Oberhasli Goats

We're proud to own and breed high-quality, ADGA-registered Oberhaslis in the White Mountains of Arizona. Our herd has been selectively bred to produce big, feed-efficient, healthy, adaptable, friendly, and productive goats. We run a 100% clean, closed herd that is tested annually with written results provided to buyers (CLA, CAE/OPP, Caprine Johnnes: entire herd tested negative 02-01-2024). If you are looking for a show-quality goat for 4-H or FFA (ask about our discounts for these awesome kids!), a fantastic, high-production family milk goat, or a wether/buck who has the size and temperament to handle an all-day hike with a heavy pack or pull a cart in a parade, we probably have what you're looking for. Our kids sell quickly and are rarely advertised, so let us know if you're interested in advance!  

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Our breeding standards vary just a bit from the current ADGA show champion stock in that we select for overall balance, levelness, brains, agility, size, mothering ability, and milk production. Following the original Swiss 

breeding standards, we don't select for dropped-down hips or extreme daintiness. We look for true 'dairy strength' in our does without sacrificing overall bone size and balance. We want healthy, happy goats that can do it all -- milk, pack, or pull a cart -- while remaining well-mannered, healthy, and loving. Our babies are big, strong-boned, smart, and built to live a mountain life (because they do.)  With very few exceptions, our kids are at the top end or exceed the Oberhasli (European standard) minimum height/weight breed standard. Some of our kids are polled while others are not. We do not disbud or dehorn - you pick what you like. Most of our kids are dam-raised until they wean naturally around 16-20 weeks. Occasionally, we will have bottle-fed babies available.  After 45 years of owning goats, we find our horned and dam-raised goats to be just as easy to handle as bottle-fed because we select for temperament and all of our goats are handled from birth. 

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History of Oberhasli Goats

 

Oberhasli goats were first imported to the United States in the early 1900s, though it wasn’t until 1936 that purebred herds were established and maintained. The breed was initially called the Swiss Alpine. Its registrations were included in the Alpine studbook, and its genetics contributed to the Alpine breed. In 1977, the name Oberhasli was adopted and registration records were separated from the Alpines. This evolution of the breed’s name and identification has been one reason that its population in the U.S. has remained fairly small.

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The Oberhasli is alert in appearance with a friendly, gentle disposition. Mature goats are medium in size. Bucks range in height from 30 to 34 inches, and does 28 to 32 inches, with weights of 100 to 150 pounds (American Standard). While does are a dependable source of milk, bucks and wethers are also useful as pack animals thanks to their strength and calm demeanor. Some goat packers prefer Oberhaslis because they’re believed to be less fearful of water and various trail obstacles compared to other breeds.

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The breed’s color pattern is called chamoisee. Goats are brown, with hues between light tan and deep reddish-brown, and have black points. Two black stripes from the eyes to the black muzzle give a distinctive facial appearance. The forehead is nearly all black, and black stripes run from the base of each ear to a point just behind the poll and continue along the neck and back to the tail as a dorsal stripe. The Oberhasli has a black belly and light gray to black udder. The legs are black below the knees and hocks and the ears are black on the inside. The Oberhasli face is straight or dished with no evidence of a Roman nose.

 

Conservation Status: At risk, according to DAD-IS (FAO Domestic Animal Diversity Information System), and recovering, according to The Livestock Conservancy. In 1990, there were only 821 registered in the United States, but this increased to 1729 by 2010. In Europe, Switzerland registered 9320 head, Italy 6237, and Austria approximately 3000 in 2012/2013.