Goat
Breeds, Milk, & Facts
goat, any ruminant and hollow-horned mammal belonging to the genus Capra. Related to the sheep, the goat is lighter of build, has horns that arch backward, a short tail, and straighter hair. Male goats, called bucks or billys, usually have a beard. Females are called does or nannys, and immature goats are called kids. Wild goats include the ibex and markhor.
domestic goat
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Domesticated goats are descended from the pasang (Capra aegagrus), which is probably native to Asia, the earliest records being Persian. In China, Great Britain, Europe, and North America, the domestic goat is primarily a milk producer, with a large portion of the milk being used to make cheese. One or two goats will supply sufficient milk for a family throughout the year and can be maintained in small quarters, where it would be uneconomical to keep a cow. For large-scale milk production, goats are inferior to cattle in the temperate zone but superior in the torrid and frigid zones. Goat flesh is edible, that from young kids being quite tender and more delicate in flavour than lamb, which it resembles. Some breeds, notably the Angora and Cashmere, are raised for their wool (see also wool; cashmere; Angora goat); young goats are the source of kid leather.
Selected breeds of goats are provided in the table.
name
use
distribution
characteristics
comments
Angora
wool
originally Turkey, now also South Africa, United States
small body; thick, flat fleece
thrives in temperate regions
Boer
meat
originally South Africa
horned; lop ears
extended breeding season
Cashmere
wool, milk, and meat
originally China, now Asia and Middle East
small body; large ears; small horns
wool obtained from its undercoat
LaMancha
milk
originally United States
distinct ear types: “gopher ears” (up to one inch in length but preferably nonexistent) or “elf ears” (maximum length 2 inches)
hardy
Nubian
milk
originally North Africa, now also India, Middle East, United Kingdom, United States
long legs; long ears; large nose
several varieties
Oberhasli
milk
originally Switzerland
medium-sized; chamois in colour with two black stripes on face
alert in appearance
Saanen
milk
originally Saanen Valley, Switzerland
white or cream-coloured; short hair
consistent milk producer
Toggenburg
milk
originally Toggenburg valley, Switzerland, now also United Kingdom, United States
light to dark brown
important dairy goat
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