The Maltese goat is a breed of domestic goat from the eastern and central Mediterranean. The breed takes its name from the island of Malta and comes from Asia Minor.
Maltese goats are bred mainly in southern Italy, especially on the islands of Sicily and Sardinia. Although the Maltese: Mogħża Maltija is reported to the Domestic Animal Diversity Information System, the official opinion is that “there are no purebred specimens of Maltese goats in the Maltese Islands”. Although it is possible that some modern Maltese goats are close to the original type.
The breed is also present in Greece, Turkey and the Maghreb. In Italy, the Maltese goat is one of eight native Italian goat breeds. And the Maltese goat herdbook is kept by the Associazione Nazionale della Pastorizia, the Italian national association of sheep and goat breeders. The Stud Book was created in 1976.
The number of goats of this breed in Italy is gradually decreasing. The total number of Maltese goats was estimated to be around 70,000 in 1983 and around 40,000 in 2005. And the recorded number of these goats was 1934 at the end of 2013. Read more about this breed of goats below.
Characteristics of the Maltese goat
The Maltese goat is a beautiful medium-sized animal. The goat breed is generally long-haired, with black areas on the top and sides of the head and long, floppy black ears.
Their ears are turned outward at the tips. Maltese goats generally do not have horns. Their face is white with black sides, a black crown, and black ears. Their skin color is pinkish white and dark where the coat is black. Males are usually bearded.
The average male height is around 87cm and the average male height is 71cm. On average, a Maltese stag weighs around 70kg and a female around 46kg. Photo courtesy of PetMapz and information from Wikipedia.
Advantages
The Maltese goat is a breed of dairy goat primarily used for milk production. In Sicily, the milk from these goats is used to make ricotta and traditional Caprino cheeses.
Special Considerations
Maltese goats are valued for their milk production. On average, a Maltese can produce between 500 and 600 kg of milk per lactation. Their milk has a pleasant taste without too “goat” aftertaste.
Their milk contains an average of 4.28% fat and about 3.66% protein. There are no specific breeding seasons and pranks occur throughout the year. See the complete profile of this breed in the following table.
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| Breed name | Maltese |
| another name | everything |
| Purpose of the breed | Milk |
| Breed size | Small to medium |
| Dollar | About 70kg |
| doe | About 46kg |
| horns | Usually no horns |
| climatic tolerance | All climates |
| coat color | White |
| Suitable for Stall Fed | Not |
| scarcity | general |
| Country/place of origin | Asia Minor |
