What are Toggenburg goats? (Toggenburg goat)
The Toggenburg goat breed originates from Obertoggenburg, Switzerland. Due to its excellent milk production, this goat breed has been exported to various countries. Through various crossbreeding with other goats, new varieties have emerged; for example, the Dutch Toggenburg goat originated in the Netherlands. Toggenburg goatskins come in over 60 different color variations, ranging from dark brown to very light brown. The longer and more frequently the Toggenburg goat is exposed to the sun, the lighter the color becomes. The ideal color for these goats is chocolate brown.
What are characteristics of Toggenburg goats?
The Dutch Toggenburger is a quiet goat and is compactly built with the emphasis on milk production. The Toggenburger has an exceptional head, it is rather short with a broad forehead. This goat also has a well-developed jaw and a wide mouth. A striking feature of this goat is the "mask". The mask is the white marking on the head and runs from the muzzle to the pasterns. The ears are white-rimmed.
The Toggenburg goat breed can give a large amount of milk with relatively little food. On average, the goat gives 3 liters of milk per day for 300 days. The milk has a relatively low butterfat content of 2 to 3%. Toggenburgers are true dairy goats and because of the excellent udders of these animals, milkability is very good.
The weight of the Toggenburger varies from 60 to 80 kilograms. Both the goat and the buck have a shoulder height of ± 70cm. Due to their calm character, these animals are easy to keep, both in small and larger groups.
The history of the Toggenburger
In 1905, the first Toggenburg goats were imported by the Drenthe Agricultural Society (DLG). The DLG then brought three bucks and a goat from Switzerland. The purpose of this import was to improve the quality of the Drenthe land goats available at the time through crossbreeding. The Toggenburger was specifically chosen because this goat breed fits well and can survive well on the poor Drentse soil. In 1911 a foot and mouth disease epidemic broke out and not much later the First World War joined in. Since that time no Toggenburgers have been imported into the Netherlands.
Around the year 1930 the characteristics of the Toggenburger were so pure and stable that one could speak of a new goat breed called the: Dutch Toggenburger. In 1938 a breed standard was adopted which is still in force today.
Until 1960, Toggenburg goats were primarily bred in the province of Drenthe. Over the years, the animal has spread throughout the Netherlands. In 2003, over 4000 Dutch Toggenburg goats were counted.
More goat breeds: Angora goat or view all goat breeds.