Saanen Breed

(Saanen goat), a dairy breed of goat. The Saanen was produced in Switzerland in the Saane River valley in the mid-19th century. It is a large goat with a sound, sinewy constitution and a well-pronounced dairy type of build; it is generally hornless, and its coat is usually white. The males weigh 70–80 kg, and the females, 50–60 kg. There are 180–250 kids born per 100 does. Lactation continues eight to ten months, sometimes up to 12 months. The average yield of milk per lactation is 600–700 kg, the record yield being 2,482 kg. Fat content of the milk is 3.6–4.5 percent.

The Saanen goat is widespread in Western and Central Europe; it has had a great influence on dairy goat breeding in many European, American, and Asian countries. It was introduced into Russia between 1905 and 1913; it has acclimatized well and is being used to raise the milk yields of various offspring of Russian goats. The yield of the best crossbreeds is 500–1,000 kg of milk per lactation. The crossbreeds are prevalent in the central and northwest regions of the RSFSR.