Messinese

The Messinese goat is a Sicilian dairy breed from the province of Messina in northeastern Sicily, especially the Nebrodi and Peloritani ranges. It is a local working goat of Mediterranean hill country, not a standardized color breed; coats may be black, brown, grayish, fawn, pied, or belted, and animals often have horns and a robust frame suited to rough grazing. The breed is kept for milk used in ricotta and regional cheeses, with kids also sold for meat.

On farms, Messinese goats are commonly managed semi-extensively, browsing woodland edges and scrub before returning to yards or shelters for milking and night protection. Their hill-country background helps them travel, but it does not replace good nutrition during late pregnancy or peak lactation. Hoof condition, udder attachment, and mothering ability are important selection points in rugged systems where weak animals fall behind quickly. Because the breed is tied to a specific region, serious buyers should confirm origin and avoid assuming every Sicilian goat with similar coloring is Messinese.

Colors: Belted, Black, Black and White, Brown, Brown and White, Buckskin, Chamoisee, Cou Blanc, Cou Clair, Cream, Fawn, Gold, Moonspotted, Pinto, Red, Red and White, Roan, Spotted, Sundgau, Swiss Marked, Tan, White