Icelandic goat
The Icelandic goat (Icelandic: íslenska geitin [ˈistlɛnska ˈceiːtɪn]), also known as the 'settlement goat' (Capra hircus), is an ancient breed of domestic goat 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. The population has dropped below 100 animals several times, leading to genetic bottleneck. 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 (36 US dollars) per goat, for a maximum of 20 goats, down from ISK 6,500 (56 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, hoping to prevent extinction.
| Life Span | 12-14 years |
| Weight | 25-75 kg |
What to Know Before Buying an Icelandic goat
Finding a responsible Icelandic goat breeder requires more than browsing classified ads or responding to social media posts. The USDA requires any breeder who sells goats commercially — especially those selling online or through third-party dealers — to hold a federal license and submit to regular inspections. A legitimate breeder should be willing to provide their USDA license number, invite you to visit their facility, and show you where the animals are housed and socialized.
Before committing to a purchase, ask the breeder for veterinary health records, vaccination documentation, and any genetic testing results relevant to the Icelandic goat. Reputable breeders will also ask you questions in return — about your living situation, experience with animals, and ability to provide long-term care. A breeder who asks no questions and is eager to ship an animal immediately is a significant red flag.
Use the search tool below to check whether any USDA-licensed facilities breeding Icelandic goats appear in our database. If they do, review their inspection history carefully. Look for patterns of violations, pay attention to severity levels, and compare their compliance grade with other breeders in the same state. This due diligence takes minutes and can save you from supporting a facility with documented animal welfare problems.
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Search our database of USDA-licensed facilities to find inspected breeders and check their compliance history.
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