Spanish goats are known by many names in different parts of the United States, due to their long regional history scattered across North America, and their distinctive characteristics.
They are often called brush goats or scrub goats, wood goats, briar goats, and hill goats. As these names imply, these goats are hardy creatures that thrive in tough environments, foraging independently on difficult terrain.
They are frequently crossbred with other goats to impart vigor and toughness in their offspring. However, this extensive crossbreeding has led to reduced numbers of pure Spanish goats, and today the species is on the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy watch list.
Spanish Goat Origin
Spanish goats were brought to North America in the 16th century by Spanish explorers discovering the new world. The Spanish brought these hardy, independent creatures on ships and traveled with them extensively over land, because they could be a ready source of meat and milk with little maintenance or feed cost. They “seeded” the islands of the Caribbean with small herds of these goats to be a food source for sailors on subsequent trans-Atlantic journeys.
While some strains of these goats remain in their native country of Spain, the goats we know today as “Spanish goats” are descendants of these ancestors that survived to live independently in the Caribbean, Mexico, and the southern United States. This legacy of Spanish exploration and cultivation is one of the reasons that goat meat is a staple of these regional cuisines, even to this day.
Because so many of these goats were allowed to become feral and adapt independently to the landscape and environment of the Americas, Spanish goats became a breed that thrives in any climate, is parasite-resistant, kids well, and has great mothering instincts. As American agriculture evolved in the late twentieth century, rather than breeding Spanish goats for specific agricultural needs, developing them into dairy, meat, or fiber goats, these tough, local goats were instead crossbred to improve other imported goat species. Spanish goat crossbreeding helped imported meat and fiber goats better adapt to conditions in America, where Spanish goats had been thriving for centuries.
This widespread crossbreeding has created a shortage of purebred Spanish goats. In 1990, there were 280,000 landrace Spanish goats in Texas alone. By 2009, there were just 8,500 purebred Spanish goats in America. They survive because some American breeders had undertaken to improve their goats and preserve the bloodlines, and were proud of their results and unwilling to crossbreed. Today, people are taking a new look at Spanish goats, with a fresh appreciation of their unique characteristics, and an eye toward preservation.
Spanish Goat Uses
Spanish goats are smaller than other meat goats, and have smaller udders than dairy goats. Up until just a few decades ago, these were desirable characteristics.
Before widespread refrigeration in the 1950s, small goats were preferred for meat, because most households didn't have the means to preserve excess meat and keep it fresh. The small udders help the does forage on rough terrain and navigate briar patches. In short, these goats are ideal low-maintenance animals which require little care or human intervention when feeding or kidding.
Today, many breeders prefer these goats meat because, although they are small in size and don't give as much milk as other breeds, their versatility and ease of care make them a reliable producer year after year. As one blogger puts it, “dead goats make no sales”. Some breeders love their year-round, high fat milk, but it can take a little effort to sufficiently tame a Spanish doe for consistent milking.
They are also very popular for brush-clearing and improving pasture for grazing animals, or simply to improve the landscape.
Spanish Goat Characteristics
Appearance
Spanish goats have a straight profile which can sometimes be slightly convex. Bucks have long horns that flare up and out laterally, with a twist at the tips. All colors of coat are acceptable.
Size
Spanish bucks weigh 200-250 pounds, while does weigh 100-150 pounds, and they average 17-25 inches in height.
Production
The Spanish Goat Association is collecting data on average milk production for the breed. One sample yielded 4.8% butterfat and 4% protein. While studies are limited, there is also research that shows that due to their ease of kidding and excellent mothering, Spanish goats produce higher-weight kids very efficiently.
Disposition
Because Spanish goats have not been extensively domesticated or bred in farm conditions, they can often be flighty and difficult to handle. Individual goats and strains will, of course, be more domesticated than the species as a whole.
Durability
Spanish goats are extremely hardy, able to thrive in a variety of climates and on forage that would not be sufficient for other animals. They are highly resistant to parasites and worms, and are excellent kidders and excellent mothers.
Raising Spanish Goats
The natural independence and resourcefulness of Spanish goats can make them slightly challenging on a farm, particularly if you intend to milk them.
They are not known for being especially calm, docile, or easy to handle, and centuries of foraging in rough brush have made them quick and agile jumpers and climbers.
Spanish goat social needs.
Like all goats, Spanish goats are herd animals and will not be healthy or happy when kept alone, and are not typically well-socialized as human companions.
If you only want or need one doe for personal milk consumption or as a pet, housing her with a wether will help keep her happier and better-adjusted.
Spanish goat medical needs.
Spanish goats are prized for needing little medical care and intervention. Some keepers claim that they never have to trim the hooves of their Spanish goats.
They require infrequent deworming compared to other breeds. However, they can be difficult to catch and handle, so it's important to find a veterinarian who is familiar with goats, should the need arise.
Spanish goat medical needs.
Spanish goats are prized for needing little medical care and intervention. Some keepers claim that they never have to trim the hooves of their Spanish goats.
They require infrequent deworming compared to other breeds. However, they can be difficult to catch and handle, so it's important to find a veterinarian who is familiar with goats, should the need arise.
Spanish Goat Food Needs.
Water. Goats should always have access to fresh, clean water. Because they produce less milk than dairy breeds, lactating does will not need as much water as other breeds, but ample water should always be freely available.
Forage and feed. Spanish goats will happily browse on shrubs, weeds, herbs, briars, and tree bark and leaves. They will climb trees if they enjoy browsing the leaves. Allowing them freedom of pasture also gives them the exercise they need to stay healthy and prevent health problems.
Depending on the size of your pasture, the variety of plants available, and the season, alfalfa hay can and should be offered for free feeding. Purchase very high-quality hay for the healthiest goats and best quality milk. Alfalfa hay is high in calcium, which is essential when goats are kidding and producing milk. Alfalfa hay can be expensive, so some people supplement other high-quality hay with alfalfa pellets instead.
When free-fed, goats will only eat as much mineral supplements as they need. Use a mineral supplement designed for goats or cattle, and avoid supplements designed for sheep, because goats and cows require copper, which is toxic to sheep.
You can also feed goats fruit and vegetable scraps from the kitchen to add variety to their diet, and hand feeding vegetables and small quantities of grain are good ways of socializing your Spanish goats.
Spanish goat enclosure needs.
Like all goats, Spanish goats are agile and ready jumpers, and are also known to climb. Spanish goats are also independent and resourceful, which creates special challenges when fencing them, and they should be given ample space to roam and exercise to prevent unnecessary wear and tear on your fencing.
Remember that fences not only keep goats in, but should keep predators out. Fences should be a minimum of 4 feet high, although some breeds and crossbreeds can jump over heights of 4 feet, and 5 feet is safest.
Goats will lean, stand, rub, and chew on fencing, particularly if they have smaller pasture, or if there seems to be attractive forage on the other side, so posts should be no further than 8 feet apart, and posts should be cemented into the ground.
The best way to secure Spanish goats is with a goat wire fence with 4-inch openings too small for adults to put their heads through: goat wire is strong enough to withstand the chewing, leaning, and standing that the fence will endure.
Because goat wire fencing comes at 4 feet high, it is best to run one strand of electric fencing over the top of the wire fence to increase the overall fence height and deter jumping.
Spanish goat shelter needs.
All goats need shelter at night and in poor weather, but hardy Spanish goats require shelter in only the worst weather.
Situate your shelter well away from your fence, so that goats aren't able to jump from the roof of their shelter over the fence, and avoid situating the shelter on low ground that would accumulate rain.
At minimum, the shelter can simply be a roof and three sides, so that goats can get out of bad weather. It is better to have a dry dirt floor than a wood one; wood flooring can get slippery with mud or manure, and potentially injure a goat or cause foot problems.
Spanish does require very little assistance with kidding or mothering compared to other goat breeds, but it is best to protect does and kids in separate pens.
It may also be necessary to build a smaller pen in which to catch the goats: many farmers find it necessary to drive Spanish goats into a pen in order to capture and handle them.
Breeding Spanish Goats
Spanish does are polyestrous and can breed in all but the coldest times of the year.
After successful breeding, their gestation period is 155 days, and they often give birth to twins or triplets.
While a doe can come into heat as early as 5 months old, it is better to wait until she is at least 8 months old or 80 pounds to prevent kidding problems. When she is coming into heat, she will generally show signs with signature behaviors, such as:
When breeding Spanish goats, there are a few factors to consider:
Spanish Goat Price
Although purebred Spanish goats are still low in number, they are not as expensive as many breeds of goat. Yearling does cost an average of $300-$350.
Spanish Goat Breeders
Kiko goat breeders can be found through associations like the International Kiko Goat Association, and the American Kiko Goat Association.
Breeders can also be found through the National Kiko Registry, or through a simple google search.
Kiko goat breeders can be found through associations like the International Kiko Goat Association, and the American Kiko Goat Association. Breeders can also be found through the National Kiko Registry, or through a simple google search.
If you are investing in an expensive, pedigreed New Zealand Kiko goat, it is important to verify registration. A goat registered with the National Kiko Registry will be given an NKR registration number, in addition to a registration from the US Meat Goat Association, which focuses on Boer goats. When a goat is DNA tested, it will also be issued a VGL file number.
Note on DNA testing: DNA testing does not prove or verify the breed of goat. A VGL number does not demonstrate that a goat is 100% Kiko of New Zealand origin, for example. DNA testing only proves parentage.
If both the sire and dam have VGL numbers, it is possible to prove the parentage of a Kiko goat, which can be important when bucks are allowed to run with the herd. While many Kikos are DNA tested, it's important to understand the purpose of DNA testing before investing in it.