Fast Facts About Dairy Goats... Alpine, Saanen and More!



Welcome! You have come to the right place to find fast facts about dairy goats. Discover various goats including the Alpine, Saanen and much more! These friendly goats help to provide so many benefits!

Spencer's Farm raises "full blood" Alpine goats.

Alpine and Sannen goats produce the milk that is used in Spencer's Farm natural bath and body products. These dairy goats help to provide a variety of high quality handcrafted natural bath products and natural body products.

Our natural bath and body products include: soaps, lotions, face cream, shampoo, foot scrubs, and much, much more!

Customers have experienced, the benefits of using our natural bath and body products. Just read their testimonials. They are happy because they know we offer the best skin care products around!

We consider our farm, surrounded by creeks and woods nestled in the beautiful hills of TN, an ideal place to raise these goats. The Alpine and Saanen goats are wonderful animals. We thoroughly enjoy them! They have beautiful colors, heroic temperaments and, most of all, awesome goat milk!

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The Alpine breeds originated in the Alps. The term “French-Alpine” and “Alpine” goats are used synonymously. The female and male goats are mostly short-haired. The males, (bucks), show a long-haired beard with long hair usually along its spine too. Both sexes have a straight face with medium sized and fine textured ears. These goats are hearty, curious, friendly, and adaptable animals. They have superior agility and a perfect sense of balance. They are very instinctive on a trail. They have good memories, can be easily trained and bond with their owners. Alpines produce high volumes of milk. These goats can thrive in most any climate while remaining healthy and maintaining excellent production.

Alpine Colors:

Alpine goats, do not have a distinct color but may range in colors from pure white to varying or combining shades of gray, brown, black, red, buff, fawn, and more.

Cou Blanc (coo blanc) - literally "white neck" white front quarters and black hindquarters with black or gray markings on the head.

Cou Clair (coo clair) - literally "clear neck" front quarters are tan, saffron, off-white, or shading to gray with black hindquarters.

Cou Noir (coo nwah) - literally "black neck" black front quarters and white hindquarters.

Sundgau (sundgow) - black with white markings such as underbody, facial stripes, etc.

Pied - spotted or mottled.

Chamoisee (shamwahzay) - brown or bay characteristic markings are black face, dorsal stripe, feet and legs, and sometimes a martingale running over the withers and down to the chest. Spelling for male is chamoise.

Two-tone Chamoisee - light front quarters with brown or gray hindquarters. This is not a cou blanc or cou clair as these terms are reserved for animals with black hindquarters.

Broken Chamoisee - a solid chamoisee broken with another color by being banded or splashed, etc.

If there is any variation in the above patterns broken with white, the description would be "broken" cou blanc.



The Saanen goat originated in the Saanen Valley of Switzerland. Saanen female goats,(does), produce heavy amounts of milk. These goats can give two gallons of milk per day. These goats are medium to large in size weighing approximately 145 pounds. They are the largest of all the dairy breeds. They have tough bones and can show lots of “pep” in their personality. As a rule, though, their temperament is mostly calm and mild mannered. They are eager to please. Saanen goats are easy for children to handle and are popular in showmanship classes due to their calm nature. They are white or light cream in color and may have spots on their skin. Breeders have been know to refer to them as "living marshmallows." Their hair is generally short, with some having just a fringe of hair over their spine or thighs. They have a straight face with ears standing erect and pointing forward. The Saanen breed is sensitive to "excessive" sunlight. These goats perform much better in shady or cooler conditions.

Dairy goats and dairy production is one of the most historical, versatile, and efficient forms of livestock production throughout the world. Goat dairies can operate on a much smaller-scale, are less costly to operate, and more efficient in comparison to dairy cow operations. Not to mention dairy goats and goat dairies are much more environmentally friendly. While they are known for their milk production efficiencies, their milk offers health benefits and value-added opportunities. And, dairy goat producers will tell you no animal is more cute and friendly than this type of goat!

These factors also provide economic opportunities for pre- existing and limited-resource farmers, while "peaking the interest" of potential dairy goat producers.

More Dairy Goat Facts:

1. Goats were first domesticated in the Zagros Mountains of western Iran approximately 10,000 years ago.

2. Goat milk is a major source of milk worldwide. Goats' milk may be drunk by people who are allergic to cows' milk, but it contains lactose, so it is not for the lactose intolerant.

3. The major difference between cow's milk and goat's milk is goat's milk has smaller fat globules than cow's milk, which makes it naturally homogenized and more easily digestible than cow's milk.

4. Dairy goats give three to four quarts of milk during a 305-day lactation.

5. Goats can be housebroken and trained to walk on a leash.

6. Goats can be trained to pull carts.

7. Goats will not eat soiled food or drink contaminated water. They like to eat the tips of woody shrubs or trees and occasionally the broad-leaf plant.

8. There are some hornless goats, but most have horns. Some have up to eight horns.

9. There are over 300 breeds of goats.



The Nigerian Dwarf Goat is a miniature dairy goat standing less than two feet tall. These goats can survive in cold locations such as Ontario, Canada. They come in many colors including: white, black, red, cream and patterns. Some have white "frosting" on their ears and blue eyes. They can produce a range from one to eight pounds of milk per day. Their milk has a high butterfat content so they are excellent for making soap. These goats are gentle and easily trainable. They can even be trained to walk on a leash. These goats are friendly and make great pets.

Do you have questions about our natural bath and body products and/or dairy goats? If so, please contact us. We'd be happy to help you!

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