Products
• Milk
• Cheese
• Soap
• Butter
• Yogurt
• Ice Cream
• Meat
• Goatskin
• Fiber
Goats are one of the earliest animals domesticated by humans, and are found nearly world-wide in a variety of environments. Centuries ago people began keeping goats for their meat, milk, skin for leather, dung for fuel, body parts for tools and building, and as pets.
Fast Facts
About Me
There are 130 domestic goat breeds in the world. Each breed varies in size, ranging from pygmy goats that weigh around 80 pounds to stocky meat goats like Boer goats, which weigh an average of 250 pounds. Horns are a dominant genetic trait in animals. Most goats, both male and female, grow horns that vary in size and shape depending on the breed. Some goats are polled, and may not grow horns at all. This came about after many generations of selective breeding designed to lessen the likelihood of having a goat with horns.
Goats live in a diverse range of temperatures and habitats. They are sure-footed and enjoy climbing. This allows them to live not only in grasslands, but also places with rough and uneven terrain. Unlike cattle and horses who graze, goats browse for food. They prefer to eat grass, shrubs, trees and broad-leaf plants. Some believe that goats will eat anything, but they are actually rather picky eaters. They are curious creatures, however, and like to sample and chew on things. People sometimes keep goats to help clear unwanted vegetation. Goats and sheep are often kept together in a herd, because they prefer different foods and therefore do not compete with each other.
Female goats are called does or nanny goats. Males are called bucks or billy goats. Baby goats are called kids. A nanny goat's pregnancy lasts about 5 months, after which she will generally give birth to one, two, or three kids at a time. Goats may have litters as large as 4-6, but this is not common. Birthing is usually uneventful, although the nanny may display a worried look and act restless. After the kids are born, they typically stand within the first hour or so to start to nurse. Within the first few days of life, kid goats can keep up with the mother, and will soon be running around playing goat games.
Snapshot
1. Goats can birth between 1-6 babies at once.
2. There are over 130 breeds of goats.
3. Cashmere and Mohair come from goats.
Goat herds are watched over by herdsman, often children or adolescents. Goats are generally hardy in nature. They can thrive on low quality feed, even including plants that may be toxic to other species.
The United States is the only country where cow’s milk is more popular than milk from other animals.
Name: Goat (Domestic)
Scientific: Capra aegagrus hicus
Family: Bovidae
Relatives: Wild Goat, Sheep
Environment: Non-Specific
Origin: World-Wide
Life-span: 15 years
Size: 80 - 250 lbs
World-Wide
Fiber
Goats used for their hair or fiber can be sheared once or twice a year. How many times a goat can be sheared depends on the climate where they are living, and the the goats' ability to regrow their coat. The average goat yields about 10 pounds of fiber each shearing. Their hair grows longer than that of goats used for other purposes, sometimes to more than 4 inches in length. Mohair comes from the Angora goat. Mohair is soft, luxurious, long and curly. One of the softest, most expensive, and preferred natural fibers is cashmere, which comes from the Cashmere goat. They do not produce at the same volume as other fiber goats, but their hair more valuable. A goat that is mainly used for fiber can also be used for other purposes, but are most commonly used solely for their fiber. Some breeds of goat are dual-purpose breeds. They may have long hair fiber, but also may be used for meat, dairy, or any combination of the three.
Meat
Goat meat is a dietary staple on nearly every continent, and is arguably the most consumed meat in the world. Goat meat is lean, low in saturated fat, high in unsaturated fat and has high levels of iron and potassium. It can be cooked at high temperatures without losing its moisture. In underdeveloped areas, goats are more suitable than cattle because they requires less food and have small space requirements. There are even organizations that help people by donating a goat to their family with the understanding that they will donate the offspring to someone else.
Goatskin
One of the earliest forms of paper was called parchment. Parchment is a stiff, flat, thin material made from the animal skins, most notability goatskin. Some of the most important and valuable documents were written on parchment. Goatskin has also been used throughout history to make drums, sounding boards, and to transport water and wines. Their skin is very pliable. When tanned it can hold liquids without leaking, but will not break like a ceramic or glass container would. More recently, goatskin is commonly used to make leather goods such as gloves, shoes, belts, and high-end furnishings.
Pack & Companion
Goats are friendly and willing companions who are smart and easily trained. For their size, they are strong animals. Many people use them to carry loads across rough terrain. Throughout history both noblemen and commoners have used goats to pull carts of goods or people. They enjoy interacting with their human companions, and can make loyal pets.