Facts About the Saanen Goat

The Saanen goat is a dairy breed from Switzerland, and thus is known as one of the Swiss breeds, along with the Alpine, Oberhasli and Toggenberg. Saanens are the largest of the dairy breeds and are white or cream colored with erect ears and, usually, a dished face. Sable Saanens are purebred Saanens of any other color, ranging from beige to black. Sable Saanens are accepted as a independent breed in some breed clubs, but not in others.

In the US, the breed association for Saanens is the National Saanen Breeders Association. The information in this article came largely from their web site, as well as the Saanen goat pages on Wikipedia and on OSU's Breeds of Livestock site, to which references are given below.

The Saanen, of whatever color, originated in the Saanen valley of Canton Berne, Switzerland. In 1893 several thousand Saanen goats left Switzerland for other parts of Europe to improve the productivity of goats there. Between 1904 and 1930 Saanens were imported to the United States from Switzerland, becoming one of the preferred breeds of dairy goats in the US.

Saanens are treasured for their generous milk production, sturdiness and ability to tolerate environmental change. They are however sensitive to sunlight, and in warmer climates it is best to provide shade. Normally, Saanens have horns, but in the past they have been usually disbudded or dehorned at an early age. Now, however, many goat breeders are leaving their horns intact as it is believed that horns are beneficial for the animal in many ways.

Though Saanens are large and big-boned, they are known for their very mild temperaments and are easy for young people to handle. Their large size may pose a problem in crossbreeding programs, however, and it is best not to breed a smaller or younger doe to a Saanen buck lest there be kidding problems arising from an overlarge kid in a moderate sized doe.

According the 'Breeds of Livestock - Kiko goat' page, the Saanen bucks along with Anglo-Nubian and Toggenburg bucks were also used over feral New Zealand does in the creation of the Kiko goat, another breed of meat goat. Saanen does were popular for a while to crossbreed to Boer bucks when that breed first was imported.

Saanens are known the world over for their good qualities, both in dairy production and for cross-breeding purposes. If you are looking to add a dairy goat breed to your farm, ranch or homestead, you might do well to consider the Saanen.

References:

1) Saanen goat --- Wikipedia the free encyclopedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saanen_goat

2) National Saanen Breeders Association http://nationalsaanenbreeders.com/

3) Breeds of Livestock -- Saanen goats http://www.ansi.okstate.edu/breeds/goats/saanen/

4) Breeds of Livestock --- Kiko goats http://www.ansi.okstate.edu/breeds/goats/kiko/

5) American Kiko Goat Association http://www.kikogoats.com/

6) Porter, Valerie - Goats of the World - Farming Press