Girgentana Goat

Looks how to spot one

hair

The Girgentana has a medium-length, coarse white coat with brown or fawn speckling on the head and throat. Both sexes sport a long beard and a pair of tall, corkscrew-twisted horns that rise almost vertically from the forehead, sometimes reaching 70 cm in males.724

Personality what they are like

Girgentana goats are lively, intelligent and companionable, and generally quite docile. They are active and curious, but males can become aggressive during the breeding season when competing for dominance.46

Daily activity how busy a day looks

These goats need plenty of space to roam and browse. They are excellent foragers on rough terrain but their long spiral horns can get tangled in bushes or fencing, so open pasture with sturdy, horn-safe fencing is ideal.46

Grooming and care the hands-on bits

Routine hoof trimming and parasite control are needed. Their coarse coat requires little grooming, but regular checks for horn injuries or entanglement are important. A well-built shelter protects them from rain and cold, as goats are prone to pneumonia if they get wet and chilled.6

Home where they are happiest

A secure pen with fencing at least 4 feet high, preferably electric, to deter predators and prevent escapes. The shelter must be dry and draught-free. They tolerate high heat and dry conditions well, but need shade and fresh water at all times.6

Food basics what goes in the bowl

Girgentana goats are browsers that thrive on pasture, hay and forage. Supplement with commercial goat feed or grains, but avoid overfeeding grain to prevent bloat. Clean water must always be available.6

Company who they like around

Goats are highly social animals and should never be kept alone. Girgentanas are companionable and can live with other goats or even cattle. They are not known to be venomous, protected or illegal to keep in most countries, but as an endangered breed they are rare outside Italy and may be difficult to obtain.46

The story where it all began

The Girgentana goat is an ancient breed from the Agrigento province of Sicily, named after the old Sicilian name for the city, Girgenti. Its striking spiral horns resemble those of the markhor, leading experts to believe it may have been brought to the island by Greek colonists or Arab invaders. Traditionally, farmers kept these goats in town houses and sold milk door to door, often using it for infants and the elderly. In the 1950s there were over 30,000 Girgentana goats, but modern hygiene laws and the rise of pasteurised milk caused a steep decline. By the early 2000s fewer than 500 remained, making it one of the rarest goat breeds in Europe. Conservation efforts, including a Slow Food Presidium, are now helping to revive the breed.318

Recognised by the official bits

Slow Food Foundation for Biodiversity

Listed as a Slow Food Presidium to protect the endangered breed and promote its raw-milk cheeses.3

FAO

Classified as endangered in 2007.1