The Toggenburg is a type of dairy goat and one of the oldest known goat breeds in the world.
The breed started in Switzerland, in a region called the Toggenburg Valley, which is where the name also comes from.
People have been raising this goat for hundreds of years, and it was first officially described in the 1800s. In 1890, people started keeping records of this goat in a herd book.
It became known outside of Switzerland in the early 1900s when it was brought to other countries like the United Kingdom and the United States.
In 2006, about 850 Toggenburg goats lived in their home regions, and around 3,000 were in all of Switzerland. In 2023, the number was between 3,235 and 7,273 in Switzerland, with just over 3,000 females and 196 males used for breeding.
Today, the Toggenburg goat is found in about 50 countries across Europe, Central America, the West Indies, South America, Africa, and Asia. Even though the breed is not in danger worldwide, in Switzerland it is listed as “at risk” or “vulnerable.”
In some countries, like Holland and the United Kingdom, the goats have changed a little over time and have become separate national breeds. The British Toggenburg became an official breed in 1921. It is usually bigger and heavier than the Swiss version and gives more milk.
Contents
Characteristics
Color
This goat comes in colors from light brown to dark chocolate. This breed has special white markings that make it easy to recognize.
You can usually see white lines on the face, starting above the eyes and going down to the nose. The ears have white on the edges and tips, and the legs are white from the knees and hocks down to the hooves. There is also some white on the inner legs, on the back part near the tail, and around the tail itself. Some goats may have small white spots on the neck or near the tassels. In older male goats, the white face lines might not be very clear.
Coat
The Toggenburg goat can have different types of coats. Both females and males may have a short coat, a short coat with some longer hair around the edges, or a long coat covering the whole body. All of these are normal for this breed.
Head
The head of this goat is of medium length with a straight face. The eyes are bright, set wide apart, and the ears stand upright and point slightly forward. The muzzle is strong and wide, but not rough or bulky. When looking at the side of the head, the jaws should fit well together, with no sign of the bottom or top jaw sticking out.
Horns
This goat breed can either have horns or be naturally polled. In many cases, especially on farms, goats that do have horns are disbudded when they are young.
Neck
The neck is clean where it joins the head and blends smoothly into the shoulders. The goat may have tassels or not. In females, the neck is long and fine, but not too thin. In males, the neck is also fine but stronger, without looking rough or heavy.
Body
The body is well-shaped and balanced. The length of the body matches the height of the goat. The rib cage is round, big, and deep, and the body has a wedge shape.
Back
The back is strong and straight, running level from the shoulders to the hips.
Forequarters
The front part of the Toggenburg goat is well-formed and smooth. The shoulders are sloped and blend nicely into the body, and the withers are fine and not too high. The chest is full between the front legs, being deeper in males than in females.
Legs
The legs are strong, straight, and parallel, not turned inward like in cow-hocked legs. When viewed from the side, the hocks are slightly bent. The pasterns are also strong. The hooves are healthy and nicely shaped.
Udder
The udder is well attached high at the back and broadly connected to the body. It has good development at the front and is not too low or overly divided. The skin is soft to the touch and its color can range from fawn to dark brown.
Size
The Toggenburg goat is of medium size, with females having a height of 31 inches (79 cm) and males 35.5 inches (90 cm).
Lifespan
These goats live around 8 to 12 years. With excellent care, such as a good diet, regular veterinary attention, and a low-stress environment, they can sometimes live even longer.
Growth Rate
How fast do they grow?
The growth rate is not these goats’ strongest trait, since they are bred more for milk production. Toggenburg kids grow at a moderate rate compared to meat breeds.
They gain about 3.5–5.3 oz (100–150 grams) per day in the early weeks with good nutrition.
As for sexual maturity, Toggenburg goats usually reach it around 4 to 6 months of age, but that doesn’t mean they should be bred that early.
Weight
These goats have a moderate build, with adult males typically reaching 165 lbs (75 kg) and females around 121 lbs (55 kg).
Temperament
With their calm and friendly personalities, these goats are easy to work with and respond well to human interaction. When given regular attention and kind treatment, they often become affectionate and enjoy spending time with people.
They are active and curious animals that like to explore their surroundings. Social by nature, they prefer living in groups and usually get along well with other goats and farm animals. Sometimes, older females may show dominance within the herd, but serious aggression is rare.
They respond well to consistent care and do best with a regular routine. They thrive in clean, comfortable environments with enough space to move around.
Milk
These goats are good milk producers and have a long lactation period of about 268 days. On average, they give around 1,713 lbs (777 kg) of milk per lactation, which is about 0.66 to 0.92 gallons (2.5 to 3.5 liters) per day. Their milk has a mild taste and is easy to digest, making it a good choice for people with light lactose sensitivity.
The milk has a fat content of around 3.0 to 3.5% and about 2.8% protein. This fat level is lower than in some other dairy breeds, but it is still good for making products like cheese, yogurt, and other dairy foods. The goats also have well-developed udders, which helps with easy and efficient milking.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Lactation length | 268 days |
| Milk yield per lactation | 1,713 lbs (777 kg) |
| Milk per day | 0.66–0.92 gallons (2.5–3.5 liters) |
| Milk fat | 3.0–3.5% |
| Milk protein | 2.8% |
Raising
Feeding
You should feed these goats a diet based mainly on high-quality hay or fresh pasture. However, pasture alone is not enough for goats that are in milk. Does that are producing milk need more energy and nutrients, so you should always supplement their diet with grains or a balanced dairy goat feed.
Good grain options include crushed corn, oats, barley, and soybean meal. These grains help support milk production and maintain body condition. You can also give them a commercial dairy goat pellet, which is specially formulated to provide the right mix of protein, vitamins, and minerals.
Fresh, clean water should always be available. A milking doe can drink several liters of water each day, so it’s important to check and refill their water regularly.
Along with their feed and water, you should also provide a free-choice mineral mix made specifically for goats. This helps prevent nutritional deficiencies and supports healthy growth, reproduction, and milk production. You should also offer plain salt and baking soda. Salt helps with electrolyte balance, while baking soda supports digestion and helps prevent bloating.
As a treat, you can give them small amounts of safe extras like carrot peels, apple slices, tree leaves (such as willow or mulberry), or weeds like dandelion. Just avoid feeding large amounts of anything new, and stay away from toxic plants.
Feeding should be consistent, preferably at the same time each day. Any changes to the diet should be introduced slowly to avoid upsetting their digestive system.
Environment, Climate, Shelter
These goats can live in different environments and do well on free pasture. They enjoy grazing grass, weeds, and leaves, so a good pasture with strong fencing works well. It’s best to rotate pastures to keep the grass healthy and reduce parasites.
Even on pasture, they need shelter to stay dry and protected from wind, rain, and strong sun. A simple, clean shed is enough.
If pasture is not available, you can raise them in a dry area and feed them hay, grains, and fresh greens. This system needs more work but gives you more control over their diet.
They can live in both warm and cold areas, but they need extra care in extreme weather. In hot weather, always give them shade and fresh water. These goats are strong and can adapt well if their basic needs are met.
How many goats per acre?
On one acre of good pasture, you can keep around 6 to 8 goats comfortably.
If the pasture is not very strong or is in a dry area, it’s safer to keep only 3 to 5 goats and give them extra feed. Milking goats need more food, so they often require hay or grains even when grazing. Moving the goats between different areas helps protect the grass and keeps the pasture in better shape.
Breeding
This breed of goats is fertile and reliable for breeding, usually coming into heat every 18–21 days in late summer or fall. Does can have their first breeding when they are 8 to 10 months old, if they are big and healthy enough. It’s best to breed them once per year to keep them healthy and productive.
The pregnancy lasts about 150 days, which is around 5 months. Most of the time, the mother gives birth to twins, but sometimes she can have one, three, or even four kids. This breed of goats is usually a good mother. She often gives birth without help and has enough milk to feed her babies.
Health Issues
These goats are hardy, but they can still have the same health problems as other goats. Some common issues include internal parasites, external parasites such as lice or mites, and hoof problems if their feet are not trimmed regularly.
They can also suffer from bloat, respiratory infections, and nutritional deficiencies if they don’t receive the right diet or enough minerals. Does in milk need special care to avoid mastitis, which is an infection of the udder.
With good care, clean housing, regular deworming, hoof trimming, and proper feeding, most of these problems can be prevented. Regular check-ups and vaccinations also help keep the goats healthy.
Advantages
- Hardy and healthy if properly cared for
- Adaptable to different envinroments
- Friendly and gentle temperament
- High milk production
- Easy to digest milk with moderate far and protein
- Good for beginners
- Strong mothering ability
Disadvantages
- Lower fat content in milk comapred to some other dairy breeds making it less ideal for butter
- Require dry shelter
- Can be escape artists and need strong fencing
- More sensitive to poor nutrition
- High maintenance during lactation
