Very rare hairless goat born on Dutch farm

A farm in the Dutch city of Enschede had a unique surprise with the birth of a completely hairless goat. The naked baby goat is very rare and could be the first reported case in the Netherlands.

First naked goat birth in the Netherlands

Earlier this week, the Wissink goat farm in Enschede welcomed a very rare naked baby goat. Farm owner Marieke Haarman was quite shocked to find the newest addition when she walked into the stable.

"I've been working here for twenty years now, but I've never seen anything like this," Haarman told AD. The farm has around 800 dairy goats, so they know that a kid is usually born with a soft white coat.

The farm’s feed advisor, Jan, was also stumped. "He'd never seen it before either. We initially thought: maybe the hair is still to come? But no, there is nothing," said Haarman. The hairless goat was later named Jan, after the bald advisor.

Hairless goats are extremely rare

It is extremely rare for a goat to be born completely hairless. It is caused by a condition called congenital hypotrichosis, where hair follicles do not form, and is often found in cats such as the Sphynx.

There have only been a few reported cases of naked goats in Turkey and Canada, making it likely that kid Jan is the first in the Netherlands. "My daughter Sanne immediately said: it's just like Dobby, that house elf from Harry Potter. He's such a naked creature too," said Haarman.

Not only does the baby goat’s skin look unique, but it unsurprisingly feels different too. "It feels just like rubber. Normally, you think of an animal as soft or rough, but this is very unusual. Like warm rubber when you pet it."

Male goats do not produce milk and therefore do not bring money in for a dairy goat farm. For this reason, they’re usually collected for slaughter after a few weeks. Luckily for goat Jan, his unique appearance could save him. "I already told my daughter: we can't get rid of this goat. I can't bring myself to do it," says Haarman.