The early goats brought to this country were mostly the tough adaptable type only a step or two removed from what we now know as a "bush" goat. In 1913, the NSW Department of Agriculture imported two bucks and ten does from France and Switzerland to improve the existing standards over the next twenty years at their experimental farm at Nyngan. This work was followed on at Condobolin for a number of years and today goats with the "State" prefix are still to be found in the pedigrees of some of our finest animals.
The Saanen breed has reached such a high standard that Australian Saanens have frequently held the world production record and are continuing to do so. The present world record for 365 days lactation is held by Osory Snow Goose with 3296 kgs (3200 litres) first lactation, 3498 kgs (3396 litres) second lactation.
Saanens have quite a placid nature and are equally suited to both small holdings with just a few goats and the larger commercial milking herds. The Saanen has been, and still is, the numerically strongest breed in Australia so there is a larger pool of stock to select from, thus enabling good herd averages for production to be achieved.
General Appearance
An attractive dairy type. Tan or olive skinned - black spots may appear on the skin of ears, nose or udder. Short fine white coat. Slender head with a dished or straight facial line, ears erect and backline straight. Legs straight and strong. Body wedge shaped with well sprung ribs. Ideal height for does 81 cm with weight around 61 kgs, bucks 94 cm and weight around 81 kgs.
