Sound View Farm: Goats
/Next in our tour of the farm animals of Sound View is goats! We currently have 4 goats of 3 different breeds at camp. (They always look silly in photos!)
Where do goats come from?
Wild Bezoar Ibex Photo: Wikipedia
Goats are members of the family Bovidae along with bison, cows, sheep, and antelope. All of these animals have hooves that are split into two toes (cloven-hoof) and are ruminants with a stomach that has four compartments so they digest grasses and other plants. They produce and chew cud just like llamas do. Today’s domestic goats came mainly from a goat called the Wild Bezoar Ibex that is found in Middle East Asia. The goat is thought to be one of the first domesticated animals, with domestication of goats starting around 10 thousand years ago. Now there are over 200 breeds of domestic goat and they exist on every continent except Antartica. Breeds of animals are created when humans select animals for certain qualities. Over time these animals may look pretty different but they are still members of the same species.
Goat yoga Photo: www.seattlenorthcountry.com
Why were goats domesticated?
When goats were first being domesticated, every part of them was used. Today, different breeds have different purposes. Goat milk was the first animal milk that humans used and it remains popular today. Some goats are bred for their fur to make clothing. The most common goat fur products are are cashmere and mohair. Goat skin can also be used to make leather for gloves and boots. In the past, goat skin was used to make something like a water bottle. Some goats are also raised for meat. Goats can be working animals as well. They can be trained to pull carts. Goats are also bred for show and are sometimes kept just for the purpose of being pets. Oh and don’t forget about goat yoga, a trend that started in 2016.
Other goat facts
Females goats are called a “doe” or a “nanny” while male goats are called “bucks” or “billys.” Young goats are called kids. Goats are smart and naturally curious. They are known for escaping pens. They often knock heads with other goats. This can be done in play or to compete for dominance in a herd. If treated and trained correctly they do not do this to humans. Goats are also really good at jumping and climbing. Some can climb trees! Occasionally when domestic oats have escaped or been set free they return to the wild, becoming feral. The can become an invasive species in some areas, posing a treat to native plants. Lastly, goats have rectangular pupils in their eyes instead of round, giving them better peripheral (side) vision.
