Goats can bring cheer and liveliness to any farm. They have become popular for their milk and meat and as charming pets.
The best part? You can find a goat breed in just about any color.
One of the most common, however, is brown.
Brown goat breeds come in different shades and patterns; they are adorable and beautiful.
If you’re interested in raising brown goats, you might be curious about what breeds exist.
Let’s take a closer look!
Top 17 Brown Goat Breeds
If you’re interested in raising brown goats, you have plenty of options to choose from.
Let’s take a look at some of the most popular!
1. Brown Shorthair Goats
Brown Shorthair Goats are named (aptly) for their short hair that lies flat on their body.
They are medium-sized, weighing around 120-200 pounds and standing around 22-30 inches tall.
They have alert and expressive faces, with erect ears and curved horns. Their coat comes in various shades of brown, from light tan to dark chocolate.
These goats are sociable and docile, making them easy to handle and breed. They enjoy human interactions and are friendly with other animals.
They are known to be intelligent and capable of learning simple commands, like following their caretakers around the farm.
Brown Shorthair Goats have a lot of uses in agriculture, from meat and milk production to landscaping and as pets.
Their meat has a distinct flavor, making it in demand in the market. Also, their milk is high in butterfat, making it ideal for cheese-making.
Goats are also used for their ability to clear out land, as they can eat invasive species and brush that can “choke” the land.
2. Nigerian Dwarf Goat
Nigerian Dwarf goats are a miniature breed of domestic goats that are typically kept on farms for milk, meat, and fiber production.
They are believed to have originated from Nigeria, where they were bred for their small size and high milk yield.
They are also known to be hardy and adaptable to different environments, making them ideal companions for small homesteads or urban backyards.
Nigerian Dwarf goats are commonly raised for their milk, which is considered to be of high quality with an average butterfat content of 6-10%.
They are also good meat goats, producing lean and flavorful meat that is sought after by many health-conscious consumers.
Don’t forget that their long, soft hair is used for fiber production, which can be spun into yarn or used for felting.
Nigerian Dwarf goats are characterized by their small size, with adults weighing between 60 to 120 pounds and standing about 18 to 23 inches tall at the shoulder.
They come in various colors, such as black, brown, white, and gray—some may have spots or patterns.
Their ears are upright, and their eyes are bright and curious, giving them a friendly and adorable appearance.
3. Alpine Goat
The Alpine goat breed is a popular breed that is native to the European Alps.
These goats are sturdy, medium-sized, and possess upright ears.
They typically come in shades of brown but can also be gray, black, or white.
Alpine goats are excellent milk producers, with some producing up to three gallons of milk per day!
4. Barbari Goat
The Barbari goat breed is native to India and Pakistan and is known for its small size, light body weight, and beautiful brown coat.
Barbari goats are mostly kept for meat and have a delicate flavor.
In Pakistan, they are prized for their long hair, which is used to produce wool products.
5. Changthangi
The Changthangi goat breed originated from the Himalayan region in India.
These goats are known for their long shaggy coats that protect them from the harsh cold weather conditions in the region.
This breed is also known as the pashmina goat and is mainly used for their wool, which is used to produce luxurious pashmina shawls.
6. Stiefelgeiss
The Stiefelgeiss goat breed is from Switzerland and is known for its ruggedness, hardiness, and endurance.
They have a dark brownish-black coat and a social character.
They are known to be good climbers, and their hooves are exceptionally hard to help them maintain balance on steep terrain.
7. Kri-Kri
The Kri-Kri is a rare goat breed that originated in Greece.
It is often referred to as the Cretan Ibex or Agrimi.
It is mostly feral and isn’t often raised on farms, though there are some people who might be interested in raising them—if it’s one day an option!
Due to their impressive adaptability and strength, they are found in different niches across the Greek islands.
They are considered to be one of the oldest breeds in the world and are found only in Greece.
The Kri-Kri has a light-colored, cream, or beige coat, usually with dark or brown markings over its face and legs, making it a unique brown goat breed.
Its build is sturdy and muscular. The average weight of an adult Kri-Kri is between 30-45 kg (66 to 99 lbs).
They usually have long, curving horns that add to their majestic appearance.
Although this goat breed was initially hunted and not reared for meat, it has grown in popularity in the commercial meat market due to its relatively superior quality of meat compared to other goat breeds.
The milk from this breed could also be consumed, but not in large quantities like other breeds.
8. American Pygmy Goat
The American Pygmy Goat is a small breed of goat that originated from West Africa.
They were introduced to the United States in the 1950s and became popular for their cute and friendly personality.
They are typically 16 to 23 inches in height and weigh around 35 to 60 pounds.
One of the most striking features of the American Pygmy Goat is its short and stocky build.
They have well-proportioned bodies and a broad chest, which gives them a muscular appearance.
When it comes to their coat, American Pygmy Goats come in various colors, ranging from black, white, gray, and brown.
Their hair is short and shiny, and their thick undercoat keeps them warm during the colder months.
Another feature that sets the American Pygmy Goat apart from other goat breeds is its backward curving horns.
These horns are small and elegant, giving them a unique appearance.
Aside from being adorable and eye-catching, people raise American Pygmy Goats for many reasons.
They are low maintenance and easy to care for, making them ideal for novice farmers. This goat breed does not require a lot of space, and its diet is easy to provide.
They are great as pets because of their friendly and playful nature. You can even train them to do tricks and agility courses.
These brown goats are excellent milk producers, and their meat is tender and flavorful, making them ideal for small butcher shops and farm-to-table restaurants.
9. Toggenburg Goat
Toggenburg goats are immediately recognizable by their unique light brown color with dark brown markings around the face, ears, and legs.
The coat is medium to long in length and is usually straight.
These goats have horns that curve upward and outward, giving them a bit of an exotic appearance.
They have short ears and eyes that are almond-shaped and bright.
The Toggenburg goat is highly intelligent and has an even-keeled personality that makes them ideal for families or small farms with children.
They are very curious animals by nature and love exploring new environments.
As a bonus, they make great pets!
They also tend to be very sociable animals who love spending time with other goats or people.
This makes them easy to handle if you plan on showing them off at county fairs or competitions.
The most obvious reason why people raise Toggs is their milk production ability; these goats can produce up to two gallons per day!
The milk they produce is high in butterfat content, making it particularly good for making cheese or yogurt.
But more importantly, these goats are hardy animals who can withstand extreme weather conditions without any difficulty—making them perfect for farmers who live in colder climates or areas with harsh winters.
10. Bionda dell’Adamello
One of the brown goat breeds that you might not have heard of is Bionda dell’Adamello.
This breed is originally from the Adamello mountain region of Italy.
They are medium-sized goats with distinctive brown fur, and their coat becomes darker as winter approaches.
This goat breed is known for its exceptional milk production, producing up to 1,200 liters annually (or 317 gallons, approximately).
They are also known for being intelligent, alert, and inquisitive.
11. Altai Mountain Goat
Another outstanding brown goat breed is the Altai Mountain Goat, native to Siberia, Russia.
They are hardy animals that can adapt to harsh weather conditions.
They have a thick, dense coat of fur that is usually creamy, cinnamon, or tan in color.
The males are larger than the females and have curved horns. The Altai Mountain Goats are typically kept for their meat or as pack animals.
12. Chamois Colored Goat
The Chamois Colored Goat is a world-renowned species of goat from France, with their name derived from the European mountain goat called Chamois, which they resemble.
Their fur coloration is in shades of brown or gray, with black stripes on their face and legs.
They are smaller in size than the Bionda dell’ Adamello and the Altai Mountain Goat but have strong bones and muscular bodies, making them good meat goats.
13. Nigora Goats
Nigora goats are a unique breed of goat that originated in the United States.
They are a cross between Nigerian Dwarf and Angora goats, which makes them a perfect breed for milk and fiber production.
Nigora goats have soft and curly hair that can be used for making luxurious textiles and garments.
They are known for being friendly, easily trainable, playful, and affectionate.
14. Bagot
The Bagot is a British breed that stands out from other brown goat breeds due to its rareness.
In fact, it’s on the Watchlist of the Rare Breeds Survival Trust because there are fewer than 1,500 of them worldwide.
It has a brown coat with a black stripe along its spine, and its ears are pointy and erect, giving it an alert look.
Farmers often use the Bagot for land management as they’re great at clearing brambles and dense shrubs.
15. Anatolian Black Goats
As its name suggests, Anatolian Black Goats hail from the Anatolian region in western Asia.
They have black and brown coats with long, floppy ears.
These goats are known for their excellent milk production, making them a popular breed for dairy farmers.
They’re also hardy and resilient, making them a great breed for farmers who want goats that can survive harsh climates.
16. Finnish Landrace
The Finnish Landrace is a brown goat breed that’s rare but hardy.
These goats thrive in cold climates due to their long, thick hair, which they shed in the summer.
They have short, curved ears, and they’re known for their friendly personalities.
Finnish Landrace goats are often bred for their meat, as they produce lean meat that’s high in protein and low in fat.
17. Chigu
The Chigu is a Spanish breed that’s known for its adaptability.
They can live in a wide range of habitats and have brown coats with black markings around their eyes and ears.
These goats are incredibly hardy and low-maintenance, making them ideal for farmers looking for a breed that’s easy to care for.
They’re often kept for meat production.
Brown Goat Breeds: Final Thoughts
Brown goat breeds are undeniably charming and delightful creatures that are worth considering on the farm.
Whether for milk, meat, or as pets, these breeds bring a unique color and personality to the barnyard.
They are also hardy, resistant to diseases, and adaptable to different climates, making them easy to manage.
So, if you’re thinking of adding goats to your farm or homestead, you should definitely consider one of these adorable brown goat breeds.