Appenzell goat
| Conservation status | FAO (2007): endangered-maintained[1]: 112 |
|---|---|
| Other names | |
| Country of origin | Switzerland |
| Distribution | |
| Use |
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| Traits | |
| Weight | |
| Height | |
| Coat | white |
| Face colour | white |
| Horn status | usually polled[3] |
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The Appenzell, French: Chèvre d’Appenzell, German: Appenzellerziege,[2] is a rare and endangered indigenous breed of white domestic goat from Switzerland. It originates in the "half-cantons" of the historic Appenzell region, Appenzell Ausserrhoden and Appenzell Innerrhoden, and has spread into the neighbouring Canton of St. Gallen.[3]
History
The Appenzeller originates in the "half-cantons" of the historic Appenzell region, Appenzell Ausserrhoden and Appenzell Innerrhoden.[3] A goat-breeders' association, the Ziegenzuchtgenossenschaft Appenzell, was founded in Innerrhoden in February 1902,[4]: 156 and another, the Ziegenzuchtgenossenschaft Urnäsch, in Ausserrhoden in 1914.[5]: 28
The Schweizerischer Ziegenzuchtverband, the Swiss federation of cantonal goat breeders' associations, runs a conservation and recovery project for the Appenzeller which includes financial support for breeders and a controlled breeding programme.[6] In 2007 the conservation status of the breed was listed by the FAO as "endangered-maintained".[1]: 112
In 2005, the Appenzell breed represented approximately 4.2% of the total registered Swiss goat population of about 70000 head.[3] At the end of 2013 a population of 1900–2000 was reported to DAD-IS;[2] in 2021 the population was reported to be between 1233 and 4167, with 77 breeding males.[7]
In the 1920s, the Appenzeller was cross-bred with the Saanen to create the composite Zürcher Ziege in the area of Zurich and Thurgau. A herd-book was started in 1926;[8]: 358 in 1938, the remaining stock was merged into the Appenzeller.[7] The Appenzeller also contributed to the development of the Toggenburg.[8]: 358
Characteristics
The Appenzeller is completely white, with a medium-long to long hair coat.[9] It is usually polled; horned animals are accepted.[9] The milk yield averages just over 800 kg per year.[3]
References
- ^ a b Rischkowsky, Barbara; Pilling, Dafydd, eds. (2007). "Annex: Breeds currently recorded in the Global Databank for Animal Genetic Resources" (PDF). The State of the World's Animal Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture. Rome: FAO. ISBN 978-92-5-105762-9.
- ^ a b c d e f g Breed data sheet: Appenzellerziege/Switzerland. Domestic Animal Diversity Information System of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Accessed June 2014.
- ^ a b c d e Tableaux des races: Races caprines suisses – races menacées (in French). Schweizerischer Ziegenzuchtverband. Archived 15 July 2014.
- ^ Ferdinand Fuchs (1977). [ Bauernarbeit in Appenzell Innerrhoden: Sachen, Methoden, Wörter] (in German). Schriften der Schweizerischen Gesellschaft für Volkskunde, volume 61. Basel: Krebs; Bonn: Habelt in Komm.
- ^ Tierzuchtbericht 2020: Fachkommission für Tierzucht[ (in German). Appenzell Ausserrhoden; Amt für Landwirtschaft. Accessed January 2022.
- ^ Hans-Peter Grunenfelder (editor) (2003). Agricultural Genetic Resources in the Alps. St. Gallen: Monitoring Institute for Rare Breeds and Seeds in Europe. Accessed July 2017.
- ^ a b Breed data sheet: Appenzellerziege / Switzerland (Goat). Domestic Animal Diversity Information System of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Accessed January 2022.
- ^ a b Valerie Porter, Lawrence Alderson, Stephen J.G. Hall, D. Phillip Sponenberg (2016). Mason's World Encyclopedia of Livestock Breeds and Breeding (sixth edition). Wallingford: CABI. ISBN 9781780647944.
- ^ a b Appenzellerziege (in German). Schweizerischer Ziegenzuchtverband. Accessed January 2022.