Probably one of the most striking looking of the breeds, a good specimen is so shiningly black and dazzlingly white; it is tall and elegant into the bargain.

It is important that the colouring is good—sandy white markings or less than jet black colouring is a fault.

The hair should be sleek, smooth and short, but there is sometimes a transitory period when the winter coat is changing and the black markings are rusty, with a longer coat that is giving way to the jet black spring coat.

Alpines are very good browsers and probably more content with part woodland and part pasture; if confined on a small acreage they tend to stand looking longingly over the fence.

A fault that some novices make when starting goatkeeping with this breed, lies in not supplying sufficient bulk. It can stunt the kid’s growth if, from quite an early age, they are not encouraged to eat all they will of good roughage, as they have a large frame to grow.

Alpines are proving there worth in commercial herds for their quality milk of high total solids that is required for today’s market—something dairy product manufacturers all over the world are seeking. In New Zealand, protein tests usually average over 3.0% and milkfat tests over 4.0%.

As a household milk supply, Alpines have the advantage that they milk through for two years without kidding, their milk being well known for its good flavour and high nutritional value.