Slovenian Saanen Goat

Origin and Development of the Breed

The Saanen goat is named after the Saanen Valley and the Saanen River in Switzerland, where the breed originates. It is well known that the Swiss Saanen breed has been used to improve local goat breeds (especially white ones) throughout Europe, which is why several breeds similar to the Saanen goat exist today. The Slovenian Saanen goat was developed by upgrading local goat populations (the domestic crossbred goat and the White Balkan goat) with Saanen goats imported from Switzerland. Today, the Slovenian Saanen breed is distributed throughout the entire territory of Slovenia.

Breed Description

Goats of the Slovenian Saanen breed are white in colour, with short hair and delicate, fine skin. It is a distinctly dairy breed with a large body frame. The body is long and somewhat angular, with a deep and wide chest. The legs are long, strong, and straight. The udder is well attached and well developed. The short coat is white, and the skin is fine and delicate. The head is triangular in shape, and the ears point sideways. The neck is long and slender, and in bucks it may be partially covered with a mane. Bucks have longer beards than does. Small skin appendages (“wattles”) are often present on the underside of the neck. Both horned and polled animals occur, but it is recommended to keep horned males for breeding.

Breeding Purpose

The breed is suitable for both indoor (stable) and pasture-based production systems. In intensive production systems, hay or pasture is usually supplemented with cereals or concentrated feed. The breed is primarily used for milk production and kid production. Goat milk is processed into cheese and other dairy products (such as albumin curd and whey). Kid meat represents an additional, though not insignificant, source of income.

For more information

you can visit the breed data sheet https://www.genska-banka.si/register-pasem/pasma/slovenska-sanska-koza/

or visit official website of the Association of Sheep and Goat Breeders of Slovenia: https://www.drobnica.si/