2021 - Volume #45, Issue #6, Page #19
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New Goat Breeds From Switzerland
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Pro Specie Rara aims to preserve the genetic diversity of Switzerland’s plant and animal populations for generations to come. Working with more than 4,000 volunteers, the organization has helped protect close to 5,000 plant varieties and over 30 animal species found throughout the region.
The three breeds joining the official registry aren’t actually new. Rather, they are long-established varieties that have been brought back from near-extinction.
Today, the Valais goat is prized for its long, slender physique with a long coat and imposing horns. While a multipurpose breed, they are primarily used for meat and clearing land.
Like many ancient breeds, these goats never received official names because they were only found in relatively small geographic regions.
After launching an investigation into historical photos and interviews with shepherds, the volunteer organization determined that the Valais goat breed once had three other color expressions beyond black: tan, grey, and white. Further genetic analysis found that these color variations were not the result of crossbreeding but rather indicators of genetic distinction. In short, they were four separate breeds.
The story goes that when the Valais Blackneck goat became recognized as an official breed in 1938, all other color possibilities were omitted from the breed standard. This caused breeders to prioritize the genetically dominant black markings in their herd, and the other three colorations became rare to the point of near extinction.
Since this discovery, Pro Specie Rara has sponsored concentrated breeding efforts to bring the lesser-known Valais goats back from the brink. The nonprofit has turned what was a mere 28 goats in 2013 into healthily growing populations.
Today, Switzerland’s three newest goat breeds have passed the threshold from critically low to endangered. It seems the odds are good that Swiss shepherds will be able to enjoy a diversity of hues within their Valais goats long into the future.
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Pro Specie Rara, Unter Brüglingen 6, 4052 Basel 45069 (ph 800-221-2942; www.prospecierara.ch).
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