Toggenburg (goat)
The Toggenburg goat is a light brown - white-colored breed of goat whose primary breeding area is located in Upper Toggenburg in the canton of St. Gallen. It is considered extremely robust goat and was therefore exported to many countries, where it was pure bred or bred into local local goat breeds.
Traditional attitude and meaning
The Toggenburg is made around 1850, probably from a cross between the Gemsfarbigen mountain goat and the Appenzell goat. This thus quite young race already was (from 1892) the unification of the Canton of St. Gallen officially aimed at a very early stage.
Particular attention was - placed on the figure - not only to color. ( Well set strong limbs, high weight, good udder with a strong fore udders and teats correct sentence. )
Traditionally, the Toggenburg goat is kept in a small number of farmers. These will hold you like to share with other animals (usually cows ) in the pasture. Because goats eat lots of herbs and shrubs, which are rejected by cows, this has advantages in the pasture care, but means the Corraling the pastures more effort, since goats can not be prevent by a simple electric fence breaking out in contrast to cows.
Toggenburg happy to be summered in small numbers on Kuhalpen where they make outstanding contributions to landscape management.
Physical characteristics
The Toggenburg goat is a powerfully built, medium-sized goat with rather elongated physique ( height at withers 70-80 cm of the females, the male 75-85 cm; minimum weight for females 45 kg, 65 kg male ).
The animals are usually hornless, but there are also approved for breeding horned. The horns are occasionally asymmetrically or overgrown.
All specimens bear a strong beard, most have tufts. The coat is smooth and short to medium in length. On the chest and especially on the flanks of the Harre are typically longer and brighter colored than the rest of the body (mantle ).
It is characterized by the striking color, which is referred to as light brown to mouse gray. At the mirror, the limbs, the ears and the head all Toggenburg have white markings. The markings on the head run, just as in the Grisons rays goat, as a stripe from snout to horn attachment.
The udder is well attached and compact.
The Toggenburg goat is considered to be the best foundation ( ie healthiest physique ), which explains its great popularity as a breeding goat outside of their home territory.
Nature
Toggenburg goats are lively and very curious pets. Noteworthy is their great familiarity. Even against other animals (eg, dogs or livestock ) shows the goat bit shy, perhaps a result of the traditional attitude in common with other animals.
Toggenburg do not have a particularly strong herd instinct and it likes into smaller knots of the herd. In three to eight animals strong small herds it seems to feel most comfortable. Your urge to move is very limited, thus Toggenburg are better for the (mobile ) stabling suitable than the grown on march drive Swiss Mountain goat breeds.
Thanks to her being, her modesty and her familiarity Toggenburg goats are also at Hobby goat farmers popular to attract the only little to no material benefit from the attitude.
Performance
On average, Toggenburg goats in Switzerland 809.6 kg of milk per lactation, at 270.3 Melktagen (equal to 3 kg per day). With appropriate care and feeding also significantly higher yields are possible. The average fat content (3.1%) and protein (2.8%) is relatively low.
Stock
The stock of Toggenburgern in Switzerland is slightly increasing for years and is currently (as of May 13, 2013) in 3873 in herd book out animals. This makes it the third most common breed of goats in Switzerland and is not endangered as.
The Toggenburg is also recognized in the United States, Canada, Germany, Austria and the Netherlands breeding goat. It was crossed in some foreign goat breeds, such as the British Toggenburg in England, the Thuringian Forest Goat from Germany or the Dutch Pinto from the Netherlands.