Goat

Goat
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Order: Artiodactyla Family: Bovidae Subfamily: Caprinae Genus: Capra Species: aegagrus Subspecies: hircus
Trinomial name
Capra aegagrus hircus

A goat is any of several species of medium-sized grazing animal. All goats (and sheep) belong to the subfamily Caprinae of the family Bovidae. In common use, however, goat is usually understood to mean the Domestic Goat, Capra aegagrus hircus, a subspecies of the Wild Goat of south-west Asia and eastern Europe.

Female goats are referred to as does, intact males as bucks. Castrated males are wethers, offspring are kids.

Goats have been domesticated for roughly 10,000 years: they are kept for the production of milk and hair. They are also harvested for their meat. Domestic goats are generally kept in herds that wander on hills or other grazing areas, often tended by goatherds who are frequently children or adolescents, similar to the more widely known shepherd.

Goats are reputed to be one of the most stubborn domestic animals, and to be willing to eat almost anything. Contrary to this reputation they are quite fastidious in their habits, preferring to browse on the tips of woody shrubs and trees, as well as the occasional broad leaved plant. Due to this they are less susceptible than other livestock to parasites when allowed to feed in a natural setting. They will seldom eat soiled food or such plants as kudzu unless facing starvation.

Goats have been long standing symbols of fecundity because in some climates they are, like humans, able to breed at any time of the year. In northern climates and among the Swiss breeds, the breeding season commences as the day length shortens, and ends in early spring. Goats of any breed come into heat every 21 days for from 2-48 hours. Gestation length is 120 days. Twins are the usual result, with single and triplet births also commom. Less frequent are litters of quadruplet, quintuplet, and even sextuplet kids.

Goat Breeds fall into 4 categories, though there is some overlap between them; meaning that some are dual purpose.

Dairy

• Alpine
• Golden Guernsey
• La Mancha
• Nigerian Dwarf
• Nubian
• Oberhasli
• Saanen
• Sable Saanen
• Toggenburg

Fiber

• Angora
• Cashmere
• Pygora

Meat

• Boer
• Spanish
• Fainting Goats

Pet

• Pygmy
• Nigerian Dwarf

The goat is one of the 12-year cycle of animals which appear in the Chinese zodiac related to the Chinese calendar. It is thought that each animal is associated with certain personality traits.

See also: Livestock

External links:

• http://www.ansi.okstate.edu/breeds/goats/
• http://www.ansi.okstate.edu/library/Goats.html
• Open Directory category: goats