The Saanen goat is recognised as one of the superior milking goat breeds. 'Saanen' is a municipality in the canton of Berne in Switzerland. The capital of the district is also called Saanen.
Towards the end of the 19th century an exodus of several thousand head spread throughout Europe. Between 1904 and 1930s around 150 Saanens were imported from Switzerland into the United States. More were later imported from England. Their consistency in production, resilience and ease of management has seen them become one of the favourite breeds of the United States. Their mild nature makes them ideal for children to handle in showmanship classes. They are affectionate and make great pets.
They were the first of the improved dairy breeds to be imported into Australia with the original twelve animals arriving in 1913. There are more Saanens in Australia than any other dairy breed. Australian Saanens have often held the world production record. One lactation saw the goat producing 3200 litres over 365 days at her first lactation. The Saanen is used throughout the world to upgrade local breeds.
An importation of Saanens from Holland in 1922 saw the establishment of the breed in the United Kingdom. Saanens have exerted a strong influence on local breeds. The United Kingdom has developed the British Saanen which is taller and heavier than his cousins.
British Goat Society milking trials (over 205 performances) has seen the Saanen give an average 24 hour yield of 4.26kg with butterfat level at 3.58% and protein at 2.66%.
The Saanen is the largest of the dairy breeds. The average height is 31-32 inches with some reaching 35 inches. Does weigh upwards of 150 pound and bucks may weigh over 200 pound. They also produce more milk than other breeds and are a docile animal.
The Saanen doe should appear refined and feminine. Because of her elegance and her admirable production record, the Saanen doe is often called the 'Queen of the Dairy Goats'.
The Saanen doe has a very feminine head and a graceful air. In profile, the face is straight or dished but never convex. The ears are erect and carried in an alert manner. It is preferable if the ears point forward.
The jaw should be neither under- nor over-shot as this would interfere with the efficient mastication of food. The teeth should be sound, the muzzle and nostrils wide and the lips broad. The eyes should be bright and intelligent and set wide apart. The neck should be long and slim.
To be a high producer the conformation must be sound. The bodies of all dairy animals, whether cow or goat, should be wedge-shaped with good height and depth. The chest should be wide with well-sprung ribs. The back should be level to the hips before dropping slightly to the tail. The legs should be positioned well in each corner of the animal with thin thighs to allow room for a well developed, round or globular udder. The udder should not be fleshy and should be carried high and well under the body. The texture, after milking, should be soft.
The teats should be of moderate size, placed squarely and pointed a little towards the front. Animals with udders and/or teats that depart from normal standards should not be used for breeding. The doe should not be cow-hocked but have clean, long, straight legs.
The stud buck is mainly judged by his progeny, and by their performance and quality. He should have a big-boned frame with good depth. He should have plenty of vigour and be masculine in appearance without exhibiting coarseness. Bucks are normally horned as problems can arise when breeding from polled bucks. If put to polled does, polled bucks will throw either intersex females or sterile males. They may be used to cover horned does. Both sexes may be horned although de-budding of the kid is usual.
The Saanen is a heavy milk producer yielding 3% to 4% milk fat. They are equally suited to small concerns or large commercial herds.
The Saanen is white (preferably) or light cream with short, fine hair and sometimes has a fringe along the spine and thighs. Both sexes usually have beards.
Tan or olive skin is to be preferred to pink as the Saanen is sensitive to strong sunlight and prefers a temperate climate. The skin is supple. Black spots may occur on the ears, nose or udder. The sturdy Saanen is a consistent producer and an easy keeper. Multiple births are common. They are a calm, docile breed, not given to random acts of panic. They are affectionate and respond well to kind handling. The routine of daily milking is quickly learned and appreciated by dairy herds.
In later times, a recessive gene has resulted in a Sable Saanen. The colour can vary from beige to black. These coloured Saanens are accepted by some dairy goat breed clubs but not by all.
Sources:
www.ansi.okstate.edu
en.wikipedia.org
www.nationalsaanenbreeders.com
www.dpi.nsw.gov.au
www.home.vicnet.net.au
www.allgoats.com