GOATS IN THE SAHARA DESERT

Imuhar (Tuareg) nomads in the Ahnet (Algeria) mainly have short-haired goats while long-haired black goats are mainly found in the upland Ahaggar Mountains. The color of the goats varies between white, grey, brown, and black. They are often multicolored or spotted.

 Young billy goat

Ownership status

Goats are owned privately among Imuhar nomads. Every goat belongs to a specific person. They have names, which often refers to their fur color.
Babies already get goats as presents at their naming ceremony seven days after they were born. Hence, children can reproduce their livestock since childhood.
Children take on responsibility for their livestock. Women are responsible for the tent’s whole goat herd. Often, these are not only her husband’s and children’s goats but also goats of relatives from the villages. She does not own these goats but can use their milk to foster the goats.

Nutrition

The goats at the Sahara eat very selectively and therefore they have to pass long distances to pasture. When there was a lot of rain in summer or fall the goats have lush pasturage during winter season. Then the herds do not have to be watered every day. At midsummer the goat herds have to eat dried plants (hay). The nomads have to water the goats every day during summer season.

 Mature billy goat

USE

Milk
Goat milk mixed with water is one of the main beverages of the nomads. Nomads can make butter and cheese out of goat milk as well as sour milk.

Meat
Nomad men sell the goats at the village markets. The nomads slaughter a goat for guests but they do not eat meat every day.

Skin
The nomad women can make things like milk bags or tent covers out of goat skin.

Hair
In the past nomad women made reins or ropes out of goat hair. They never wove. Nowadays, women still make decorations for the camels out of goat hair.

Goat herding

All goat herds leave the nomad camp at the same time but not always in the same direction. Each woman decides on the direction by herself. Due to that, regular grazing of the surrounding pastures is ensured.

Goat breeding

Every wife has a small goat herd with one billy goat. The billy goat always escorts the herd of female goats and their yeanlings.