Altai Mountain goat
A Soviet-developed wool breed with distinctive long fleece.
The Altai Mountain goat is a domestic breed raised for its wool in Russia’s Altai Republic. Soviet breeders developed it between 1944 and 1982 in the Gorno-Altai region by crossing the Don goat with local goats to boost wool production.
Quick Facts
- Country
- USSR
- Use
- wool
- Coat
- black
- dark brown
- grey
Facts from the source article.
Did You Know?
- During the project's peak, the population grew almost 30 percent in a year.
- Altai Mountain goats can be kept on pasture year-round due to selective breeding for climate tolerance.
- The breed was originally bred to increase the amount of wool available per goat.
South African project
A South African chemical firm, Sentrachem, introduced roughly 500 Altai Mountain goats into the country in 1997. This move boosted goat farming profits by creating a breed that excels in both meat and cashmere production. Crossbreeding these goats with local herds is anticipated to yield about 600 grams of brown cashmere per animal, further increasing the value of flocks.
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