Козы породы Пуатусская (Poitevin Goats) в первой половине ХХ века, начали постепенно вытесняться более продуктивными породами коз, но тем не менее, благодаря некоторым своим, замечательным качествам, оправдывающим сохранение и размножение породы коз Пуатусская (Poitevin Goats), она существует и поныне. Эти замечательные козы, завоевали сердца французов своим чувствительным и веселым характером, своей жизнестойкостью, плодовитостью и исключительным качеством сыра из их молока.
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Усилия современных заводчиков породы коз Пуатусская (Poitevin Goats), направлены на улучшение молочной продуктивности, согласование отбора и генетической изменчивости этой породы, поиск наиболее подходящий заводчиков и т.д... В 1980 - х годах благодаря предпринятым усилиям, эта порода коз начала процветать, в основном, в своем родном регионе Западной Франции.
Период лактации длится около десяти месяцев, за день надои составляют в среднем 2 литра. Козы породы Пуатусская (Poitevin Goats) в среднем весят - 40-65кг., рост в холке - 0.65-0.75 м. Основной окрас от темно-коричневый до черного сверху и белого снизу, морда черного цвета с двумя белыми полосками. Козы этой породы могут быть как с рогами, так и без.
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Poitevin Goats
Legend has it that the poitevine
goat was a present left by the Arabs vanquished at Poitiers by
Charles Martel.... It seems more probable that it is a branch of
the now-extinct goat family of the Massif Central, like its
cousin the Pyrenean goat.
Replaced in farming in the first half of the twentieth century
by more productive breeds, the Poitevine goat has, nevertheless,
some great qualities which justify its preservation and breeding.
It is an animal which captured our hearts with its sensitive and
cheerful character, its hardiness, its fertility and the
exceptional quality of the cheese made from its milk. Of course,
this choice has made things a little difficult, as we have to
reach our daily average production quotas !
Reconciling selection and genetic variability, finding the most suitable breeders etc... This is also what makes our life interesting! Apart from a light complement of nitrogen, our goats’ menu is composed of straw, hay and lucerne/alfalfa and cereals.
It is the birth of the kids which induces the milk production for about ten months. Our goats produce their young in their natural season, from the end of December to the beginning of March depending on the year and weather. We select our males according to their genetic traits, the milk production of their mother, their type and their character.
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Poitevine breed of goat
The Poitevine breed of goat was in danger of extinction in the early
1980s but thanks to some dedicated goat farmers, the race is now
thriving, mainly in its native region of western France.
Poitevines are exceptionally attractive-looking goats, but their
main characteristic is the abundant amount of milk produced by each
female.
Poitevine milk makes superb cheese. It does not have that ‘smell’
that some people complain about when goats’ milk is mentioned.
Poitevine Facts (for the female)
Native to the Poitou Charrente region of Western France
Weight 40-65kg
Height to withers 0.65-0.75m
Chest 0.7-0.9m
Dark brown to black above; underneath, white
Black face with 2 white stripes
With or without horns
With or without toggles or beard
There is a Poitevine breed society known as ADDCP (Association pour
la Défense et le Développement de la Chèvre Poitevine).
Personal Experience With Poitevines
I began keeping Poitevine goats three years ago and my only regret
is that I didn’t start my goat-keeping venture with this breed. They
are everything you can ask for in a goat – friendly, affectionate,
good milkers, and incredible characters! To the uninitiated, they
may all look alike, but I can assure you that they are all very
individual with their own distinct physical markings as well as a
unique personality.
Descriptions of some of my own Poitevine goats
I tried to give each new addition, a name beginning with the letter
‘P’, but as you will see, I didn’t succeed!
Paula was my first Poitevine and came from a local goat farm. She
was coming to the end of her commercial milking life, and I bought
her, in kid, for 60 euros in December 2008.
It cost me a great deal more in veterinary bills when she developed
complications before kidding, with a prolapsed vagina. She was worth
every penny though, being gentle and affectionate, and excellent
company.
I milked her twice a day and was obtaining 2 litres at each session.
I learned to make cheese, butter and yoghurt, as well as enjoying
drinking and sharing her milk with our six cats.
Paula produced two gorgeous kids, Milly and Grimble, but sadly,
during her next pregnancy in 2010, she had to be put to sleep after
a complicated miscarriage. Although she was a hornless Poitevine,
both her offspring had horns.
Millywas one of Paula’s twins, born in February 2008, she was
totally dominated by her brother Grimble and was sweet, shy and
obedient.
We took her to visit the billy at a year old, and she had twins,
Pooky and Polly. Pooky was another unnecessary male who I gave to
the neighbours, and they had a feast!
Because her mother (Paula), was pregnant, and one Poitevine goat
will supply all a family’s needs, I decided to sell Milly with Polly.
They went to live with a nice French lady who wanted companions for
her donkey.
Grimble: one word describes him – a nightmare!
That sweet little male kid, who was castrated at birth, got bigger
and bigger - and even bigger.
Having made the decision to keep him, I now don’t know what to do
with him! He’s far too big for me to handle, and sometimes becomes
quite aggressive; He is a terrifying sight when he rears up on his
hind legs, and those horns get longer every day!
This is the main lesson I have learned in the last four years of
goat keeping:
‘Do not keep male goats, unless you have a big enterprise and need
one for breeding purposes.'
Pixie & Popsie
After Paula died, because I'd already sold her daughter and
grand-daughter, I had no females, and therefore no milk. Nobody
wanted to sell me a milking Poitevine, so I had to start again at
the beginning, and bought two 4-day old kids in May 2010. I bottle
fed them for three months, and consequently became their surrogate
mother.
They follow me everywhere and entertain us all with their antics
jumping on and off walls or burrowing into my pockets for their
favourite digestive biscuit treats.
Pixie thinks she is 'the boss' and therefore in charge of her sister.
Now, at ten months old they are still relatively small, and will not
be bred from until next autumn.
Roxie
Once again I was faced with the problem of no milk for yet another
twelve months.Then, during January, I heard from a friend who was
looking for a home for her pregnant two-year old Poitevine. I jumped
at the chance and bought Roxie (100E) who is due to kid at the
beginning of April 2011. She is very quiet and shy, maybe a little
nervous and is taking a while to settle in her new home. Her
markings are quite different -with more white on her face and ears-
than my other goats.
What shall I call her kids when they arrive? They will be pure-bred
Poitevines of course!
