Goat Breed Identification Quiz

Boers are meat goats, so they will be thicker and heavier than the dairy breeds. They also are generally white with a deep bay colored head, just like in this photo.

Nubians stand out from the others mostly because of their floppy ears. Boers also have floppy ears, but Nubians are dairy goats and so will look more slender in the legs. They come in all different colors and patterns and so looking at their size and shape helps make sure you aren't looking at Boer with unusual markings (there are some Boer breeders developing all-red and spotted lines!)

LaMancha's have many differnet markings and colorations, but the give away feature of this breed is the size of the ears. They are always very small, sometimes barely noticable.

An all-white goat with dairy conformation is almost certainly a Saanen!

Saanen's are almost always all-white or cream in color.

It closely resembles the Saanen breed, which are known for their milk production and similar physical traits.

The color of this goat is classic Toggenburg. Note the pattern is a common pattern found in Alpines as well, but this "fawn" color is not desirable in an Alpine and so when you see it, Toggenburg is the most likely choice.

American Pygmy goats are a charming breed known for their small size, stocky build, and friendly personalities. Originating from West African Dwarf goats, they were first imported to the United States for zoos and research purposes between 1930 and 1960. However, their adorable looks and gentle nature led to them becoming popular pets, eventually being recognized as an official breed in 1975. Today, they're not just cute companions; recent studies have even suggested that living with an American Pygmy goat can have positive effects on certain cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. Who knew such a small creature could make such a big impact?

This LaMancha has what are called "elf ears". Note that this goat is all white just like a Saanen, but those ears are a dead giveaway!

The Oberhasli is a Swiss dairy breed, coming from Swiss Alpine heritage. It has a very specific color and pattern combination called "CHAMOISEE" which is the reddish "bay" color with black legs (knee to hoof), black dorsal (spine) strip, black stripes on either side of the face and black muzzle. Alpines can also be Chamoisee though, so it is hard to be 100% certain, but when you see this color and pattern Oberhasli should be the first thing to come to mind.

Alpines can be tricky to identify because they come in so many different colors. They are usually tall and slender goats. But it is sometimes easiest to identify them simply because their colors don't match the required colorings of one of the other breeds! (Note, that in Alpine conformation, all-white or Toggenburg coloring is discriminated *against* and so if it looks like either of those it usually isn't an Alpine)!

The Alpine, a medium-sized goat breed originating from the French Alps, exhibits a unique and visually striking color and pattern referred to as "Sandau." Exclusively found in this breed, the Sandau coloration consists of a solid black coat covering the majority of the body, with distinct white stripes accentuating the facial features and a lighter, contrasting white underbelly. This distinct and aesthetically pleasing combination of colors and patterns, characteristic of the Alpine breed, makes these goats easily recognizable and appreciated for their distinctive appearance in addition to their notable milk production capabilities.