Estrus lasts from 12 to 48 hours. Pregnancy from 148 to 156 days.
The goat sniffs the air to understand whether the female is in the estrus period, stretches the neck and head up and wrinkles the upper lips.
The benefits for humans
Zaanen goats are hardy and one of the most productive milking goats in the world, and they are mainly used for milk production, not for the sakes. Their average dairy productivity is up to 840 kg for 264 lactation days. Koz’s milk is caanen rather good quality, contains a minimum of 2.7% protein and 3.2% fat.
Zaanen goats require little care, even young children can educate and take care of them. Goats get along nearby and together with other animals. They have obedient and generally friendly character. They are also bred as pets thanks to a good temperament. A person is required:
Living conditions
Zaanen goats are energetic animals that are full of life and need a large space for grazing. Light skin and wool is not suitable for hot climatic zones. Goats are extremely sensitive to sunlight and give more milk in a cool climate. If you breed Zaanen goats in the southern regions of the country, the provision of a shadow in the midday heat is a necessary condition for the content of the breed.
Goats dig the ground near the fence, so you need a strong fence to keep the animals locked up if you do not want them to scatter throughout the district in search of juicy greenery.
