If you’re looking for some of the biggest, baddest goats on the block, you’ve come to the right place.
If you want the kind of goat that your neighbor will instinctively say, “you should strap a saddle to that thing,” upon seeing it, then you should pick any one of the following goat breeds to add to your homestead.
From Boer Goats to Jamunapari Goats, these giant goat breeds are sure to impress.
We’ll break down their size and weight ranges as well as their unique characteristics so that you can make an informed decision about which breed is best for your needs.
Let’s go!
Boer Goats
220 pounds (does) to 300 pounds (bucks).
The Boer Goat is the largest domestic goat breed out there, by about forty pounds! They can weigh anywhere from 220 to 300 pounds. Boer Goats are known for their hardiness and adaptability; they do great in warm climates and can survive harsh conditions with ease.
They produce a lot of meat, making them popular among farmers. Additionally, they have good mothering instincts and provide plenty of milk for their young.
Boer goats, once properly socialized, are gentle giants who can be trusted with children. Because of this, they are popular 4-H project animals and are shown as meat producers.
Kiko Goats
160 pounds (does) to 260 pounds (bucks).
Kiko goats are known for being extremely hardy animals that require minimal maintenance; they don’t need much food or water to thrive in most climates, and they are very disease and parasite-resistant.
They’re also dual-purpose, producing a lot of milk and meat, making them popular among farmers who want to have a highly efficient goat on their property. With that said, most Americans use Kikos exclusively for meat, not milk.
It’s a somewhat common practice to cross Kiko and Boer goats together to produce fast-growing, high-quality meat goats that don’t get sick easily, thanks to hybrid vigor.
A ¾ Kiko ¼ Boer goat is a “Meat Maker.” A ½ Kiko ½ Boer is a “BoKi”. And a ⅝ Boer ⅜ Kiko is called a “Texas Genemaster.” These are known for having the bulk and muscle of a Boer, with the hardiness of the Kiko.
Kalahari Red Goat
165 pounds (does) to 253 pounds (bucks).
These magnificent goats have a unique reddish-brown coat that sets them apart from other breeds; this is why they’ve earned their name “Kalahari Red”!
As you can imagine, they are ideal meat goats because they can pack a seemingly impossible amount of weight onto a relatively small body. Some people believe that they are related to Boer goats, but blood tests have proven this incorrect.
They are highly resistant to disease and parasites, and does do not need help when birthing their kids, making them desirable low-maintenance livestock animals for many farmers around the world.
Savanna Goats
200 pounds (does) to 250 pounds (bucks).
Savanna Goats are a medium to large breed that’s known for being hardy animals requiring minimal maintenance. They thrive in warm climates and don’t need much food or water to survive (though you should always give them access to clean, fresh water).
Additionally, they produce plenty of milk which makes them an ideal choice for small farms or homesteads looking to maximize their production potential with minimal effort required on the farmer’s part.
These beautiful white goats were developed by… tasteful neglect. In 1957, these goats were turned loose on South Africa’s range and largely had to fend for themselves.
The strongest of these goats managed to survive droughts, heatwaves, monsoon rains, big temperature fluctuations, scarce foods, and fierce local predators.
Most had to give birth unassisted, and the kids were raised in this harsh environment.
The result was a ridiculously hardy animal with, literally, thick skins.
Angora Goat
110 pounds (does) to 224 pounds (bucks).
The Angora goat is a breed of domestic goat that originated in Turkey and is known for its long, silky hair which is used to make mohair.
They grow up to three feet tall and can weigh well over two hundred pounds when fully grown. A fully grown Angora goat will produce an average of eight pounds of mohair per year, making it an excellent choice for wool production.
Their mohair (wool) is used to craft high-end sweaters, scarves, hats, glove interiors, and as a lining in durable coats.
It has high luster and sheen and great insulating properties, which is why it’s such a highly sought-after fiber.
If you love goats who create cashmere, you should meet these eleven other goat breeds.
Alpine Goat
155 pounds (does) to 220 pounds (bucks).
The Alpine goat is another popular breed of giant goat. It originated in Switzerland but can now be found all over the world. Alpines come in many colors and sizes, some with horns and some without.
They are known for producing high-quality milk with a high butterfat content, making them an ideal choice for dairy production.
Despite their heavy weight, these are relatively lean creatures who surprisingly don’t make great meat producers.
Rove Goats
132 pounds (does) to 200 pounds (bucks).
Rove goats are an ancient breed originating from North Africa. They are known for their hardy nature and ability to thrive even in harsh conditions, making them ideal for farmers who need their animals to thrive on limited resources.
If you have drought-prone pastures or nearly bare pastures, the Rove goat might be for you. Of course, you’ll need to supply hay if you have a dry lot (a grass-less pasture), but these efficient eaters won’t need a lot to maintain their massive size.
Jamunapari goat
132 pounds (does) to 200 pounds (bucks).
Jamunapari goats originate from India and are renowned for their high milk yield per lactation cycle. They up to 1.58 gallons of milk per day. They can reach heights up to four feet tall at full maturity, when measured at the shoulder.
These goats don’t need a lot of space to be happy (unlike Angoras and Alpines), which makes them a popular choice among farmers looking for large-scale milk production.
Damascus Goat
130 pounds (does) to 200 pounds (bucks).
Damascus goats come from Syria, where they were originally bred as multi-purpose animals, used for meat, dairy products, mohair, and fine leather.
The milk is high in fat and protein, which is remarkable when you consider how rapidly the weather changes in the middle east, where most of these goats are raised. The ability to seem unfazed by the harsh conditions and continue producing optimal dairy products has rightfully made this the preferred goat breed for the middle eastern region. Owners typically use the milk to create yogurt, Leben, labneh, and several types of cheeses. Families typically eat some of these products and sell the excess for an additional source of income.
They have since become popular worldwide due to their impressive size; males can reach heights up to four feet tall.
What’s most impressive about these goats isn’t their size, though; it’s their fertility. Damascus goats can deliver three or four kids per birth, and usually kid twice a year.
Giant Goat Breeds: Final Thoughts
All nine giant goat breeds mentioned here have something unique to offer farmers looking for livestock with impressive size or production capabilities—from the silky mohair produced by Angoras, to the high yields offered by Jamunaparis and Damascus goats.
No matter what your needs may be, these nine impressive breeds offer something special that most farmers would love to have.
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