What They Look Like
Goats come in more than 300 breeds, so their appearance varies widely, but most share a few recognizable features. They have slender bodies, short tails that point upward, and cloven hooves that are split into two toes. Both male goats (called bucks or billies) and female goats (called does or nannies) can have horns, though some breeds are naturally hornless. Many goats sport a tuft of hair under their chin called a beard, and some breeds have long, floppy ears while others have short, upright ones. Depending on the breed, an adult goat can weigh anywhere from about 20 kilograms (44 pounds) for a small Nigerian Dwarf to over 110 kilograms (250 pounds) for a large Boer goat.
Those Rectangular Pupils
One of the most striking things about a goat is its eyes. Unlike the round pupils that humans and many other animals have, goats have horizontal, rectangular pupils. This unusual shape gives goats a field of vision that stretches nearly 340 degrees, meaning they can see almost everything around them without turning their heads. Wide peripheral vision is a huge advantage for a prey animal that needs to spot predators approaching from any direction. The rectangular pupil also helps goats control exactly how much light enters their eyes, which is useful when they spend their days on bright, sunlit hillsides. If you look closely, you will notice that a goat’s pupils always stay level with the horizon, even when the goat tilts its head down to eat.
History and Domestication
Goats were among the very first animals that humans domesticated, roughly 10,000 years ago in the Zagros Mountains of what is now western Iran. Their wild ancestor, the bezoar ibex (Capra aegagrus), still roams the mountains of western Asia today. Early humans likely began by following wild goat herds and gradually taming individual animals for their milk, meat, and skins. Because goats are small, hardy, and easy to manage compared to larger livestock like cattle, they quickly became a favorite of nomadic herders who moved from place to place. From the Middle East, domestic goats spread across Europe, Africa, and Asia, eventually reaching the Americas with European colonists in the 1500s.
Browsers and Climbers
Despite their reputation for eating anything in sight, goats are actually very picky eaters. They are browsers, not grazers, which means they prefer to nibble on shrubs, leaves, tree bark, and woody plants rather than cropping grass the way sheep and cows do. Goats use their flexible upper lips and nimble tongues to select exactly the leaves and plant parts they want, often ignoring food that has fallen on the ground. Their browsing habits make them excellent at clearing brush and invasive plants, and some cities even hire herds of goats to manage overgrown hillsides. Goats are also astonishingly good climbers, thanks to their strong legs and hooves with soft, grippy pads on the bottom. Wild mountain goats can scale nearly vertical cliff faces, and even domestic goats will happily climb trees, rock piles, and anything else they can find.
Dairy and Fiber Goats
People around the world raise goats for many different products, and two of the most important are milk and fiber. Dairy breeds like the Saanen, Alpine, and Nubian produce rich milk that is easier for some people to digest than cow’s milk. Goat milk is used to make a wide variety of cheeses, including tangy French chevre, crumbly feta, and many others enjoyed around the globe. Fiber goats, on the other hand, are raised for their luxurious coats. The Angora goat produces mohair, a silky, durable fiber used in sweaters and scarves, while the Cashmere goat grows a fine, incredibly soft undercoat that is combed out each spring and woven into some of the world’s most prized fabrics. A single Cashmere goat produces only about 150 grams (roughly a third of a pound) of usable fiber per year, which is why cashmere clothing is so expensive.
Goat Kids
A baby goat is called a kid, and watching one discover the world is one of the most entertaining sights on a farm. Does usually give birth to one or two kids at a time, though triplets are not uncommon. Newborn kids are remarkably developed: they can stand up and take their first wobbly steps within minutes of being born. Within hours, kids are already hopping, leaping, and playing with each other in bursts of energy that farmers call “popcorning” because the kids seem to bounce in every direction at once. Mother goats recognize their kids by scent and voice almost immediately after birth, and the bond between a doe and her kid is strong. Kids begin nibbling on solid food within a week or two but continue to drink their mother’s milk for several months.
Goats Around the World
Goats play an important role in cultures and economies all over the planet. More people worldwide drink goat milk than cow milk, particularly in Africa, the Middle East, and parts of Asia where goats are better suited to the local climate and terrain than cattle. In mountainous countries like Nepal and Ethiopia, goats are essential sources of food and income for small-scale farmers. Some breeds have been developed for specific environments: the hardy Spanish goat thrives in the hot, dry scrublands of the American Southwest, while the thick-coated Icelandic goat has survived harsh northern winters for over a thousand years. Goats have also left their mark on language and culture, appearing in ancient myths, fairy tales like “The Three Billy Goats Gruff,” and everyday expressions such as “getting someone’s goat.” With their intelligence, adaptability, and close bond with humans, goats remain one of the most important and beloved farm animals in the world.
OtterKnow Kids Encyclopedia