Each of these patterns can vary from minimally to extensively spotted, and this can be a source of confusion. The confusion is especially possible at the extremes of the patterns: those goats with very little white or very extensive white.

Belted goats vary from those with a small spot on the side (usually low on the side), to those with full belts, to goats that are nearly white with dark heads and dark legs.

Belted, minimal extent

Belted, medium extent

Belted, large extent

The spotted type is more random than the belted, and is sometimes difficult to distinguish from belting. Spotted goats usually have white on the legs and head, and patches of white and color on the body. The typical spots of this pattern are smooth edged and round. Minimally spotted and minimally belted animals can be very similar, although usually “spotted” involves the head and feet.

Spotted, minimal extent

Spotted, medium extent

Spotted, large extent

The barbari pattern is an odd one, but does occur occasionally in the USA in several breeds. This pattern is obvious when extensive, since it provides for symmetrical white areas on the sides, neck, and head, all of which retain small flecks of color. The legs and topline seem to be the last to go white, and so extensively dalmatian goats have dark legs, tops, and speckled sides, necks, and heads. These have small spots from birth, in contrast to ticking discussed below.

Barbari (dalmatian spotting)

Barbari (in peacock pattern) photo courtesy of Phil Sponenberg

Barbari photo courtesy of Phil Sponenberg

Flowery is very distinctive consists of small white flecks. In minimally marked animals these are usually on the barrel. Extensively marked animals are nearly roan and very pale, though nearly always with dark legs and top of head. An entire breed of goat, the Florida Sevillana (flowery goats from Seville) is this pattern, which can be very eye-catching. It is present as a rarity in several breeds in the USA.

Flowery

Flowery photo courtesy of Phil Sponenberg

Flowery photo courtesy of Judy Balmer

Flowery photo courtesy of Phil Sponenberg

Roan is a relatively even mixture of white hairs into any base coat. The white and colored hairs can make up varying percentages, and so the overall effect on the color varies. Roan can modify any base color, and is most striking on darker background colors. The roaning usually spares the legs and head, which can lead to very dramatic patterns.

Roan

Roan patch on white goat photo by Sharon Reeves

Roan photo courtesy of John-Derek Gray

Roan with large white area photo courtesy of Derilyn Nelson

photo courtesy of Derilyn Nelson

The algarve pattern is typical of a Portuguese breed of that name. These goats have dark ears and eyepatches, and then varying extents of variably-sized, ragged spots of white and color on the remaining body.

Algarve

Algarve pattern photo courtesy of Claudia Pelzer

Algarve pattern photo courtesy of Claudia Pelzer

The goulet pattern first was documented in the Tennessee Fainting Goats of Judy Goulet. The pattern consistently has white ears, usually colored eyepatches, and usually a white lower face. The tail is white. The body pattern varies from nearly white to nearly black, but always consists of a somewhat ragged interplay of white and colored areas.

Goulet pattern photo courtesy of Phil Sponenberg	Goulet pattern (lacking the eye patches) photo courtesy of Christine Stohlman	Goulet pattern photo courtesy of Phil Sponenberg
Goulet pattern photo courtesy of Cindy Bene	Goulet pattern photo courtesy of Cindy Bene	Goulet pattern photo courtesy of Cindy Bene

The nigerian pattern is common in Nigerian Dwarf goats in the USA. These generally have colored legs and color on the head. The body is nearly all white, but has fairly round roan spots scattered over it. In addition, it is common to have a few larger, round non-roan spots on the body and especially over the croup. Goats with one dose of the gene are usually dramatically and beautifully marked. With two doses they tend to have white bodies without the roan spots.

Nigerian

Nigerian pattern

Nigerian pattern

Frosted is common in Nubians, Pygmies, and a host of other breeds. This only affects the ears and nose, and results in these being roan or almost white. It is clearly a dominant trait, and is so routine in Pygmies and Nubians that it is reasonably rare to find a non-frosted goat in those breeds.

Frosted

Frosted (and ticked... see below) photo courtesy of Melanie Pitts

Frosted photo by Sharon Reeves

Finally, some goats with white spotting develop small spots of color in the white areas. This occurs with age, usually around a year or so. This spotting is called ticking, and varies from lots to a little. When “ticks” are numerous, they merge and the effect can nearly be roan. This pattern is a sort of reverse of the “flowery” pattern, and could be confused with the barbari pattern. The key is whether the spots were present at birth or not. On extensively spotted goats the tick marks can be relatively large (up to a few inches), and very round. Ticking is probably dominant.

Ticked (into belted pattern)

Ticked photo courtesy of Pat Cotten

Ticked photo courtesy of Mary Ferrell