Galla Goat
Capra aegagrus hircus
An indigenous, white-coated dual-purpose breed traditionally kept by pastoral communities of northern Kenya and southern Somalia, also known as the Borana or Somali goat. It is a large-framed breed with does weighing 45-55 kg and bucks up to 70 kg.
Species
Caprine
Family
Bovidae
Climate requirements
Adapted to hot, low-altitude arid and semi-arid (ASAL) acacia bush country and highly drought tolerant with fast post-drought recovery, but performs poorly in cold, wet highland conditions.
Husbandry guide
Kept under extensive pastoral or semi-extensive browsing systems, using natural bushland and acacia browse rather than cultivated fodder, with simple raised night bomas for predator and disease protection. Does yield roughly 0.5-1 litre of milk per day under pastoral conditions without supplementary feed, rising with better feeding. The breed is notably disease- and tick-resistant and docile, making it easier to herd and handle than the Small East African Goat. Kidding is typically once a year with single or twin kids, and animals commonly live up to 10 years, supporting steady flock replacement.
Economic importance
Highly valued in Kenya's ASAL counties for both meat and milk, the Galla goat underpins pastoralist livelihoods and is increasingly promoted as a resilient income source amid recurrent drought.