Written by Michael Bryan
Modified & Updated: 30 Dec 2023
Reviewed by Sherman Smith
Goats have traditionally been kept as sources of meat and milk, as well as have been linked to humans for more than 10,000 years now. They have also been always deemed highly valuable animals for their good products, including their fur and skin. There are many advantages of raising goats, such as they grow fast, adapt in many climates, require less feed, and need less space. Today, many people are realizing that goats can be wonderful companion animals, too. Come and enjoy these 50 goat facts and appreciate this wonderful creature!
- Goats are closely related to sheep.
- The goat’s scientific name is ‘capra aegagrus hircus.’
- Goats are naturally curious.
- Goats are a domesticated species of goat-antelopes.
- They are very commonly kept as livestock.
- The domestication of the goat started from the wild goats (capra aegagrus) of Southwest Asia and Eastern Europe.
- Domesticated goats are the goats we usually see as livestock while the wild goats are amongst the ancestors of the domestic goat.
- Wild goat species live in shrublands, forests, and rocky areas.
- Wild goats inhabit the land of Turkey, and the Caucasus in the west, to Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, and Pakistan in the east.
- They are part of the animal family Bovidae, and the subfamily Caprinae.
- There are over 250 distinct breeds of goat.
- Across the globe, humans use goats for milk, meat, fur, and skins.
- Tanned leather from goatskin is durable. It’s commonly used to make gloves, boots, rugs, carpet binding, etc.
- We usually use goat fur to make sweaters, scarves, coats, and other clothing.
- Their milk is often turned into goat cheese.
- Goats are one of the oldest domesticated species of animals.
- Based on archaeological evidence, the earliest domestication of goats started in Iran around 10,000 years ago.
- ‘Does’ or ‘nannies’ are other terms for the female goat.
- On the other hand, ‘bucks’ or ‘billies’ are other names for males.
- ‘Kid’ is the other term for a young goat.
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