The Oberhasli is a breed of
dairy goat from the eponymous district of the Canton of Berne
(Switzerland). The name loosely translates as 'highlander'. Oberhasli
are a standardized color breed, with warm reddish brown accented with a
black dorsal stripe, legs, belly, and face. Occasionally a black
Oberhasli appears as a result of recessive genes. The American Dairy
Goat Association (ADGA) considers black does acceptable and will allow
them to be registered, but black bucks cannot be registered. The breed
is about two inches smaller in size than the other standard sized
(non-miniature) breeds. Temperament tends to be quiet and sweet natured
but alert, with vocalizing similar to the other Swiss-origin breeds.
Does can be pushy with other does around feeding time, and in mixed
breed herds will likely become herd queen.
This breed is still relatively rare in the United States, first
appearing as importations in 1906 & 1920. However these animals
were lost in the general goat population and the breed descends almost
exclusively from 4 does and a buck imported by Dr Pence in 1936, and
was not yet accepted as a breed by the ADGA until 1979. Because of its
rarity and close similarity in type to the multicolored French Alpine
goat, the Oberhasli registrations were lumped with the American
Alpines. A small number of them were kept pure with records intact. The
breed was kept alive in America almost single-handedly by Esther Oman,
a breeder in California.
The Oberhasli breed is growing in popularity at goat shows
(competitions based on selection of animals on the basis of body
conformation) as their docile nature is appreciated, along with the
fine color, described as being 'like the wood on the back of a violin'.
Contestants in showmanship classes are discovering that the color is
easier to keep clean than pure white animals.
The Oberhasli breed is also
known for the sweet tasting milk it produces. It is a good choice for
the person who wants dairy goats for milk, from hardy thrifty animals,
who appreciates the vivid rust-red coloration, wants something slightly
out of the ordinary, and likes the Swiss type head (upright ears).