Booted goat

Young male Booted goat of the brown-booted type (Patrick Bräunninger / StiefelGeissen-Züchterverein Schweiz)

Origin and development

The Booted goat is a mountain goat originating in the highlands of St Gallen (Walensee – Flums – Weisstannental – Taminatal region). Here, scant forage and extreme climatic conditions gave rise to a goat well adapted to harsh mountain life. Its milk yield was less important than its vigour and suitability for rugged terrain. In the summer months, these animals are often seen high up in the alpine pastures, sometimes alongside the ibex! After the 1938 review of goat breeds, few breeders continued to favour the Booted goat. The last surviving specimens (27 nannies and 7 billies) were salvaged in 1983.

Description

The Booted goat shows the greatest variability in colour of any Swiss goat breed. Two types are distinguished – the black- and the brown-booted. In both types, the coat colour ranges from light or dark brown to silver grey. Matching their boots, they have dark face markings around the eyes, ridge of the nose and ears. All Booted goats are horned. Typical features of this breed are the long hairs on its back (“Mänteli”) and hindquarters (“Hösli”). The wattle (“Glöggli”) and beard are desirable, but not always present.

Herd of watchful Booted goats (Karin Schaub / StiefelGeissen-Züchterverein Schweiz)

Breeding objectives

h Good rearing traits h Good fattening capacity h Milk production sufficient for twins

References

Züchterverband für seltene Nutztierrassen (www.zvsnr.ch) StiefelGeissen-Züchterverein Schweiz (www.stiefelgeiss.ch) ProSpecieRara (www.prospecierara.ch)