Conformation

• slightly taller at withers than at hips with long bone pattern throughout.

• clean-cut and balanced in length, width, and depth;
• broad muzzle with full nostrils;
• well-sculpted, alert eyes;
• strong jaw with angular lean junction to throat;
• appropriate size, color, ears, and nose to meet breed standard. (See Breed Standards below).
  

• Prominent withers arched to point of shoulder with shoulder blade, point of shoulder, and point of elbow set tightly and smoothly against the chest wall both while at rest and in motion; deep and wide into chest floor with moderate strength of brisket.
  

• strong and straight with well-defined vertebrae throughout and slightly uphill to withers;
• level chine with full crops into a straight, wide loin; wide hips smoothly set and level with back;
• strong rump which is uniformly wide and nearly level from hips to pin bones and thurl to thurl;
• thurls set two-thirds of the distance from hips to pinbones;
• well defined and wide pinbones set slightly lower than the hips;
• tailhead slightly above and smoothly set between pin bones;
• tail symmetrical to body and free from coarseness;
• vulva normal in size and shape in females (normal sheath and testes in males)
  

• bone flat and strong throughout, leading to smooth, free motion;
• front legs with clean knees, straight, wide apart and squarely placed;
• rear legs wide apart and straight from the rear, and well angulated in side profile through the stifle to cleanly molded hocks,  nearly perpendicular from hock , yet flexible pastern of medium length;
• strong feet with tight toes, pointed directly forward;
• deep heels with sole nearly uniform in depth from toe to heel.

• long, lean, and blending smoothly into the shoulders; clean-cut throat and brisket.

• prominent and wedge-shaped with the dorsal process arising slightly above the shoulder blades.

• flat, flinty, wide apart, and long; lower rear ribs should angle to flank.

• deep, yet arched and free of excess tissue.

• in side profile, moderately incurving from pinbone to stifle; from the rear, clean and wide apart, highly arched and out-curving into the escutcheon to provide ample room for the udder and its attachment.

• thin, loose, and pliable with soft, lustrous hair
  

• strong medial suspensory ligament that clearly defines the udder halves, contributes to desirable shape and capacity, and holds the entire udder snugly to the body and well above the hocks. Fore, rear, and lateral attachments must be strong and smooth.

• wide and full to the side and extending moderately forward without excess non-lactating tissue and indicating capacity, desirable shape, and productivity.

• capacious, high, wide, and arched into the escutcheon; uniformity wide and deep to the floor; moderately curved in side profile without protruding beyond the vulva.

• in side profile, one-third of the capacity visible in front of the leg, one-third under the leg, and one-third behind the leg; well-rounded with soft, pliable, and elastic texture that is well collapsed after milking, free of scar tissue, with halves evenly balanced.

• uniform size and of medium length and diameter in proportion to capacity of udder, cylindrical in shape, pointed nearly straight down or slightly forward, and situated two-thirds of the distance from the medial suspensory ligament on the floor of each udder-half to the side, indicating ease of milking.

• The Alpine dairy goat is a medium to large sized goat with medium to short hair. 
• It is hardy and adaptable, and thrives in any climate. 
• Alpines are alert and graceful, have erect ears, and offer all combinations of colors.  
• The face is straight.
• In judging, a Roman nose,Toggenburg color and markings, or all-white is discriminated against.

• The LaMancha, an American breed, has excellent dairy temperament and is an all-around sturdy animal that can withstand a great deal of hardship and still have good milk production and high butterfat. 
• The ears are the distinctive breed characteristic of the LaMancha, and, can be "gopher" or "elf" types, both of which are equally acceptable for registration and judging purpose with does.  Bucks must have "gopher" ears in order to be registered. 
• The "gopher ear" must be turned up or down at the end, and cannot be longer than one inch (2.54 cm),  Preferably, the ears will be nonexistent and will have very little or no cartilage in them. 
• The "elf ear" must be turned up or turned down at the end, and cartilage shaping the ear is allowed.  This type of ear can be up to two inches (5.08 cm) in length .
• Any color or combination of colors is acceptable. The hair is short, fine and glossy.  The face is straight.  

• The Nigerian Dwarf is a miniature goat which originated in West Africa and was developed in the United States. 
• Does stand no more than 22.5" (57cm) and bucks no more than 23.5" (60cm).
• Any color or combination of colors is acceptable.
• The medium length ears are erect and alert.
• The face is either straight or dished, and the hair is short and fine. 

• The Nubian is a relatively large, proud, and graceful dairy goat of mixed Asian, African, and European origin, known for high quality, high butterfat, milk production.
• The head is the distinctive breed characteristic, with the facial profile between the eyes and the muzzle being strongly convex (Roman nose).  
• The ears are long (extending at least one inch [2.54 cm] beyond the muzzle when held flat along the face), wide and pendulous. They lie close to the head at the temple and flare slightly out and well forward at the rounded tip, forming a "bell" shape. The ears are not thick, with the cartilage well defined.
• The hair is short, fine and glossy. 
• Any color or colors, solid or patterned, is acceptable.

• The Oberhasli is a Swiss dairy goat, chamoisee or light to deep red bay in color, with deep red bay preferred. 
• Does may be black but chamoisee is preferred, and a few white hairs in the coat and around the ears are permitted.
• The face is straight or dished. 
• A Roman nose is discriminated against.  
• There are distinct markings:
• 1.two black stripes down the face, running from above each eye down to a black muzzle
• 2.nearly solid black forehead
• 3.black stripes starting at the base of each ear, coming to a point just back of the poll ,and then continuing along the
•    neck and back as a dorsal stripe to the tail
• 4.a black belly, and an udder ranging in color from  light gray to black
• 5.black lower legs, below the knees and hocks
• 6.ears are black inside and bay outside
• Bucks often have more black on the head than does.  They also have black whiskers and black hair along the shoulder and lower chest.  There is a mantle of black along the back, and bucks often have more white hairs in their coat than does have. 

• The Saanen dairy goat originated in Switzerland. 
• It is medium to large in size, with rugged bone and plenty of vigor.
• Does should be feminine.
• Saanen are white or light cream in color, with white preferred.
• Spots on the skin are not discriminated against.
• Small spots of color on the hair are allowable, but not desirable.
• The hair should be short and fine, although a fringe over the spine and thighs is often present.
• Ears should be erect and alertly carried, preferably pointing forward.
• The face should be straight or dished. 
• A tendency toward a Roman nose is discriminated against.
  

• The Sable dairy goat is medium to large in size with rugged bone and plenty of vigor.
• Does should be feminine. 
• Their hair is short.
• Their ears should be erect and alertly carried, preferably pointing forward.
• The face should be straight or dished.
• The Sable may be any color or combination of colors, solid or patterned, EXCEPT solid white or solid light cream.
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• The Toggenburg is a medium sized, sturdy, vigorous, and alert Swiss dairy goat..
• The hair is short to long in length, and is soft and fine to the touch.
• It is a solid color, varying from light fawn to dark chocolate, with no preference for any shade.
• The ears are erect and carried forward.
• Facial lines may be dished or straight, never Roman.  
• There are distinct white markings:
• 1. white ears with a dark spot in the middle
• 2.  two white stripes down the face, running from above each eye, down to the muzzle
• 3. white hind legs from hocks to hooves
• 4. white forelegs from the knees down, but a dark vertical stripe below the knee is acceptable
• 5.  a white triangle on each side of the tail
• 6. a white spot at the root of the wattles, or in that area if no wattles are present
•  The markings may be cream color instead of pure white, but this is not desirable.  (This ends the ADGA scorecard information
  

• Before you go to a farm to look at goats, practice examining a goat.  Borrow a friends goat, or use a dog, and run through the steps above.  Do it enough so that you feel comfortable doing it in front of someone else, and you can do it quickly.  This will eliminate some of the discomfort the first time you go out to look at goats.
  
• Do not try to judge the fitness of goats by looking at them in a pen from a distance. Get in the pen, and ask the seller to help hold the goats while you examine them, or better yet, have them bring the goats up on the milking stand one at a time so you can examine them carefully.  The health of your herd depends upon buying sound goats.  It is cost effective to go slowly and be careful. 
• Make sure that goats are listed by neck tag number, tatoo number or name when you make an agreement to buy.   Unethical buyers may substitute one goat for another before your trucker comes to pick them up.  Have the trucker check the identification on the agreement against the identification on the goat.
• On the day you go to look at goats, carry a marking chalk, available at farm stores, and when you approve a goat, draw a line on the rump, so it is clear which goats you want to buy.  This will help you when you get ready to load them.
• ALWAYS bring a contract with you in case the seller doesn't have one.  You can fill in the blanks when you are ready to buy.  DO NOT even consider buying without a contract.  It protects you and the seller.  You can get a contract from the Forms section of this website.
  

Parts of the Dairy Goat