Peacock goat

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Young goat with goat of the same age

The peacock goat , also gray-black mountain goat , is a breed of domestic goat adapted to life in the mountains . This mountain goat was first described in 1887 in the region of the Swiss cantons of Graubünden and Ticino as a Prättigau goat by a Mr. Anderegg.

Female peacock
Young animals in the Tennenloher Forest

etymology

The strange name peacock goat can be traced back to a reading error, since in old scripts “V” and “U” were often written equally “Pfavenziege”. "Pfaven" is the Romansh word for "spots". Despite the misunderstanding, the name Pfauenziege has established itself in the breeders' herd books . The distinctive "Pfaven" are the characteristic dark stripes or spots that extend from the base of the horns over the eyes to the nose. In other sources, the characteristic white spot on the black rear flank of the animals is responsible for the naming.

The official languages ​​in the canton of Graubünden are German , Italian and Romansh . Accordingly, there are other names in the original distribution area:

  • Prättigau goat (in a description from 1887)
  • Gray-black or gray-black-white mountain goat (German name)
  • Colomba (name in Bergell )
  • Chèvre Paon (French, paon general 'peacock')
  • Halbetscha ( Rhaeto-Romanic name)
  • Razza Nas ( Italian name from Ticino)

features

Small flock of peacock goats

The peacock goat is a large breed, horned in both sexes. Females have a height at the withers of 70-80 centimeters, males 75-85. The front half of the body to over the shoulder blade is light (white, sometimes slightly reddish) with a black eel line that can widen in the neck. The rear half of the body is predominantly black, the flanks are light, as is the top of the tail. The eel line in the dark field can be white or dark. Fawns are usually much lighter, the white patch on the flank is often not yet closed. The fur on the back of the body darkens in the first two years of life. The spotting of the peacock goat is inherited dominantly. The breed is robust and winterproof due to the half-length coat.

distribution

The peacock goat used to have a much greater distribution and importance for the Alpine region than would be assumed based on the low current population. Since the goat was not officially recognized during the purification of the breed in 1938, the population fell sharply. Later, the breed was finally recognized with the help of the Pro Specie Rara organization and interest groups working to breed the breed. The stock could be expanded again to around 300 animals. The characteristic coat, the horns and the physique can also be found on old photos and descriptions of goat herds on the alpine pastures of the Austrian federal states of Tyrol , Salzburg and Styria . In Tyrol they are also known under the local name “ Stubai Gansen” or Stubai Goat. Goats of similar color are also found in Piedmont and in the Haute-Savoie of the French Alps.

relationship

The peacock goat is genetically related to the Graubünden radiant goat and also to the Nera Verzasca goat .

Despite similarities to the Passeir mountain goat , these two breeds are not closely related.

use

Since their milk production is low compared to high-performance breeds (470 to 500 liters for 210 milking days per year), the peacock goat is now bred as a meat goat (e.g. in Lower Saxony ). In the mountains, however, it is also often used in landscape maintenance, especially to preserve the cultural landscapes created in the course of alpine farming .

literature

  • M. Arbenz: The peacock goat. In: U. Weiss (Ed.): Swiss goats. Bisikon, 1996, pp. 84-95.
  • Franz Mandl: Alpine pastures in the heart of Austria. ANISA, Haus im Ennstal 2003.

Web links

Commons : Peacock Goat  - Collection of images, videos and audio files