The Don goat is a multi-purpose breed of domestic goat used for the production of milk, wool and goatskin. The breed is from the Don River of the Lower Volga territory in Russia.
Don goat produces the highest average wool per individual goat sheared of any goat breed. And the breed also produces milk with a relatively high fat content. The breed was discovered in 1933-34 by an expedition of the All-Uninon Institute of Sheep and Goat Husbandry studying goats in the former lower Volga territory.
It was named Don because of it’s location, their habitat covers the basin of the Don river and it’s tributaries. The Don goat is valued for their skin. The goatskin is mainly used for low-grade footwear.
And the pelt of these goats slaughtered in autumn has good fur quality determined by the structure of the fleece (it’s density and wool fibers longer than guard hairs). They can be used as a basic material in the fur industry.
Ramanov sheep produce the best sheepskin, and the Don goats are comparable with this sheep. However, read more information about this goat breed below.
Physical Characteristics of Don Goat
Don goat is a medium sized goat. Their body is roundish in shape and the skeleton is bigger in bucks than the does. They have strong constitution, good conformation and adequate undercoat wool on the body, neck and belly.
They are predominantly black in color, but they are sometimes white. They have large horns that are variable in shape. Back of the bucks is long, straight and wider than the does.
The bucks are usually larger than the does. Average live body weight of the adult male Don goat ranges from 65 to 85 kg. And the does on average weight about 35 to 40 kg.
Uses
Don goat is a multi-purpose breed of goats. They are kept for the production of milk, wool and goatskin. They are somehow good for meat production.
Special Considerations
Don goats are hardy animals and generally of good behavior. They have the highest wool production among all goat breeds. Average wool production from the bucks ranges from 550 to 1600 grams. And average production from does ranges from 330 to 1430 grams.
Average wool content in the fleece of the Don goat is about 61.5 to 92.2 percent. The goats are very prolific with an average kidding rate of 145 to 150 kids per 100 does. The Don does are also pretty good milkers. On average they are capable of producing about 130-140 liters of milk per lactation period.
Their lactation period is about 5 months. Milk of the Don goat is noted for high fat content. Their milk contain an average of 3.3 to 8.2 fat content. Review full breed profile of the Don goat in the following table.
| Breed Name | Don |
| Other Name | None |
| Breed Purpose | Milk, Wool & Goatskin |
| Breed Size | Medium |
| Buck | About 65 to 85 kg |
| Doe | About 35 to 40 kg |
| Horns | Yes |
| Climate Tolerance | All Climates |
| Coat Color | Predominantly black in color with sometimes white |
| Good for Stall Fed | Not Sure |
| Rarity | Common |
| Country/Place of Origin | Russia |
