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Alpine Breed Standards...

American Dairy Goat Association...

The Alpine Dairy Goat is also referred to as the French Alpine and registration papers for this dairy goat use both designations and they are synonymous. The Alpine dairy goat is a medium to large size animal, alertly graceful, and the only breed with upright ears that offers all colors and combinations of colors giving them distinction and individuality. They are hard, adaptable animals that thrive in any climate while maintaining good health and excellent production. The hair is medium to short. Mature does are expected to be no less than 30 inches at the withers and weigh no less than 135 lbs. Mature bucks are expected to be no less than 32 inches at the withers and weigh no less than 170 lbs. The face is straight. A Roman nose, Toggenburg color and markings, or all-white is discriminated against. Alpine colors are described by using the following terms
 

COU BLANC (coo blanc) - literally "white neck"
white front quarters and black hindquarters with
black or gray markings on the head

   

COU CLAIR (coo clair) - literally "clear neck"
front quarters are tan, saffron, off-white, or
shading to grey with black hindquarters

   
COU NOIR (coo nwah) - literally "black neck"
black front quarters with white hindquarters
   
SUNDGAU (sundgow) - black with white markings
such as underbody, facial stripes, etc.
   
PIED - spotted or mottled
   
CHAMOISEE (sham-wah-zay) - brown or bay
characteristic markings are black face, dorsal stripe,
feet and legs, and sometimes a martingale running
over the withers and down the chest.
Spelling for male is chamoise.
   
TWO-TONE CHAMOISEE - light front quarters with
brown or gray hindquarters. This is not a cou blanc
or cou clair as these terms are reserved for animals
with black hindquarters.
BROKEN - Any variation in the above pattersn
broken with white should be described as a broken
pattern such as a broken cou blanc.


The French vs. The American Alpine...

Amongst new Alpine enthusiasts, the French and American designation is often a confusing one. The French or Purebred Alpine is one who traces back to only the original animals imported from France. American Alpines are those animals that have been crossed with other breeds and then bred back up  using registered American or French Alpine bucks. A French Alpine (aka Purebred Alpine) can only be achieved by breeding two French Alpines together. The terms French and Purebred are synonymous and can be used interchangeably. However, because American Alpines result from crossbreeding, they cannot be described as "Purebred". The registration papers of all Alpines will designate if the animal is French or American Alpine. At dairy goat shows, French and American Alpines compete against each other and are shown in the same "Alpine" breed division. There is no advantage to one or the other and neither has an advantage from the scorecard in the show ring when being judged.

American Goat Society...

The French Alpine is sleek, short-haired, and multicolored. It tends to look larger, "rangier", and more fine boned than the Toggenburg, with more space between the ground and the underline of the body. Although the angularity and width should still be present, they may not be as obvious as in the Toggenburg. The head should be wide between the very alert eyes, but because of its long body, the width may not be as apparent as in other breeds. The "dish" in the bridge of the nose will be less severe than other breeds, sometimes being almost straight. The muzzle may not appear to e as wide as deep, and the ears may be longer than the Toggenburg, although just as alert.

British Goat Society...

The goat is black with white Swiss markings and has been developed in the UK. The goat should be rangy with a short fine coat. The overall effect is a most impressive animal when the black coat acquires its summer gloss. The breed can be highly individual in character and tends to be a breed of enthusiasts who like a challenge.

British Alpines generally have long lactations. An average 24 hour yield of 4.09 Kg. at 2.77% butterfat and 2.74% protein was obtained by considering data from all British Alpines entered in B.G.S recognized milking trials in a recent year (459 performances).

Canadian Goat Society...

The Alpine is one of the Swiss breeds, and is acceptable in any color patter, although bucks with solid white or standard Toggenburg color and markings are faulted. Ears are upright; the bridge of the nose is straight or slightly dished.

Color patterns in the Alpine are often referred to by French names: the illustration shows a cou clair (light-colored neck) broken with a wide white belt. Other color patterns are cou blanc (white neck, black rear quarters), sundgau (black with white facial stripes, white belowe knees and hocks, white on either side of tail), and chamoisee (any shade or mixture of brown, often with a black stripe along the back and white markings on the face) or two-tone chamoisee (usually a lighter brown on the forequarters). A "broken" pattern has large white areas obscuring the basic colors.


 




 

 

Page last updated 07/01/2023

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