About Goats

Goats have been domesticated from the wild goats of Eastern Europe and Asia. Female goats are known as nannies, males are called bucks or billies and the offspring are referred to as kids. Goats have been kept throughout history because of their usefulness to humans.

History

Goats were some of the first animals to be domesticated. In India, goats were being domesticated around 9000 BC and around 8000 BC in Iran. These early farmers kept small herds of goats to use their dung for fuel, milk and meat for food, and hair, bone and skin for building materials. These herds were kept in grazing areas and tended by shepherds who were most often children and adolescents. The same herding methods used by these early peoples are still used around the world today.

Types

There are many types of goats that fall into several categories. Feral goats include the British feral goats and San Clemente Island goats. Fiber goats, or those that are bred for the fiber of their coats, include Angora, Cashmere, Nigora and Pygora. Companion goats include Australian miniature goats, Nigerian dwarf goats and pygmy. Dairy goats encompass many breeds including Alpine, Anglo-Nubian, Canarian, Golden Guernsey, Jamnapari, Kinder, La Mancha, Nigerian dwarf goats, Oberhasli, Rove, Saanen, Stiefelgeiss and Toggleburg. Goats prized for their meat include Boer, Fainting, Kalahari Red, Kiko, Pygmy, Rove, Savannah, Spanish and Stiefelgeiss. Goats used for their skin include the Black and Bengal breeds.

Geography

Domesticated goats are kept all across the globe, except in Antarctica. Feral goats are prominent in Australia, New Zealand, Great Britain and the Galapagos. Goats easily adapt to the wild when given the opportunity, which explains the large numbers of feral goats in these areas.

Identification

Goats have two horns of varying shapes and sizes, depending on the breed. Most male goats have horns, but some breeds have horned females as well. Goats also have horizontal pupils that are slit-shaped. This feature increases their depth perception. Male and female goats are both bearded, and some breeds have waddles hanging from the sides of the neck.

Size

The size of goats also depends on the breed. Some larger breeds such as the Nubian can reach 225 pounds. Smaller breeds such as the pygmy grow only to about 120 pounds. Goats that fall into the companion category are generally smaller and are frequently kept as pets. Goats used for their milk and meat such as Nubian and Boer are often considerably larger than the dwarf, pygmy and other breeds of companion goats.