Alpine (goat)

The Alpine, also known as the French-Alpine, is a breed of goat originating in the Alps. Since their introduction in the United States from France, they have been selected for much greater uniformity, size, and production than was true of the goats that were taken from Switzerland to France.

Size and production have been the main considerations in the development of the Alpine, rather than color pattern. No distinct color has therefore been established, and Alpines may range from pure white through shades of fawn, gray, brown, black, red, bluff, piebald, or various shadings or combinations of these colors. Both bucks and does are generally short haired, but bucks usually have a roach of long hair along the spine and a more pronounced beard. The ears of the Alpine are of medium size, fine textured, and usually erect.

The French-Alpine is larger and more variable in size than are the Swiss breeds. Mature females generally stand taller than 30 inches at the withers and weigh at least 135 pounds. Males stand from 34 to 40 inches at the withers and weigh at least 170 pounds. French-Alpine females are excellent dairy goats.

The French-alpine is also referred to as the Alpine Dairy goat and registration papers for this dairy goat use both designations and they are synonymous. These hardy, adaptable animals thrive in any climate while maintaining good health and excellent production. Their face is straight. They generally do not have a Roman nose, Toggenburg color and markings, or all-white coloring. Alpine colors are described using the following terms:


 * Cou Blanc - (coo blanc) "white neck" - white front quarters and black hindquarters with black or gray markings on the head.
 * Cou Clair - (coo clair) "clear neck" - front quarters are tan, saffron, off-white, or shading to gray with black hindquarters.
 * Cou Noir (coo nwah) "black neck" - Black front quarters and white hindquarters.
 * Sundgau - (sundgow) - black with white markings such as underbody, facial stripes, etc.
 * Pied - spotted or mottled.
 * Chamoisee - (shamwahzay) brown or bay - characteristic markings are black face, dorsal stripe, feet and legs and sometimes a martingale running over the withers and down to the chest. Spelling for buck is chamoise.
 * Two-tone Chamoisee - light front quarters with brown or grey hindquarters.
 * Broken Chamoisee - a solid chamoisee broken with another color by being banded or splashed, etc.
 * Any variation in the above patterns broken with white is described as a broken pattern such as a broken cou blanc.