Quality Versus Quantity in San Clemente Island Goats
When raising endangered heritage-breed livestock like San Clemente Island goats, there’s a temptation to breed every animal to gain as many young as possible. However, conservation breeding needs to be about more than just numbers. In fact, because the numbers are so low, a goat with bad genetics can have far-reaching consequences for the breed as a whole if those genes are passed on.
About San Clemente Island Goats
We began our conservation efforts with San Clemente Island (SCI) goats — one of the rarest goats in the world. This breed was once down to less than 300 animals, scattered throughout the United States and Canada. When I started breeding SCI goats, there were about 450 left in the world, making breeding for numbers vital. While the breed was saved with this method, with the current population around 2500 animals, there were consequences for future generations. Moving forward, careful breeding is imperative for the continued health of the breed.
Originally a feral breed found only on an island off the California coast, SCI goats have since been domesticated as a dual-purpose breed used for conservation, dairy, and meat purposes. Homesteaders love them for their adaptability to environments, ease of care, mothering abilities, and high food-to-production ratio.
However, SCI goats aren’t a “perfected” breed, and generations of inbreeding have led to conditions some farmers may find off-putting. Most SCI goats have supernumerary or “fish teats,” meaning extra teats or multiple openings in a single teat. Nursing or milking can be difficult since the extras may or may not produce milk. They also don’t have the standardized dairy goat stance or leg conformation, and milk production is below dairy breed standards. When used as a meat breed, the small size and slow growth of SCI goats mean lower production per animal and a longer time before butchering.
Balanced Breeding
Some breeders are currently working on breeding their herds to meet dairy standards more closely. Others are looking to breed larger goats for meat production. Both groups hope to make SCI goats more attractive to farmers and homesteaders as a production breed. However, without regular testing, careful bookkeeping, and culling, this could result in animals without the hardiness and mothering skills the breed is known for.
Other breeders are more concerned with keeping the original structure of the feral breed and aren’t interested in having them conform to the “normal” domestic goat standards. However, since many animals would’ve been naturally culled in the wild, goats still need to be bred for health and resilience. Cow-hocked legs (where the rear leg joints are closer together than normal) are more common in a feral breed than in a domestic breed. However, if the condition is too severe, the animal will have issues with movement, extra strain on the joints, less room for the udder, and lameness. In the wild, natural selection would remove the defective line.
Finding a balance between these priorities will vary, depending on the individual breeder. An unwillingness to remove animals from the gene pool can be detrimental to the breed. As breeders, animals that we’ve invested extra time and attention in are especially hard to cull. However, it’s important to remember that animals that require extra care are often the very ones that should be culled.
Choosing Good Breeders
It’s important to have goals planned out ahead of time. Having a vision for your herd ensures that the goats you’re buying or breeding fit that plan. Make your goals measurable in an objective way, and figure out what you’ll do with any goats that don’t fit your needs. Basing your plans entirely on cute babies will result in a glut of young goats that won’t help you reach your goals and is harmful to the breed overall.
Decide on dairy or meat and the standards for your does regarding their health, udders, legs, size, milk production, and mothering abilities. Buck genetics make up half of your herd, so pay attention to which bucks you choose. How are his teeth? Are his legs and feet solid? What does his form look like? Any illnesses in the past? What do his dam, his paternal granddam, and any sisters look like? What are their udder attachments and milk production like? Do they have the structures and qualities you want to see in your lines? These things will affect his offspring, and the udders in his lines will likely be passed to his daughters.
Learn What Makes a Good Goat
There are differences in San Clemente Island goat lines. Learn from current SCI owners what some of the differences are between these genetics. Don’t ignore a great-looking goat because you prefer a particular aesthetic. If your goal is to breed for improved dairy abilities, the udder is more important than whether the goat is a certain color or size. You can’t milk color. Remember that many dog breeds have been ruined by overemphasizing a “cute” aspect that damaged the health of the dogs.
Talk to people who know genetics when making your plans. We’ve done well, working with experts in other goat breeds or even specialists who deal with other types of livestock. Many of the body issues and genetic issues are the same. Speak with the San Clemente Island Goat Breeder Association or the breeder association for your endangered goat breed to learn about the current breed description.
Breed with care, and good luck!
SHERRI TALBOT is the co-owner and operator of Saffron and Honey Homestead in Windsor, Maine. She raises endangered livestock breeds and educates on heritage breeds, sustainable living, and the importance of eating locally.
Originally published in the June 15, 2025 digital issue of Goat Journal
