What do you need to know when getting started with raising Alpine goats? They make a great addition to the homestead or small farm.
We have a variety of goats on our homestead. Over the years, I have come to favor a few very special goat breeds. One of which are the Alpine goats.
They are some of the sweetest, craziest, and most entertaining.
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Take for instance, this wild and crazy gal, Holly (pictured below). She is stubborn and incredibly clumsy. But, she is a great leader and very sweet. She’s the goat who will be one of the first to greet us when we go outside and is always curious.
And let me tell you, this herd leader, can help move our entire herd when needed because somehow she keeps everyone else in line.
Here’s just a few reasons why we love Alpine goats and why you need some of your own!
Why You Should Consider adding Alpine Goats on Your Homestead
#1 Alpine goats make a great hardy breed. They do incredibly well adapting to our crazy midwest weather, ranging from hot and humid summers to blustery bitter cold winters.
BTW, goats don’t enjoy rain or falling snow very much. Always provide access to their pens, barns, or whatever shelter you have set up for them.
#2 Our Alpine goats have been great breeders and make excellent mamas. This can vary from each specific goat, but ours have always done pretty well. And they are awesome cross breeders.
#3 Alpine goats are perfect dairy breeds. Some can provide up to a gallon of fresh milk each day. This makes a great alternative to a milk cow for the homesteader that doesn’t have the space for cattle.
Plus, they stay in milk much longer than some other breeds.
Their milk can easily be made into butter and cheese.
#4 They are incredibly intelligent! We’ve had to learn how to get really good at goat proofing and building super strong fences. Goats are really good escape artists, but Alpines specifically can figure out how to unravel enclosures and climb fences.
Don’t let this deter you though. For one, their intelligence has helped improve my husband’s fence building skills! And for another, they learn to adapt to situations really well which saves us some time and energy, plus they are easy to train.
#5 They are incredibly lovable. Alpine goats are very social and as with all other goat breeds, they are companion animals. Meaning, they thrive best if they have a pal or several to hang out with.
If you spend time with them while they are young, they are very loving and crave attention. When they don’t get a lot of attention from an early age, they can become less friendly and sometimes a little bit aggressive.
A Few More Alpine Goat Facts
Alpine goats originated from the French Alps. They are a medium to large size breed, weighing around 135 lbs for does and 170 lbs for bucks.
They are a great option for crossbreeding. Using a dwarf breed and an Alpine will give you a mini Alpine, which we often do. And they’re adorable! Just remember to use a smaller breed buck so it doesn’t create stress or difficulties for the doe.
Ladah says
I see you have bred your alpines with mini breeds. I want to do this but I’ve had a few people tell me to steer clear for the safety of the mom Mini. We have Nigerian Dwarf females and Nubian/Alpine male. He is our bottle baby and we just adore him. Have you had to do C-sections from breeding the alpine with the mini?
Mary Beth says
Yes, they are right. So when we are cross breeding like this, the mother is always the larger breed and the male is the smaller breed. So in this case, the the female should be the Alpine and the male should be the Nigerian Dwarf. It would be too hard on the mother otherwise. Hope this helps! 🙂