Oberhasli

The Oberhasli is a dairy goat that began in the mountain cantons of Switzerland. It's a medium-sized animal known for its bay to deep red coat, called chamois, set off by black markings on the face, legs, belly, and along the spine. Does typically weigh around 55 kg and stand close to 70 cm at the shoulder, with bucks running larger.

The breed is kept chiefly for milk. Yield is moderate compared with the bigger dairy breeds, but the milk has a mild, sweet flavour that many keepers prefer for drinking and for cheesemaking. Oberhasli does are also dependable mothers and cope well with cooler conditions and hill country, a legacy of their alpine background that suits much of New Zealand's pastoral farmland.

Temperament is one of the breed's strongest points. Oberhasli goats are generally quiet, gentle, and keen on human company, which makes them a sound choice for lifestyle blocks, small dairies, and school pet days. They stay alert to what's going on around them without turning flighty or highly strung.

Who it suits

The Oberhasli suits keepers after a manageable, even-tempered dairy goat rather than the top possible milk volume. Its calm handling and tolerance of cool, damp weather make it a good fit for lifestyle block owners, hobby cheesemakers, and school pet day entrants. Those farming in hotter districts, or after a large-volume commercial dairy breed, may want to weigh it up against the bigger alpine types instead.

The Oberhasli comes from the mountain regions of Switzerland, including the area around Bern that gave the breed its name. It belongs to the wider group of Swiss alpine dairy goats developed over generations for milk on small mountain farms. The chamois colour pattern was a consistent feature of these Swiss herds.

Goats of this type were shipped to the United States in the early 1900s. For several decades they were lumped in with other alpine imports and were sometimes recorded under the broader Alpine heading, which blurred the breed's separate identity.

Through the work of committed breeders, animals carrying the original Swiss chamois pattern were tracked down and bred on to keep the line pure. Over time the Oberhasli was recognised as a breed in its own right rather than a colour variant of the Alpine.

New Zealand's biosecurity settings mean live goat imports are tightly controlled, and MPI import health standards make bringing in new bloodlines a slow, costly process. As a result, Oberhasli numbers here are built up through careful selection within existing herds, occasional artificial breeding using imported genetics, and close cooperation between the handful of dedicated breeders who keep the chamois pattern and black markings true to type.

The Oberhasli has a balanced, dairy-type build: a level back, deep body, and a well-attached udder in does. The face is straight or slightly dished, the ears stand up and point forward, and the overall look is alert and tidy. Both does and bucks may be horned or disbudded, depending on how the herd is managed.

Coat and colours

The signature colour is chamois, ranging from a light bay through to a deep reddish brown. Defining black markings run across the face, with two light stripes from above each eye to the muzzle, and continue down the lower legs, across the belly, and in a stripe along the spine. The ears are often edged or marked in black. Bucks tend to carry more black through the coat than does. The hair sits short to medium in length and lies close to the body.

The Oberhasli is known for a steady, gentle disposition. These goats are people-focused and tend to bond closely with whoever handles them, which makes routine jobs like milking and hoof trimming a lot easier. They stay watchful of their surroundings but rarely panic, a trait suited to open paddocks and rougher hill country.

With family members the breed is friendly and tolerant, and it's often recommended for households with kids and for school pet day and A&P show entries. Around strangers most Oberhasli goats are wary at first, then settle quickly once they know the person. They generally get on well with other goats and with other farm animals, though pecking order and individual personality still come into it.

The breed is comparatively quiet. Oberhasli goats aren't as vocal as some dairy breeds, which counts for something on a lifestyle block close to neighbours. Like all goats they're curious and capable climbers, so secure fencing and something to keep them occupied helps stop escapes and boredom.

Grooming

• Brush the short coat weekly to clear loose hair and check the skin
• Trim hooves every 6 to 8 weeks to stop overgrowth and lameness
• Check ears, eyes, and coat for parasites during routine handling
• For milking does, keep the udder and flanks clean and clipped as needed

Exercise

• Give daily access to a paddock or a large exercise yard
• Offer climbing structures, stumps, or rocks to satisfy natural climbing behaviour
• Fence securely to at least 1.2 to 1.5 m; goats test and climb weak points
• Rotate grazing areas to manage feed and cut down parasite load

Environment

The breed handles cold well thanks to its alpine background, but it needs dry, draught-free shelter to stay healthy through wet or windy weather, which suits most of New Zealand's pastoral regions. Provide clean bedding, good airflow, and shade over the warmer months, since heat stress is a bigger risk than cold for this breed. Keep at least one companion goat, as Oberhasli are herd animals and do poorly kept alone.

The base of the Oberhasli diet is forage: paddock grazing, browse, and good-quality grass or legume hay. Browse such as shrubs and leafy growth suits their natural feeding habits. Milking does and growing kids need extra energy and protein, usually given as a measured ration of dairy goat grain, nuts, or pellets. Clean water needs to be on hand at all times, and milk output drops away quickly when water is short.

Treats and supplements

Offer treats such as small amounts of fruit or vegetables sparingly so they don't throw the ration out of balance. Provide loose goat minerals with selenium and copper suited to your region, since deficiencies are common on New Zealand's volcanic and pumice soils. A salt source and clean water round out daily needs. Check with a vet or your local rural supplies store before adding supplements for a specific health issue.

The Oberhasli is a hardy breed that copes well with cool, hilly conditions. With good management many animals live 12 to 18 years, though productive milking life is shorter. Most health problems are the same ones that affect dairy goats generally and are largely preventable with routine care, hygiene, and good feeding.

Preventive care

• Book faecal tests and drench based on the results
• Trim hooves every 6 to 8 weeks
• Keep vaccinations current on local vet advice (5-in-1 is standard in many districts)
• Provide region-appropriate loose minerals
• Quarantine new animals before adding them to the herd, and check paperwork carefully on any bought-in stock given New Zealand's biosecurity rules

Oberhasli goats reach breeding age within their first year, though does are commonly put to the buck once well grown, often around 8 to 10 months or at a suitable body weight. Like most goat breeds, they are seasonal breeders, cycling mainly through the cooler months of autumn and early winter. Gestation runs about 150 days, roughly five months.

Does typically have one or two kids, with twins common in mature animals. The breed is known for good mothering, and does usually clean, feed, and protect their kids with little help needed. Kids stand and nurse soon after birth; making sure they get colostrum in the first few hours matters for their immunity.

Kids start nibbling forage within the first weeks and are generally weaned by about 12 weeks, depending on whether they're dam-raised or bottle-raised. Bucks kept for breeding should be picked for conformation, temperament, and correct chamois markings, to keep the breed's character true.