About Dutch Landrace Goat, Dutch Landrace Goat is a breed of goat that originated in the Netherlands. They are known as hard-working, easy to maintain, and long-lived, making them a
great choice for authentic farmstead goats that compete with commercial breeds. They still produce beautiful milk and meat when given the right care and nutrition, making them a top choice for small farms.”
Where Did The Dutch Landrace Goat Originate?
The Dutch Landrace goat was developed in the Netherlands during medieval times. They are dual-purpose animals that can be used for both milk and meat. The Dutch Landrace goat is a medium-
the sized goat is not only fast-growing but also hardy in all types of weather, making them an excellent meat goat breed for even first-time farmers to own. They are raised primarily for commercial and private use throughout Europe, North America, and Asia.
Characteristics of the Dutch Landrace Goat
- They are small, with a mature female only about 80 to 100 pounds.
- They have a black coat and a white undercoat.
- Fit and well-muscled, they are strong goats that can do almost any job.
- They have high fertility rates, making them great milk producers, especially in colder climates.
- Their horns are naturally short, with some Dutch Landrace goats having horns that never grow more than 5 inches long if not clipped.
- Efficient at digesting coarse feed.
- Their numbers have increased over the years due to their inherent hardy nature.
Uses of the Dutch Landrace Goat
Because of their small size, high fertility, and easy maintenance, they are often raised as backyard livestock by individual farmers and small-scale goat farmers. They can also make a great addition to any farm or homestead. With proper care and management, these goats can live for up to 20 years with good feed, adequate space, and warm shelter.
What do Dutch Landrace goats eat?
Most Dutch Landrace goats are raised on grass or legumes such as alfalfa clover, vetch, or timothy grass. Most Dutch Landrace goats will also be well-fed hay year round. Some farmers feed their goats a diet of alfalfa pellets and grain in the winter months to help increase feed efficiency.
A quick fact about Dutch Landrace Goat
| Breed name: | Dutch Landrace |
| Nickname: | Dutchies or Landrace |
| Breed Group: | Dairy Goat |
| Country of Origin: | The Netherlands |
| Color: | Black, white, and grey coat with tan markings; black, white, and grey undercoat. |
| Origin: | The Netherlands |
| Top Coat Length (cm): | Not long enough for a sheep mane; long enough for a poodle mane. |
| Coat Type: | Straight hair gets longer in the middle as a poodle does. |
| Litter Size: | Four to six, but two is average. |
| Average Life Expectancy: | 12-15 years. |
Best 10 Farming Benefits of Dutch Landrace Goat
1. Medium-sized goat
2. Low maintenance
3. Very easy-kept goat
4. Suitable for commercial goat farming as well as a backyard farm
5. Efficient at digesting coarse feeds; low maintenance feeder
6. Survival rate in the Netherlands is high even when there are food shortages because the Dutch Landrace goats live off the land well and produce more kids than other breeds of goats; they are used to surviving on their own
7. Can get along well with other farm animals
8. Can graze on a wide variety of pasture and browse, making them easy to care for if they have to survive on their own; can get by in poor pastures
9. Adaptable to most climates, adapts easily to different climates
10. They Can be used as a meat or dairy goats depending on the farmers’ preferences; both types of
Diseases of Dutch Landrace goats
a) Stomach worm
Ascaris suum eggs usually are ingested by grazing animals through soil or vegetable matter contaminated with dog feces. The hatched larvae migrate to the lungs, which are coughed up and swallowed. They then pass through the goat’s digestive tract and develop into mature worms, which attach themselves to the wall of the small intestine, where they lay eggs. These eggs are then excreted in feces and contaminate grasses, pasture, or hay feedings. The parasite is also ingested through collars and other parts of a goat’s body. It then migrates to the lungs, causing an infection known as a pulmonary trichobezoar.
b) Milk Cholera
Milk cholera occurs when cattle milk becomes contaminated with cholera bacteria. The parasite infects goats and other animals through ingestion of infected milk or via sucking of infected milk from a baby goat’s udder by an adult animal. When an adult goat ingests the bacteria, it causes diarrhea and vomiting. Once the goat recovers from the infection, he becomes immune to further infections.
c) Scabies
Scabies is caused by parasitic mites that burrow into the skin of a goat and lay eggs. The eggs then develop into larvae that feed on their host’s tissue for about two weeks before it drops off. Scratching caused by these parasites irritates and damages the skin. The most common symptom is the lesions and small boils on the front of a goat’s legs, inner thighs, udder, and rear end.
d) Haemonchioposis
Haemonchioposis is an infectious blood disease caused by bacteria, also known as Mycoplasma capricolum subsp. capripneumoniae. It is not a contagious disease but is commonly found in goats. The bacteria affect goats that are stressed or weak. They spread via the air or abnormal scrapings of the throat or the lining of the nose and mouth.
e) Johne’s disease
Johne’s disease is an infectious bacterial disease caused by Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP). This bacterium causes Johne’s disease in ruminants, particularly cattle and goats.
Disease prevention
a) A high-quality diet must be fed to avoid parasites, diseases, or inferior feeds.
b) Maintain good health by eating a well-balanced diet with essential mineral salts and vitamins.
c) If a goat is healthy and eats well, there is no reason a goat should become diseased.
d) Remove pucks infected with Mycobacterium capripneumoniae from feed storehouses.
e) Keep your goat inside at night to prevent exposure to predators.
f) Avoid the use of antibiotics unless it is necessary.
g) Invest in vaccinations
h) Choose a breed whose breed characteristics fit your land, climate, and farm conditions.
i) Practice good sanitation, especially in feed and water supply. Regularly disinfect all equipment after each milking to prevent bacteria from proliferating.
j) Market your products properly by determining the customers’ needs and demands to make a sale.
Conclusion
The Dutch Landrace goat is a hardy animal that can withstand harsh weather conditions. It thrives well without much care and maintenance. The goat is a good forager, meaning it can produce meat, milk, or wool with little care. In conclusion, the Dutch Landrace goat is an ideal dairy farm animal and the most efficient source of protein in the world’s diet. I hope you find this article useful. Please subscribe to my newsletter for more interesting articles.
