Facts About Our Dairy Goats... Alpine and Saanen



Alpine and Saanen dairy goats produce milk that is used as one ingredient in Spencer's Farm natural bath and body products.

Our customers have experienced, the benefits of using our natural bath and body products. Just read their testimonials. Our customers 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 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.

Trivia:

1. Goat domestication is documented in the highlands of western Iran at approximately 10,000 years ago.

2. Goat Milk is a major source of milk worldwide.

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.



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

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