MoARD

TECHNICAL BULLETIN No.27

Goat breeds of Ethiopia:
A guide for identification and utilization  

Further information:
Ethiopia Sheep and Goat Productivity Improvement Program (ESGPIP)
Tel. +251 011 416 6962/3
Fax: +251 011 416 6965
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: http://www.esgpip.org

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FORWARD

This technical bulletin titled “Goat breeds of Ethiopia: A guide for identification and utilization”
is the 27th in a series produced by the Ethiopia Sheep and Goat Productivity Improvement
Program (ESGPIP). The ESGPIP is a USAID funded Project with the objective of improving the
productivity of sheep and goats in Ethiopia.

Many different breeds of sheep and goat are found in different parts of Ethiopia. These breeds
are characterized by varying physical, productive and reproductive features. Attempts have been
made to characterize sheep and goat breeds of Ethiopia by different institutions and individuals.
This technical bulletin attempts to assemble information on the goat breeds of Ethiopia and their
characteristics. It provides guidelines for identification and utilization of these breeds.

The information contained in this bulletin is believed to be useful for development agents to train
farmers/pastoralists and above all serve as a reference to the goat breeds and their specific
characteristics as a basis for making decisions on their utilization.

Desta Hamito (Prof.),

Chief of Party,
ESGPIP
June, 2009

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TABLE OF CONTENTS
FORWARD ................................................................................................................................................... i 
TABLE OF CONTENTS .............................................................................................................................. ii 
1.  Introduction ......................................................................................................................................... 1 
2.  Tools to identify and classify breeds ................................................................................................... 1 
2.1.  Physical characteristics ................................................................................................................ 1 
2.2.  Differences at the DNA level ........................................................................................................ 1 
3.  Goat breeds of Ethiopia ..................................................................................................................... 1 
4.  Geographical distribution of goat breeds ......................................................................................... 2 
5.  Distinguishing physical characteristics of goat breeds of Ethiopia ................................................ 2 
5.1.  Coat color ..................................................................................................................................... 3 
5.2.  Body size ...................................................................................................................................... 3 
5.3.  Ear and horn ............................................................................................................................... 4 
5.4.  Facial profile ................................................................................................................................ 4 
5.5.  Other important features ........................................................................................................... 4 
6.  Productive characteristics and value to community ....................................................................... 7 
7.  What can the Kebele Development Agent do? ................................................................................ 8 
7.1.  Characterizing the kebele goat population ............................................................................... 8 
7.2.  Promoting sustainable utilization .............................................................................................. 8 
8.  References ........................................................................................................................................... 9 

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 Goat breeds of Ethiopia:
A guide for identification and utilization
By: Solomon Gizaw Edited: Alemu Yami, Kassahun Awgichew, T.A. Gipson and R.C. Merkel

1. Introduction

Farm animal species (e.g., goat, sheep, cattle) are conventionally classified into breeds. A breed is a
group of similar animals within a species. In the context of developing regions, the term breed has
been defined as any recognizable interbreeding populations, groups or regional stocks in a livestock
species. Classification of livestock resources into management units (i.e., breeds) facilitates rational
management and utilization of the resources.

Goat breeds found in Ethiopia have been identified and classified based on their differences in
physical characteristics and genetic make-up. In this technical bulletin, the goat breeds and their
distinguishing physical characteristics, geographical distribution, and adaptive and productive
characteristics are presented. A practical guideline for breed identification in the field by kebele
development agents is provided. Finally, suggestions of what the kebele development agent can do
to promote sustainable utilization of the goat genetic resources are presented.

2. Tools to identify and classify breeds

2.1. Physical characteristics

Breeds of farm animal species can be identified and classified based on physical characteristics. The
physical characteristics include body color, size and shape of body parts, and presence or absence of
body parts. Few physical features can be used to identify major groups of breeds. Many physical
features have to be collected and analyzed to identify specific breeds within major groups.

2.2. Differences at the DNA level

Identification and classification of breeds based on physical characteristics can be supported by
advanced tools. Advanced classification is based on differences between breeds in their genetic
make-up. For this purpose, analysis of the genetic material called DNA is required. Such
classification results in identification of genetically distinct breeds.

3. Goat breeds of Ethiopia

Based on differences in physical characteristics and genetic differences at the DNA level, four
families and 12 breeds of goats have been identified in Ethiopia (Tesfaye, 2004; Farm Africa, 1996).
A family is a group of breeds that are genetically more related and physically more similar than
breeds outside the group. The families and breeds are named after their geographical location, the
ethnic communities maintaining them, or based on some identifying physical features (Table 1).

It should be noted that some breeds are known by different local names in different localities. Breeds
are also not bounded by political boundaries and the same breed can be present in different countries
for example the Barka goat in Eritrea (known as Begayit in Ethiopia) and Nuer sheep in Sudan.

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Table 1. Goat families and breeds of Ethiopia
Family name Breed name Other local names
Nubian family Nubian
Afar Adal, Danakil
Rift Valley family Abergelle
Arsi-Bale Gishe, Sidama
Woito-Guji Woyto, Guji, Konso.

Somali family Hararghe Highland

Short-eared Somali Denghier or Deghiyer
Long-eared Somali Large white Somali, Degheir, Digodi, Melebo

Central Highland Brown goat

Small East African family Western Highland
Western Lowland Gumz
Keffa

4. Geographical distribution of goat breeds

Geographical distribution of the goat breeds of Ethiopia is shown in Figure 1. This map of the
breeds can also be used to identify the breed of a goat flock in Ethiopia.

Figure 1. Geographical distribution of goat breeds of Ethiopia.

Source: based on Farm Africa (1996).

5. Distinguishing physical characteristics of goat breeds of Ethiopia

There are key identifying physical characteristics that distinguish a breed. It must be born in mind
that a single physical characteristic may not distinguish a breed. A combination of characteristics is

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required to differentiate one breed from another. The following are key characteristics one should
observe or measure to identify the breed of a goat population in Ethiopia.

5.1. Coat color

Coat color is the simplest characteristic to look for when identifying the breed of a goat population
since it is easily and quickly observed. Coat color of an animal could be plain (i.e., only one color)
or patchy (i.e., patches of different colors on a major background color such as a black sheep with
white patches).

Goat breeds in Ethiopia are not well developed and differentiated. As a result, individuals within a
breed lack uniformity in color; resulting in a range of coat colors within a breed. Besides, most of
coat colors are observed in almost all breeds. Difference between breeds in coat color is mainly in
the proportion of the individuals with the different colors. That is, some colors are dominant in some
breeds; for example white coat color is dominant in Somali goats. Therefore, coat color alone is not
a good criterion to identify goat breeds but it can be an initial physical indicator.

5.2. Body size

Body size is found to be a key classifying physical characteristic of Ethiopian goat families and
breeds. For instance, Western Highland goats can be classified as a large breed and Afar goats as a
small breed. Body size refers to the height, length and width of the animal. Such measures of body
size are called linear body measurements and include height at withers and chest girth. Linear body
measurements are taken using a measuring tape. The reader is referred to ESGPIP Technical Bulletin
No. 23 for the techniques of measuring body size. Body size measurements of Ethiopian goat breeds
are given in Table 2.

Table 2. Height at withers and chest girth of goat breeds of Ethiopia (All measurements are made on
adult does)
Breed Height at withers (cm) Chest girth (cm)
Nubian 70.1 74.3
Afar 60.9 67.4
Abergelle 65.0 71.2
Arsi-Bale 66.1 74.9
Woito-Guji 66.4 72.5
Hararghe Highland 62.5 72.8
Short-eared Somali 61.8 70.4
Long-eared Somali 69.4 74.4
Central Highland 67.9 74.1
Western Highland 70.8 75.8
Western Lowland 63.5 75.9
Keffa 66.7 72.2

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 5.3. Ear and horn
The ear as a classifying feature can be described in terms of size and orientation. For example, ear
length is used to identify the two goat breeds (Short-eared Somali and Long-eared Somali) in the
Somali goat family. Otherwise, the two breeds are very similar in most other characteristics.

The presence or absence of horns also differentiates breeds of goats. Furthermore, the size and shape
of horns differ in different breeds. Horn and ear sizes of goat breeds of Ethiopia are presented in
Table 3.

Table 3. Ear length and horn length of goat breeds of Ethiopia (All measurements made on adult
does)
Breed Ear length (cm) Horn length (cm)
Nubian 20.1 14.6
Afar 12.3 17.4
Abergelle 12.7 19.6
Arsi-Bale 14.0 12.5
Woito-Guji 12.5 10.8
Hararghe Highland 13.0 13.1
Short-eared Somali 12.8 12.2
Long-eared Somali 14.6 9.0
Central Highland 13.1 13.7
Western Highland 14.7 12.8
Western Lowland 13.8 12.8
Keffa 13.0 11.6

5.4. Facial profile

Facial profile refers to the shape of the face when observed from the side. The profile could be
straight, concave, or convex. The facial profile is called concave if the face is curved in, and convex
if the face is curved out. Facial profile is another key classifying feature of Ethiopian goat breeds.

5.5. Other important features

Besides the key features discussed, there are other important features that should be observed when
identifying a goat breed in Ethiopia. Key identifying features and other important features of goat
breeds of Ethiopia are shown in Table 4.

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 Table 4. Key distinguishing physical characteristics and other important physical features of goat breeds
in Ethiopia
Name Physical characteristics
Key identifying features: Tall (height at withers = 70.1 cm in females
and 74.0 cm in males); markedly convex facial profile; long ears; hairy.
Other features: 63% of the males have curved horns; 37% have straight
Nubian horns; horns in males are pointed backwards; the main coat color is
black (72%); with occasional white and red patches on a black
background; ruff and beard are present; no wattles.
Key identifying features: concave facial profile; narrow face; prick-
eared; leggy; long, thin upward-pointing horns; patchy coat color. Other
features: fine, short hair coat; variable colors - white 48%, light brown
25%, black 27%, and flecks and patches are also common; ruff is
Afar present in 67% of the goats; beard is present in 79% of males; wattles
are relatively common (19%).

Key identifying features: Stocky build; mostly reddish-brown color;

males have magnificent spiral horns directed backwards. Other
features: straight (44%) to concave (56%) facial profile; plain coat
Abergelle color (56%), with 33% patchy and 11% spotted; hair is short and
smooth; ruffs and beards are present; wattles are almost entirely absent
(94%).

Key identifying features: Medium-large size; often hairy; coat colors

are mostly in a combined patchy pattern.
Other features: predominantly straight facial profile (98%); males have
curved (47%) and straight (41%) horns mainly pointing backwards
Arsi-Bale (58%) with some pointed straight upwards (28%); polled goats were 6%
in both sexes; ruffs occurred in 33% of males with beards on 92% males
and 52% of females; wattles are present in 14% of males and 11% of
females.
Key identifying features: coat colors are brown, black or red often
marked with black or brown stripes along the back, on the underside or
on the front of the legs; short, shiny, smooth coat; small head with
Woyto- mainly straight facial profile. Other features: medium-sized; straight
Guji horns (71% of the males), curved (26%), polled (3%); horns point
backwards (75%), upward (21%) and laterally (2%); beard is present on
96% of all males, ruff present in 91% and wattles in 10%.

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Table 4. Cont’d…
Name Physical characteristics
Key identifying features: Small; white, brown or black; commonly
polled. Other features: straight (60%) or concave (40%) facial
profile; horned goats have straight (32%) or curved horns (29%); short
Hararghe hair; colors are mainly plain (90%), 10% are spotted; beard present in
Highland 72% of males; no ruffs; wattles present in 14% of goats.

Key identifying features: Medium-sized (smaller than Long-eared

Somali); mainly white coat; short smooth hair. Other features:
straight facial profile; males bear straight horns (46%) or upward
Short- pointing (64%); females bear curved horns (50%) either pointing
eared upwards (55%), backwards (27%) or laterally (12%); polled goats are
Somali found in 5% of males and 7% of females; low incidence (6%) of spiral
horns; in both sexes; coat color white (76%), brown (9%), black (7%)
and grey (7%) occasionally in spotted patterns (12%); no ruffs; beards
present in 79% of males and 14% of females; wattles found in 5% of
all goats.
Key identifying features: Large; white; short hair. Other features:
predominantly straight face; horns are curved (41% in males, 46% in
females), and pointed backwards in 38% of males and upwards in 48%
Long- females; 13% of horns in both sexes have a lateral orientation;
eared polledness is 19% in males and 8% in females; color is plain white
Somali (92%), brown (4%), black (3%) and grey (1%); spotted coat pattern is
observed in 21% of males; ruffs occur in 21% of males but never in
females; beards in 66% of males and 7% of females; wattles in 6% of
males and 3% of females.
Key identifying features: Medium-sized; broad-faced; thick horns;
reddish-brown color. Other features: facial profile straight (71%) or
concave (29%); males are horned, 82% straight and pointed
Central
backwards, 13% curved and 5% spiral horns; coat type is short and
Highland smooth with 51% plain color, 42% patchy and 7% spotted;
predominant color is red-brown (41%), the rest being black, white and
grey; beard is present in 82%; ruff in 99%; and wattles in 6% of males.

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Table 4. Cont’d

Key identifying features: Tall; coarse hair; white and/or fawn color.
Other features: concave facial profile (100%); coarse long coat
(82%); 12% of the animals have hair on their thighs; color pattern is
either plain (51%), patchy (42%), or spotted (7%); colors are white
Western
(42%) and fawn (42%), and combinations of these colors; polled
Highland (14%); horned goats have straight (76%) horns directed backwards
(73%); ruff present in 99% of males; beard in 84% of males; wattles in
12% of the goats.

Key identifying features: Short, straight face, fawn or white patchy

color. Other features: straight facial profile (100%); short smooth
coat (81%) and coarser coat (16%); colors are white (42%), fawn
(38%), black (9%) and grey (11%), occurring mainly in patches (73%).
Western Most males have straight horns (85%) orientated backwards (77%);
Lowland 12% of males are polled; ruff present in 96%, beard in 70% and wattle
in 12% of males.

Key identifying features: Small, red or black, short neck, short prick
ears. Other features: straight facial profile 92%; most males (83%)
have straight horns pointing backwards (80%), a small proportion
(14%) have curved horns; low incidence of polledness (3%); most
goats have a coarse (38%) to hairy (27%) coat type; some 16% have
Kaffa hair on the thighs; plain colors predominate (52%), with some patchy
color patterns (45%); main colors are black (30%) or brown (31%);
among males, 88% have beards, 97% have ruffs; wattles are present on
12% of all goats.

(Source for most of the pictures: Farm Africa, 1996)

6. Productive characteristics and value to community

Traditional livestock breeds, unlike modern commercial breeds, play multiple roles. Some roles
of indigenous goat breeds in Ethiopia (see Table 5) include:
• Being part of the cultural heritage of the communities keeping them
• Having a different and multiple value to the community
• Having special merit such as adaptation to its unique environment
• Having different production potentials such as twinning percentage and growth

Table 5. Value of goat breeds of Ethiopia to the communities maintaining them, their special
merits, percent of does giving birth to twins and adult weight
Production characteristics
Twinning Weight (kg)
Breed Value to the community/special merits percentage

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Afar Extensively milked, delicacy (bekel), blood as 1.4 23.7
medicine, adapted to arid area
Abergelle Milk and milk products, skin 1.3 28.4
Arsi-Bale Extensively milked, adapted to cold area 18.0 30.4
Woito-Guji Good meat 28.8
Hararghe Highland Milk, skin 15.0 29.1
Short-eared Somali Milk, adapted to arid area 2.5 27.8
Long-eared Somali Extensively milked, adapted to arid area 3.0 31.8
Central Highland Bati Genuine skin 17.0 30.1
Western Highland 38.0 33.0
Western Lowland Extensively milked, adapted to arid area 44.0 33.9
Nubian 34.1
Keffa Milk and blood 22.0 28.2

7. What can the Kebele Development Agent do?

7.1. Characterizing the kebele goat population

• Identify the goat breed in the kebele. Identification can be made by relating physical
characteristics in the flock with the description in Table 4 in this bulletin. Identifying the
breed in the kebele helps to utilize the breed information provided in this bulletin or
elsewhere.
• Report unique varieties. The kebele goat population may not fall in any of the recognized
breeds in Table 4 and could be an unidentified variety. The variety may have a special merit.
Report to concerned institutions.
• Characterize the kebele goat to generate additional, area-specific information regarding the
performance merits and demerits. The data to be collected may include body weights, kidding
frequency, twinning frequency, mortality rate, and disease occurrence. This can be done by
monitoring some flocks in the village.

7.2. Promoting sustainable utilization

What can be done at the kebele or district level to conserve the adapted indigenous goat breeds
and still use them to improve farmers’ livelihoods?

• Create awareness among farmers about the adaptive merits of their breed
• Teach farmers how to increase competitiveness of their goats by improving their genetic
merits and the production environment.
• Teach farmers to base their improvement decisions on the merits and demerits of their breed
utilizing the information provided in Table 5.
• Teach farmers to avoid indiscriminate crossing of the indigenous breeds with exotic breed.
• Teach farmers to adopt selective breeding as a sustainable improvement strategy. The KDA is
referred to Technical Bulletin No 14 for a detailed practice of selection at the village level.
• Monitor flock structure, particularly the relative numbers of breeding females and males, in
each breeding flock.
• Advise farmers on proper flock composition.

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8. References

Farm-Africa. 1996. Goat types of Ethiopia and Eritrea. Physical discription and
management systems. Published jointly by FARM-Africa, London, UK, and ILRI (International
Livestock Research Institute), Nairobi, Kenya. 76pp.

Tesfaye Alemu Tucho. 2004. Genetic characterization of indigenous Goat populations of

Ethiopia using microsatellite DNA markers. PhD thesis, NDRI, India.