Mountain Goats

Mountain goats are not true goats—but they are close relatives. They are more properly known as goat-antelopes.

These surefooted beasts inhabit many of North America's most spectacular alpine environments. They often appear at precipitous heights, from Alaska to the U.S. Rocky Mountains, showcasing climbing abilities that leave other animals, including most humans, far below. Mountain goats have cloven hooves with two toes that spread wide to improve balance. Rough pads on the bottom of each toe provide the grip of a natural climbing shoe. Mountain goats are powerful but nimble and can jump nearly 12 feet (3.5 meters) in a single bound.

Mountain goats have distinctive beards and long, warm coats to protect them from cold temperatures and biting mountain winds. Their dazzling white coats provide good camouflage on the snowy heights. During the more moderate summer season goats shed this coat.

Female goats (called nannies) spend much of the year in herds with their young (called kids). These groups may include as many as 20 animals. Males (known as billies) usually live alone or with one or two other male goats. Both sexes boast beautiful pointed horns, and in mating season billies will sometimes use them to battle rivals for prospective mates.

In the spring, a nanny goat gives birth to one kid (sometimes two), which must be on its feet within minutes of arrival into its sparse mountain world. Mountain goats eat plants, grasses, mosses, and other alpine vegetation.

Breeds of Dairy Cows in Australia

There are many breeds of cows in Australia but the main dairy cattle breeds are Holstein Friesian, Jersey and Aussie Red, all of which have different shapes and colours.

         

Holstein cows

Holstein cows originally came from the Netherlands, but many breeding animals now come from North America. These cows are mainly black and white.

Holstein cows are the most popular in the world.

Of Australia’s 1.7 million dairy cows there are 1.4 million Holstein cows.

Holsteins can be found in every Australian state, Victoria has the most.

Holstein cows produce large quantities of milk; some cows produce 10,000 litres in a year; that’s equal to 5000 x 2 litre milk cartons every year or 14 x 2 litre cartons every day.

Holsteins are one of the biggest dairy animals; cows can stand over 150cm tall and weigh over 600kgs while bulls stand over 180cms tall and weigh over 1000kg (about the same as a small car). 

                                                             

Jersey Cows

Jersey Cows originally came from the island of Jersey (in the English Channel between England and France). They were bought to Australia in 1829.

These cows are fairly small, and fawn in colour, with black tips on their muzzles, ears, feet and tail. 

A Jersey cow’s milk is ideal for making butter because it is so creamy

Jerseys are the smallest of all dairy cows and can weigh up to 500kg.

Jersey’s are the second most common breed in Australia. 

Aussie Red cows

These cattle were bred in Australia by combining Scandinavian Red genetic lines with other Australian Red breeds such as the Illawarra and Ayrshire.

These cows are medium-sized and mainly red in colour, with white markings.

Aussie Reds are an extremely hardy breed. Their milk has a high protein content and medium milk fat content.