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Bulk tank milk from 58 dairy goat and sheep flocks located in southern Spain was examined to determine the prevalence and distribution of Staphylococci . A total of 45 isolates were obtained and characterized to determine the species, antimicrobial resistance profile, and genetic similitude by pulse-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) using Sma I. Staphylococcus aureus isolates were confirmed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis of nuc , and resistance to methicillin was determined by PCR analysis of mec A. A total of 10 different staphylococcal species were identified, 22.2% and 77.8% of which were coagulase positive and negative, respectively. Twenty-two (48.89%) isolates were resistant to at least one antimicrobial agent. Higher antimicrobial resistance values were obtained against tetracycline (28.9%) and penicillin (22.2%). Two isolates ( S. aureus and Staphylococcus lentus ) were resistant to cefoxitin; however, none of the 45 isolates harbored mec A. Thirty pulsotypes were detected by PFGE. Interestingly, some isolates of S. aureus , S. lentus , Staphylococcus simulans , and Staphylococcus caprae showed high genetic similarity (>80%). These data suggest that genetically similar staphylococcal isolates circulate among goat and sheep dairy herds, and their different resistance patterns could be influenced by the management systems used.