20081028

Black and white goats


Walliser Schwarzhalsziege (black-throated goats from Wallis/Valais). These distinctive creatures belong to a breed that was domesticated a long, long time ago. If I understand it correctly, they were brought to the Valais region from Africa around 930 AD. Their numbers had been dwindling over the end of the last century but now they're protected and propagated.

Link to information in German: Schwarzhalsziege and Wikipedia.

20081019

6 comments:

Jilly said...

Aren't they beautiful? Is their hair used? When I lived in Tasmania we had angora goats - and in Wales I had good ol' common or garden goats. I do like them, not with a garden tho!

Halcyon said...

They are lovely! They seem to be very curious as well.

Z said...

Jilly: I wonder the same thing about their hair, haven't found any information yet.

Halcyon: Seems they get food or treats when people (the herders, I should think) show up.

Me said...

I love them! I also wonder if their hair can be used for yarn...it looks so soft!

Jilly said...

Well, right I'm can't read German, but I'd imagine the hair is used. These are absolutely magnificent creatures.

Hilda said...

Cool looking goats! I think they're beautiful!