The Girgentana goat is a domestic goat breed used mainly for the production of milk. It is indigenous to the province of Agrigento, in the southern part of the Mediterranean island of Sicily.
The exact origins of the Girgentana goat breed is unknown. It has been suggested that they are in central South Asia, specifically Kashmir, northern Afghanistan and Balochistan. Johann Wolfgang Amschler identified it with Capra prisca and the Ram in a Thicket statues excavated at Ur by Leonard Woolley in 1927–28.
The hypothesis of Leopold Adametz that it is descended, at least in part, from the markhor, Capra falconeri, a species of Central Asian goat-antelope, appears to be generally accepted by zoologists. The animals could have been introduced to Sicily by Greek colonists about 700 BC, or in the eighth century AD by Arab invaders.
The name of the Girgentana goat breed derives from Girgenti, the name of Agrigento in local Sicilian language. In the past, there were more than 30,000 goats available in the hills and coastal zone of the province.
Today the Girgentana goat is pretty rare and in danger of disappearance. Total population of the Girgentana goat was estimated at 524 at the end of 1993. And 390 goats were registered at the end of 2013. And in the year of 2007, the conservation status of the breed was listed as “endangered” by the FAO.
The breed is one of the eight autochthonous Italian goat breeds for which a genealogical herdbook is kept by the Associazione Nazionale della Pastorizia, the Italian national association of sheep-breeders. Read more information about this Italian goat breed below.
Girgentana Goat Characteristics
The Girgentana goat is a very beautiful, medium sized animal. It has a primarily white coat with grey-brown colored hair around the head and throat.
The Girgentana goats have characteristics horns, twisted into a spiral form. They have a long beard, and both bucks and does have small-medium sized erect ears.
Average height of the bucks is about 85 cm, and about 80 cm for the does. The bucks on average weight about 65 kg, and average body weight of the does is about 46 kg. Photo & info from Wikipedia.
Uses
Girgentana goat is a dairy goat breed. And it is primarily raised for milk production.
Special Considerations
Girgentana goats are hardy, active and well adapted to it’s origin place. The breed is distributed through the mainland Italy, Sicily and Western Europe.
The does are good milk producers. And on average, a doe can produce about 400 kg of milk per year. Review full breed profile of the Girgentana goat in the chart below.
| Breed Name | Girgentana |
| Other Name | Agrigento |
| Breed Purpose | Milk |
| Breed Size | Medium |
| Bulls | About 65 kg |
| Doe | About 46 kg |
| Horns | Yes |
| Climate Tolerance | All Climates |
| Coat Color | White |
| Good for Stall Fed | Not Sure |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Country/Place of Origin | Italy |
