Black Solid Goats in the Red/Black/Brown Pool of Colored Angoras

Black goats in the R/B/B pool:

Black goats can range from true black, to gray to light silver. Solid colored goats are also referred to as "no pattern." Solid black goats can range from true black, to gray to light silver. Usually they are born with a black birth coat and then often fade to a lighter color as their mohair grows in. Goats that keep true black in their mohair as adults are less common. 

Solid black/gray goats are present in both the black/pattern pool and the red/black/brown pool, but each pool gets it's color differently. In the red/black/brown pool, the color is from genes on the Extension locus; black is the most dominant gene on the Extension. If there is a black gene here, black will be expressed. The other genes are red which requires 2 red genes for red to be expressed, and wild which does not express a color, but allows the color on agouti locus to be expressed. in the black/pattern pool it is on the agouti locus. It is impossible to tell what pool they belong to simply by looking at a solid black/gray goat. Looking through the pedigree to see what colors and patterns are present is the easiest way to make an educated guess as to which pool they get their color from. Another way is to breed the animal to a goat from either pool and see what color is produced in the kids.

Breeding black goats with genetics from the red/black/brown pool genetics to any of the colors in the red/black/brown pool should produce color which can be any shade of red, black or brown. Often one twin will be red and the other black. Breeding the same goat to a black/pattern pool goat will likely produce white kids.

A gray doe in the R/B/B pool

Red Angora Goats in the Red/Black/Brown Pool

Red Angora Goats:

Red Angora Goats are common in the Red/Black/Brown pool of genetics. They can range from faded red, where they are born light red and fade to white as their mohair grows in, to deep, dark reds. They tend to fade some from their birth color, this tendency can vary. The color can be different shades of red on the animal. These goats can have any of the white spotting patterns over their primary red color. Occasionally a red goat may have black spots.

The Red/Black/Brown pool is also known as the "dominant" pool because the genes in this pool can mask the expression of color that would otherwise happen because of genes in the black/pattern pool. The genes for this color are located on the Extension locus.

Breeding a goat to another goat with genetics from the red/brown/black pool should produce any of the three colors. Be sure to know the pedigree of a black goat to make sure they have r/b/b pool genetics.

Tan Solid in the Black/Pattern Pool - Agouti

Tan Solid:

There are agouti genes that will produce tan solids, solids are also called "no pattern." Colors range from cream to tan to light reds. This is considered a more dominant color in the black/pattern pool genetically in articles by Phil Sponenberg.

These goats usually fade to a white or "not quite white." This provides an additional means for producing a white goat. Because it is genetically more dominant than the patterns, it is one of the reasons many cross pool kids are white.

It is important to know specifics of the pedigree on these animals before making breeding decisions to make sure they are in the black/pattern pool. The majority of brown and red angora goats, especially those that retain their color, get their color from the Red/Black/Brown pool Extension locus.

I bred a my badger doe to my gray and white pinto buck and got this tan and white pinto buckling pictured below. His twin is a badger doeling. 

Solid Black in the Black/Pattern Pool

Solid Black:

Solid goats are also referred to as "no pattern." Solid black goats can range from true black, to gray to light silver. Usually they are born with a black birth coat and then often fade to a lighter color as their mohair grows in. 

Solid black/gray goats are present in both the black/pattern pool and the red/black/brown pool, but each pool gets it's color differently. In the black/pattern pool, the color is from genes on the Agouti locus. It is impossible to tell what pool they belong to simply by looking at a solid black/gray goat. Looking through the pedigree to see what colors and patterns are present is the easiest way to make an educated guess as to which pool they get their color from. Another way is to breed the animal to a goat from either pool and see what color is produced in the kids. 

In the black/pattern pool, the solid black/gray (no pattern) is considered to be genetically more recessive to the other patterns on the Agouti locus. However, they are relatively common in the current colored angora black/pattern pool population. 

Reverse Badger Angora Goat - Black/Pattern Pool

Reverse Badger:

Also known as Light Belly. These goats fall in the black/pattern pool genetically and have color genes on the Agouti locus that are expressed as this pattern.

This is my daughters favorite pattern. Their fleeces are a nice way to get 2 colors in one fleece. Typically a shade of gray with a smaller amount of white or cream. I have seen pictures of a few goats that have red in place of the black/gray color.

The main body, including the neck is black or gray. There are white or tan stripes on the face, usually a single bar on each side extending from the poll to the lip, running forward of the eyes. They have a white or tan belly which often extends up toward the tail, and white or tan stripes on legs. Sometimes there is white or tan hair at the jawline.

This Reverse Badger doe also has the white spotting pattern of frosting on her ears and on the top of her nose.

This pattern is called Sundgau in alpine goats.

Badger Pattern

Badger:

Also called Badger face and Dark belly

This is my favorite of the patterns. I love the combination of light tan and gray. I got my first badger last fall. She had a badger doe kid this year, so now I have two! I like to use the fleece in it's natural color to make a cream and white lock spun yarn.

The main body is a tan or cream color. There is a gray or black dorsal stripe on the top line. The belly is gray or black and this may extend up on part of the chest and up toward the tail. Sometimes there is a gray or black martingale around the lower neck. The lower legs are tan/cream with black stripes. The ears are usually tan with gray edges. Their faces are tan with dark nose and mouth and dark stripes extending from the nose to the poll, usually passing above the eye.

Badgers seem to be most likely to have the solid tan or light red color pattern in their kids. I bred my badger doe to a grey and white pinto buck last fall. This spring she had twins, her badger doeling and a tan and white pinto buckling.

In dairy goats, especially French Alpines, this pattern is called chamoisee. The caramel pattern in pygmies is similar, though in pygmies the dark belly is variable.

Black and Pattern Pool - Agouti Locus - in Colored Angora Goats

The Black/Pattern pool of colored angora goats expresses color from genes located on the Agouti locus. The goat needs to get color genes for the Agouti locus from both parents to have color black or pattern pool expression, if they have it from only one parent, they will probably be a white color carrier and may produce color in kids if bred to the right animal. For Agouti colors to be expressed, there also needs to be no expression of both the white angora genes and of the genes on the Extension locus, those genes are more dominant and can mask Agouti genes. A goat that is red, black or brown from the R/B/B pool can be hiding the color genes on the Agouti allele (a goat like this may be able to produce color in both pools.)

Within the black/pattern pool, there is some dominance of some patterns over other patterns. Articles on goat genetics written by Phil Sponenberg delve deeper into genetics and list more patterns and their order of dominance.

Rarely, additional genes can change the base colors of the patterns and you may see variations in color such as reds or browns in place of the black or gray.

Most of these patterns have facial stripes. Also, any goat can have white spotting in addition to these base colors and patterns (white spotting is controlled by a different set of genes).

I think that these patterns may have been strengthened in angoras by breeding out to dairy goats for color. For each of the most common colored angora patterns, there is a corresponding pattern in alpines.

Tan Solid: There are agouti genes that will produce tan solids, also called "no pattern." Colors range from white to cream to tan to light reds. This is considered a more dominant pattern genetically, and is one reason why cross pool kids tend to be white. It is important to know the pedigree on these animals, because the majority of brown and red angora goats get their color from the Red/Black/Brown pool Extension locus.

 Reverse Badger: Also called Light Belly. Main body color is black or gray. White, cream or tan stripes on face, underbelly and stripes on lower legs. This pattern is fairly common in angora goats. In Alpines, it is called Sundgau.

Badger: Also called Dark Belly. Main body color is cream, tan or brown. Gray or black stripes on face, dorsal stripe, underbelly and stripes on lower legs. This pattern is also fairly common. Called Chamiosee in alpines and a close pattern in pygmies is called caramel.

Peacock: These goats are similar in color to badgers, but have a light front and a darker rear. Tan, white or cream neck and fore-body. Black or gray stripes on face, black or gray loin and rump area, belly and lower legs. Often have a tan area on upper thigh. This pattern is a little less common in angoras. Called Cou Clair (cream or tan) and Cou Blanc (white) in alpines.

Mantled: Black or gray head, neck, fore-body and often front legs. Tan or cream or white stripes on face; tan, cream or white rear body and on lower legs. This pattern is less common in angoras. Called Cou Noir in alpines.

Black Solid: Entire goat is black and/or gray. Also referred to as no pattern. Because solid black goats appear in both pools, it is important to know the pedigree on black/gray goats to see if they have black/pattern pool in their genetics before making breeding decisions. This is a common color in angora goats.

There many other possible patterns. A few of the less dominant patterns have started to show up in some herds in the last few years, but are still relatively rare.

Mahogany: Main body color is a blend/mix of black/gray and tan hair. Black on face and legs. Tan on thighs and minor striping on face.

Tan and Black: Main body color is black or gray. Tan on belly, stripes on face. Legs have split stockings of black and tan.

Breeding Season

Breeding Season is complete here at the farm. I decided to only breed 5 of our does this year due to the economy. I only want to have as many kids as I can handle if I am unable to find buyers. So, while breeding is finished, the rest of the does (and the bucks for that matter) don't know that so we will probably have another month of does going into heat.

For breeding, I have a temporary pen set up using electric netting for the fence and a small shelter. When a doe goes into heat, we move her and the buck of choice to the breeding pen where they will stay for a day or so. Then they are moved back to their regular areas.

I also have to put up a line of electric netting between the buck and the doe pastures. Through out most of the year, there is one fence between the 2 pastures and that is sufficient. When breeding starts, I put up the netting as a temporary second fence about 12 ft in from the permanent fence-line. This completely eliminates the destructive rubbing on the fence and breaking of the fence with horns that goes on with a single fence. It also eliminates the chance of a "through the fence" breeding as well.

I bred my 2 AAGBA white does, Moonshine and Maisie, to our wonderful AAGBA buck from Fred Speck in Texas. These are the same breedings as last fall, I am very happy with all of the kids from these breedings this spring.

Sinead is bred to Hill4115, this is another repeat breeding. Sinead's doeling, Bronwyn from this spring is outstanding. She has wonderful coverage, a nice brownish red fleece, pretty, tight curls and great luster. I'm hoping for something similar next spring.

Nessie is also bred to Hill4115. This is her first breeding. I am hoping for great things from her kids. She has a very consistent fleece with great tight curls, a pretty gray color. I love her frosted nose and ears too.

Blackie is bred to my new buck, Kai Ranch Irving (pictured at the top). Blackie has a dense, soft, medium curled fleece. She is my heaviest shearing colored goat. She is from the black/patterned (recessive) line. Irving is mixed, his sire is red from the red/black/brown line and his dam is a reverse badger from the black/patterned line. I'm hoping for some wonderful color from this breeding next spring.

Roni, Mairead, Keely, and Bo-Peep will all get this this year off and will be teasing the bucks for the next month or so as they go through their heat cycles. When the days start to get longer again, that triggers the end of breeding season for angora goats.