88 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA EXPERIMENT STATION 



a cow. Goats thus largely derive their living from feed that would 

 otherwise go to waste, which accounts for their popularity among 

 people in urban communities and for the fact that they are generally 

 considered most economical milk producers. The present conditions 

 and possible extension of the milch goat industry in this state will be 

 further discussed in another place in this bulletin. 



BREEDS OF MILCH GOATS 



There are many different breeds of milch boats, but comparatively 

 few of these are represented in California, those present in large num- 

 bers being the Toggenburg, Saanen, and Anglo-Nubian. A great 

 variety of crosses and numerous goats of no particular breeding are 

 also found. 



Toggenburg. This breed is at the present time the most numerous 

 in this state. It has its native home in the Toggenburg Valley, 

 Switzerland, where it has been bred for centuries. The prevailing 

 color is brown, both light and dark, with white markings. A white 

 bridle mark is always present on each side of the face. White is also 

 present on the underline and on the legs below the knees and hocks. 

 White is also now and then found on the sides of the animal. As a 

 rule, they are hornless, but horns are sometimes developed. The 

 head is rather long, facial lines straight or slightly concave, ears of 

 a medium size, more or less erect, although sometimes held almost 

 horizontally. The neck is somewhat long and slender and there way 

 or may not be wattles at the base of the lower jaw. Toggenburgs 

 usually have a beard, which on the male is long and heavy. The better 

 specimens of the breed are always lean and of medium size, females 

 weighing about 100 to 140 pounds, while bucks as a rule weigh from 

 110 to 140 pounds. Both long-haired and short-haired animals are 

 often seen in the same herd. It has been our experience that the 

 Toggenburgs are very hardy and make splendid mothers. 



Saanen. This is another Swiss breed which is quite similar to the 

 Toggenburg in general conformation. They are a little heavier in 

 weight, mature bucks weighing from 175 to 200 pounds and does from 

 110 to 140 pounds. They are of a white or cream color, and usually 

 short-haired. The Saanen is considered a hornless breed, but horns 

 often occur as in the case of the Toggenburg. The Saanen may be 

 used to great advantage in grading up herds in this state, as many 

 of the common goats are white in color. 



Nubians or Anglo-Nubians. This goat is probably the result of 

 a cross between the common short-haired goat of England and the 



