The Icelandic goat ( is, íslenska geitin ), also known as the 'settlement goat', is an ancient breed of
domestic goat
The goat or domestic goat (''Capra hircus'') is a domesticated species of goat-antelope typically kept as livestock. It was domesticated from the wild goat (''C. aegagrus'') of Southwest Asia and Eastern Europe. The goat is a member of the a ...
believed to be of Norwegian origin and dating back to the settlement of Iceland over 1100 years ago. This breed of goat was on the verge of extinction during the late 19th century, but recovered prior to World War II, only to precipitously decline again. As of 2003, there were 348 goats in 48 flocks distributed throughout most parts of Iceland.
At the end of 2012, the herd had increased to 849.
Since this breed has been isolated for centuries, the Icelandic populations are highly inbred. The Icelandic goat is very rare outside its native land. Under its coarse, long guard hair, the Icelandic goat has a coat of high quality
cashmere fiber. Icelandic goats are kept mainly as pets and their economic potential for meat, milk, cashmere and skin production remains to be explored. The Icelandic goat is currently of little economic value.
The Icelandic goat is the only farm animal sponsored by the Icelandic government for the purpose of ensuring its survival. In 2014, the annual grant was ISK 4,200 ( US dollars) per goat,
for a maximum of 20 goats, down from ISK 6,500 ( US dollars) per goat in 2010, contingent upon the owner submitting a report on each animal. Farmer
Jóhanna Bergmann Þorvaldsdóttir has been breeding the Icelandic goat to save it from extinction.
See also
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Norwegian Elkhound
The Norwegian Elkhound is one of the Northern Spitz-type breeds of dog and is the National Dog of Norway. The Elkhound has served as a hunter, guardian, herder, and defender. It is known for its courage in tracking and hunting elk and othe ...
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Norwegian Lundehund
The Norwegian Lundehund (Norwegian: ''Norsk lundehund'') is a small dog breed of the Spitz type that originates from Norway. Its name is a compound noun composed of the elements ''lunde'', meaning puffin (Norwegian ''lunde'', "puffin", or ''lunde ...
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Norwegian Forest Cat
The Norwegian Forest cat ( no, Norsk skogskatt and ) is a breed of domestic cat originating in Northern Europe. This natural breed is adapted to a very cold climate, with a top coat of long, glossy, water-shedding hair and a woolly undercoat f ...
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Norwegian sheep landrace
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Norwegian chicken landrace
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Icelandic cattle
Icelandic cattle ( is, íslenskur nautgripur ) are a breed of cattle native to Iceland. Cattle were first brought to the island during the Settlement of Iceland a thousand years ago. Icelandic cows are an especially colorful breed with a wide v ...
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Icelandic Chicken
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Icelandic Horse
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Icelandic sheep
The Icelandic is the Icelandic breed of domestic sheep. It belongs to the Northern European Short-tailed group of sheep, and is larger than most breeds in that group. It is thought that it was introduced to Iceland by Vikings in the late nint ...
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Icelandic Sheepdog
The Icelandic Sheepdog, is, Íslenskur Fjárhundur, is an Icelandic breed of dog of Nordic Spitz type. It derives from dogs brought to Iceland by Viking settlers in the ninth century; it is both similar and closely related to the Buhund of N ...
References
External links
The Icelandic Goat Breed, Icelandic Sheep Breeders of North America Icelandic goats, Erfðanefnd landbúnaðarins
{{Icelandic breeds
Goat breeds
Goat breeds originating in Iceland