# British Alpine

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British breed of goat

British Alpine Conservation status World-wide: FAO (2007): no data[1]: 145 DAD-IS (2024): not at risk[2] United Kingdom: DAD-IS (2024): at risk/endangered[3] RBST (2024): not listed[4] Country of origin United Kingdom Distribution Africa Australia Caribbean South America Standard British Alpine Breed Society Type dairy Use milk Traits Weight average 64 kg Male: 77 kg[5]: 176 Female: 59 kg[5]: 176 Height Male: 91–97 cm[5]: 176 Female: 76–81 cm[5]: 176 Coat black with white Swiss markings Horn status horned or polled Goat Capra aegagrus hircus

Near [Llanfachraeth](/source/Llanfachraeth), on [Anglesey](/source/Anglesey)

The **British Alpine** is a British [breed](/source/List_of_goat_breeds) of [dairy goat](/source/Dairy_goat) bred in the early twentieth century. It is black with white [Swiss markings](/source/Swiss_markings) on the face.

The [foundation stock](/source/Foundation_stock) included a nanny with this colouration acquired in Paris in 1903 and goats of other breeds, probably including the Swiss [Grisons Striped](/source/Grisons_Striped) and [Toggenburg](/source/Toggenburger) and the now-extinct [Sundgau](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Sundgau_(goat)&action=edit&redlink=1) of [Alsace](/source/Alsace), as well as some native British goats.

There are large numbers in Australia, and its [conservation status](/source/Conservation_status) world-wide is not at risk; in the United Kingdom it is an [endangered breed](/source/Endangered_breed), with fewer than five hundred head.

## History

The British Alpine was bred in the early twentieth century, principally from goats originating in continental Europe, particularly from Switzerland. The [foundation animal](/source/Foundation_animal) was a nanny named Sedgemere Faith, black with white [Swiss markings](/source/Swiss_markings), acquired from the [Jardin Zoologique d'Acclimatation](/source/Jardin_Zoologique_d'Acclimatation) of Paris in 1903.[6]: 366[7] Breeds including the [Bündner Strahlenziege](/source/B%C3%BCndner_Strahlenziege) ('Grisons Striped') and [Toggenburger](/source/Toggenburger) of Switzerland and the now-extinct [Sundgau](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Sundgau_(goat)&action=edit&redlink=1) of [Alsace](/source/Alsace) are thought to have contributed to the development of the breed, as did some native British goats.[6]: 366 It was officially recognised for [showing](/source/Livestock_show) in 1921, and in 1925 a section was opened for it in the [herd-book](/source/Herd-book) of the [British Goat Society](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=British_Goat_Society&action=edit&redlink=1).[8]: 138 A [breed society](/source/Breed_society), the British Alpine Breed Society, was formed in 1979.[7]

It was introduced into Australia in 1958,[9] and has been exported to several other countries, among them [Botswana](/source/Botswana), [Lesotho](/source/Lesotho) and South Africa in Africa, [Barbados](/source/Barbados) and [Trinidad and Tobago](/source/Trinidad_and_Tobago) in the [Caribbean](/source/Caribbean) and Argentina and Brazil in South America.[2] A population of 464 was reported in 2023 for the United Kingdom.[3] The only country reporting a population in the thousands is Australia, where in 2022 the total number was estimated at 10000–20000;[9] it is also the only country where the [conservation status](/source/Conservation_status) of the breed is "not at risk".[2]

## Characteristics

The British Alpine is a large long-legged goat, with an average weight of about 64 kg.[10]: 189 It may either have horns or be naturally [polled](/source/Polled_(livestock)). The profile of the face may be concave or straight.[6]: 366

The coat is fine and short; it is black with white [Swiss markings](/source/Swiss_markings) on the face, with white markings also on the rump, the margins of the ears and the lower legs.[6]: 366

## Use

British Alpines are excellent milkers, well known for their extended lactations. They also have a well-known ability to keep milking through the colder months. These goats have good-sized teats, which allow easier milking. They are a good producer of high-quality milk.

Average daily milk yield in the United Kingdom was calculated from measurements in about 2004 at 4.09 kg with 3.77% [fat](/source/Milkfat) and 2.74% protein.[11]

British Alpines are active goats. They are not suited to indoors or feedlot-type operations, they perform their best free-range.

## See also

- [Alpine (goat)](/source/Alpine_(goat))

## References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to [British Alpine](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:British_Alpine).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-barb_1-0)** Barbara Rischkowsky, Dafydd Pilling (editors) (2007). [List of breeds documented in the Global Databank for Animal Genetic Resources](https://web.archive.org/web/20200623201209/http://www.fao.org/3/a1250e/annexes/List%20of%20breeds%20documented%20in%20the%20Global%20Databank%20for%20Animal%20Genetic%20Resources/List_breeds.pdf), annex to [*The State of the World's Animal Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture*](https://web.archive.org/web/20170110125634/http://www.fao.org/3/a-a1250e.pdf). Rome: Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9789251057629](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9789251057629). Archived 23 June 2020.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-dad2_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-dad2_2-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-dad2_2-2) [Transboundary breed: British Alpine](https://dadis-transboundary-ext-ws.web.app/?species=Goat&transboundary=British%20Alpine&lang=en). Domestic Animal Diversity Information System of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Accessed December 2024.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-dad_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-dad_3-1) [Breed data sheet: British Alpine / United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (Goat)](https://dadis-breed-datasheet-ws.firebaseapp.com/?country=GBR&specie=Goat&breed=British%20Alpine&lang=en). Domestic Animal Diversity Information System of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Accessed December 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-rbst_4-0)** [Watchlist overview](https://web.archive.org/web/20240805155123/https://www.rbst.org.uk/watchlist-overview). Kenilworth, Warwickshire: Rare Breeds Survival Trust. Archived 5 August 2024.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-sue_5-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-sue_5-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-sue_5-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-sue_5-3) Sue Weaver (2021). [*The Goat: A Natural History*](https://books.google.it/books?id=FagSEAAAQBAJ&pg=PA182&hl=en). Brighton: Ivy Press. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9781782409489](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9781782409489).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-cabi_6-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-cabi_6-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-cabi_6-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-cabi_6-3) Valerie Porter, Lawrence Alderson, Stephen J.G. Hall, D. Phillip Sponenberg (2016). [*Mason's World Encyclopedia of Livestock Breeds and Breeding*](https://books.google.it/books?id=2UEJDAAAQBAJ&hl=en) (sixth edition). Wallingford: CABI. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9781780647944](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9781780647944).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-ba_7-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-ba_7-1) [The British Alpine Dairy Goat](https://web.archive.org/web/20090524005638/http://www.britishalpines.co.uk/thebreed.htm). The British Alpine Breed Society. Archived 24 May 2009.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-val_8-0)** Valerie Porter, Ian Lauder Mason (2020). [*Mason's World Dictionary of Livestock Breeds, Types and Varieties*](https://books.google.it/books?id=ZjvqDwAAQBAJ&hl=en&pg=PA369) (sixth edition). Wallingford; Boston: CABI. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9781789241532](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9781789241532).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-dad3_9-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-dad3_9-1) [Breed data sheet: British Alpine / Australia (Goat)](https://dadis-breed-datasheet-ws.firebaseapp.com/?country=AUS&specie=Goat&breed=British%20Alpine&lang=en). Domestic Animal Diversity Information System of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Accessed December 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-dave_10-0)** David Mackenzie (1980). [*Goat Husbandry*](https://archive.org/details/goathusbandry0000mack/page/189/mode/1up), fourth edition. London; Boston: Faber and Faber.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-bgs_11-0)** [Goat Breeds](https://web.archive.org/web/20060131192005/http://www.allgoats.com/). The British Goat Society. Archived 31 January 2006.

v t e Livestock breeds of the British Isles Cattle Beef cattle Aberdeen Angus Beef Shorthorn Belted Galloway Blue Grey Bó Riabhach Devon Dexter English Longhorn Galloway Hereford Highland Lincoln Red Luing Shorthorn South Devon Sussex Welsh Black Dairy cattle Ayrshire Dairy Shorthorn Guernsey Jersey Kerry Dual purpose Albion British White Droimeann Irish Moiled Glamorgan Old Gloucester Pembroke Red Poll Shetland Whitebred Shorthorn Primitive Chillingham Wild Cattle Tory Island Vaynol White Park Extinct Alderney Blue Albion List of Irish cattle breeds Sheep Extant Badger Face Welsh Mountain Balwen Welsh Mountain Beulah Speckled Face Black Welsh Mountain Bluefaced Leicester Border Cheviot Border Leicester Brecknock Hill Cheviot British Milksheep Cambridge Cheviot Clun Forest Cotswold Dalesbred Derbyshire Gritstone Devon Closewool Devon and Cornwall Longwool Dorset Down Dorset Horn Easycare Exmoor Horn Galway Greyface Dartmoor Hampshire Down Herdwick Hill Radnor Kerry Hill Leicester Longwool Lincoln Longwool Llanwenog Lleyn Lonk Masham Norfolk Horn North Country Cheviot Oxford Down Portland Romney Rough Fell Ryeland Scottish Blackface Shetland Shropshire Southdown Suffolk Swaledale Teeswater Welsh Mountain Wensleydale Whiteface Dartmoor Whitefaced Woodland Wiltshire Horn Primitive Boreray Blackface Castlemilk Moorit Hebridean Jacob Manx Loaghtan North Ronaldsay Soay Extinct Devon Longwool Scottish Dunface South Devon Pigs Extant Berkshire British Landrace British Lop British Saddleback Essex Gloucestershire Old Spots Large Black Large White Middle White Oxford Sandy and Black Tamworth Welsh Wessex Saddleback Extinct Cumberland Dorset Gold Tip Grice Irish Greyhound Pig Large White Ulster Lincolnshire Curly Coat Small Black Small White Yorkshire Blue and White Goats Anglo-Nubian Bagot Bilberry British Alpine British Primitive Golden Guernsey Irish Pygmy Poultry Chickens Croad Langshan Derbyshire Redcap Dorking Ixworth Indian Game Legbar Modern Game Modern Langshan Nankin Bantam Norfolk Grey Old English Game Old English Pheasant Fowl Orpington Rosecomb Scots Dumpy Scots Grey Sebright Sussex Ducks Abacot Ranger Aylesbury Orpington Khaki Campbell Magpie Rouen Shetland Silver Appleyard Welsh Harlequin Geese Brecon Buff Shetland West of England

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [British Alpine](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Alpine) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Alpine?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.