Goats are far more handsome creatures than we often give them credit for.
We don’t tend to think of them as being elegant or beautiful, but the fact is that they very often are.
Especially in those cases where goats have long, flowing, beautiful hair—like something out of a goat vogue magazine!
Today, we’re going to look at some of the best long-haired goat breeds—where they’re from, what they are like, and whether they could be the right choice of companion for you.
Let’s get started.
Bagot
Existing in a semi-feral state in the English countryside for a long time, the bagot is now a popular domestic breed with impressive long hair.
It is not the longest hair of the goats on this list, but much longer than a short-haired.
They typically have white hair, and huge, showy horns.
Their fur is even a little like cashmere, though not at a high enough yield for profitability.
They’re a great choice if you can find a breeder!
Pygora
A cross between the common breeds Angora and pygmy, this is a short breed with a wonderfully soft, long-haired fleece.
Their hair is actually curly and can grow as long as six inches—though it doesn’t always look this long, since it is curly and the length is somewhat hidden.
Their fiber is luxurious enough that they are often bred as fiber goats, so you know they have beautiful coats.
They are a highly sought-after breed.
Bilberry
A rarer breed today, the Bilberry originated in Ireland.
In fact, they are so rare that there is currently only a single herd known to exist anywhere.
This is where virtually all of the individuals of the species are found.
So, this one may not be an easy option to keep.
Nonetheless, it is a great shame as they are beautiful long-haired goats, typically cream or tan in color with shaggy coats.
Hopefully, their numbers can one day be revitalized.
Messinese
Primarily a dairy breed that was first officially recognized in Italy in 2001, these goats are quite different from what we might typically recognize as goat breeds.
They look almost archaic, feral, like a relic from a time long past.
Nonetheless, they are another beautiful long-haired breed.
Their coats range from tan to grey to black, and they have calm if somewhat wary temperaments.
Again, they might be a bit more difficult to find, but they are becoming more and more popular.
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Orobica
Another Italian breed, the Orobica are also known as the Valgerola.
They are medium in size, and have a wide variety of coat colors.
Some can even appear in an almost violet color, if in the right light.
More often, they range from brown to cream.
Their hair is long, flowing, and luxurious, and very fine.
Again, they have almost cashmere like coats, although they don’t really produce enough to be bred for it.
They are more often bred as dairy goats.
Australian cashmere
A hardy breed that has been developed to be able to withstand the harsh climate of Australia, this cashmere goat has some of the finest, long hair of any breed in the world.
They are typically white in color, with a friendly disposition.
They’re quite large, with curved horns.
They make great companion pets if you can find them, and they are favored the world over for their ability to withstand harsh temperatures.
They can grow long coats for winter and lose them for the warmer months.
Changthangi
Moving to India now, we have another cashmere breed—the Changthangi.
Again, they tend to live in a colder area, and this is where they were bred.
This has led to them having longer, warmer coats, and they are bred typically for this luxurious fiber.
Being black, brown, grey or white in color, their coats are not only long but thick and soft.
They are highly sought-after, and thus can be quite expensive.
That said, if you can spare the cash, they are a great choice.
Angora
Another curly haired breed, and the forebear of the aforementioned pygora breed, you could be forgiven for thinking an Angora goat was a sheep.
They have thick, curly, woolly fleeces, and again though their hair is long, it is very curly and so does not look long in the same way.
They can be a bit more work than other breeds, but they are certainly among the cutest of all.
Landrace
There are multiple varieties of Landrace goat—most notably the Dutch and Danish Landraces.
They hail from climates where they need to grow longer coats for the winter, but they do tend to lose them over the spring in preparation for the summer.
They are really common now, since their declining populations have been revitalised.
They come in many shades and hues, from black, white, grey and many others.
The Dutch variety has the longer coat, so if you’re looking for the longest hair, they are the one for you.
One thing is for sure, then: you are not short on choice!
All of these breeds feature fantastic, long, flowing coats of hair that will make them really gorgeous to look at.
If you’re interested in keeping a fashionable goat companion like one of these, it’s still really important to do all your research beforehand.
Make sure you know what you’re getting into with keeping a goat, and don’t go ahead without doing extensive research into how to look after your goat first.