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| Conservation status | |
|---|---|
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Distribution |
|
| Standard | British Alpine Breed Society |
| Type | dairy |
| Use | milk |
| Traits | |
| Weight | |
| Height | |
| Coat | black with whiteSwiss markings |
| Horn status | horned orpolled |
| |
TheBritish Alpine is a Britishbreed ofdairy goat bred in the early twentieth century. It is black with whiteSwiss markings on the face.
Thefoundation stock included a nanny with this colouration acquired in Paris in 1903 and goats of other breeds, probably including the SwissGrisons Striped andToggenburg and the now-extinctSundgau ofAlsace, as well as some native British goats.
There are large numbers in Australia, and itsconservation status world-wide is not at risk; in the United Kingdom it is anendangered breed, with fewer than five hundred head.
The British Alpine was bred in the early twentieth century, principally from goats originating in continental Europe, particularly from Switzerland. Thefoundation animal was a nanny named Sedgemere Faith, black with whiteSwiss markings, acquired from theJardin Zoologique d'Acclimatation of Paris in 1903.[6]: 366 [7] Breeds including theBündner Strahlenziege ('Grisons Striped') andToggenburger of Switzerland and the now-extinctSundgau ofAlsace are thought to have contributed to the development of the breed, as did some native British goats.[6]: 366 It was officially recognised forshowing in 1921, and in 1925 a section was opened for it in theherd-book of theBritish Goat Society.[8]: 138 Abreed society, the British Alpine Breed Society, was formed in 1979.[7]
It was introduced into Australia in 1958,[9] and has been exported to several other countries, among themBotswana,Lesotho and South Africa in Africa,Barbados andTrinidad and Tobago in theCaribbean and Argentina and Brazil in South America.[2] A population of464 was reported in 2023 for the United Kingdom.[3] The only country reporting a population in the thousands is Australia, where in 2022 the total number was estimated at10000–20000;[9] it is also the only country where theconservation status of the breed is "not at risk".[2]
The British Alpine is a large long-legged goat, with an average weight of about64 kg.[10]: 189 It may either have horns or be naturallypolled. The profile of the face may be concave or straight.[6]: 366
The coat is fine and short; it is black with whiteSwiss markings on the face, with white markings also on the rump, the margins of the ears and the lower legs.[6]: 366
British Alpines are excellent milkers, well known for their extended lactations. They also have a well-known ability to keep milking through the colder months. These goats have good-sized teats, which allow easier milking. They are a good producer of high-quality milk.
Average daily milk yield in the United Kingdom was calculated from measurements in about 2004 at4.09 kg with3.77%fat and2.74% protein.[11]
British Alpines are active goats. They are not suited to indoors or feedlot-type operations, they perform their best free-range.
