Our Goats

A search for sustainable goats

Since coming to this farm in 2007, breeding has played a key role in our operation.
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Our goal is to breed healthy, efficient, persistent, and trouble-free goats. We select for animals capable of producing a lifetime total of at least 10,000 kg of milk without complications.

On this page, you’ll find everything about our breeding approach and what we’ve achieved so far.

A goat in the herd, looking directly at the viewer.

Our herd in numbers

Icon of a goat
+/-

1700

Dairy goats
+/-

1000

Young stock
kid goats and bucks
+/-

1495

kg
Milk/year
+/-

111

kg
Fat & protein/year
Icon of an udder.

219

Goats > 10.000kg lifetime milk
+/- 30 in a single lactation
+/- 40 in two lactations

19

Goats > 1000kg lifetime
fat & protein
Icon of a medal.
Icon of a goat
+/-

1700

Dairy goats
+/-

1000

Young stock
kid goats and bucks
+/-

1495

kg
Milk/year
+/-

111

kg
Fat & protein/year
Icon of an udder.

219

Goats > 10.000kg lifetime milk
+/- 30 in a single lactation
+/- 40 in two lactations

19

Goats > 1000kg lifetime
fat & protein
Icon of a medal.

Goats producing over 2,000 kg milk/year

120
100
80
60
40
20
0

2007

2010

2013

2016

2019

2022

2025

When a large part of the herd consistently produces more than 2,000 kg of milk per year, it shows that the genetic foundation of the herd is strong and reliable.It means performance is not limited to a few exceptional animals, but is widespread across family lines.

This highlights the power of our breeding strategy: goats that don’t just produce well, but do so year after year.

Two goats standing on top of a dike facing each other.
Two farmers, a man and a woman posing with a buck.
GB Jeen & GB Immo (from left to right)

The foundation of a strong herd

For us, breeding isn’t a side project, it’s a foundation.

By selecting for milk production, efficiency, health, and longevity, we’re continually improving the genetic quality of our goats. Since 2007, we’ve carefully tracked lineage and production data, combining traditional breeding values like milk yield with modern traits such as somatic cell count and urea levels. This helps us build a clearer picture of heritable qualities.

In this way, we work generation after generation toward goats that are healthy, highly productive, and persistent.

Common sense, data and a bit of luck

Breeding is a mix of common sense, data and a bit of luck. We follow family lines that continue to prove themselves. Lines like GB Jacoba, GB Maaike, GB Elske, GB Yvette and GB Loltje have been part of our farm for many years and form the foundation of our breeding program.

Within these lines, we select goats that combine high production with health, vitality, efficiency and persistence. This is how we work every day to breed goats that make an economic difference on our own farm, and also for other goat farmers.

A goat of the GB Jacoba family line standing in the barn and looking backwards at the camera.
GB Jacoba 152

GB Jacoba Familie

There is one family on our farm that continues to stand out. The favourite family on our goat farm: the GB Jacobas.
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Take GB Jacoba 35. Her lineage already showed great promise, and with a lifetime yield of over 14,000 kg of milk she has more than fulfilled that potential. She is the fourth generation in her line to exceed 10,000 kg.

She held the number one position in the Dutch breeding value rankings from Elda for two and a half years, longer than any other goat. Today, her daughter GB Jacoba 123 is following in her footsteps. Together they form the very first mother-daughter pair to both reach the number one position.

Even now, at eight years old, GB Jacoba 35 remains in the top 10, as the oldest goat on the list.

Three members of the highly productive goat family-line, GB Jacoba, standing together on the dike.
Daughters: GB Jacoba 123 and GB Jacoba 148 with their mother GB Jacoba 35 (from left to right)

GB Jacoba 123

(2022)
(GB Eliah x GB Popke)
2628 kg
7.9 kg
Total production
Daily production

GB Jacoba 148

(2023)
(Grasshill New Dawn × GB Popke)
2582 kg
7.6 kg
Total production
Daily production

GB Jacoba 35

(2017)
(GB Eliah x GB Popke)
14.308 kg
6.3 kg
Total production
Daily production
Someone pulling out semen from a liquid nitrogen tank, before to do an insemination.

GB Genetics

We’re happy to share our knowledge and genetics with other farmers. We do this under the name GB Genetica. GB stands for “geitenbreche”, after the little bridge near our farm.

We trade in genetics and regularly have breeding stock, bucklings and doelings for sale. Together, we work toward a stronger, healthier dairy goat sector.

Interested or have questions? Feel free to contact us or our trading partner The Goat Improvement Company.

In 42 countries over the world

World map showcasing where genetics and animals of the farm have been traded to.
Genetica
Animals & Genetics