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Learn about the goat or domestic goat (Capra hircus), a species of domesticated goat-antelope that is mostly kept as livestock. Find out its history, anatomy, breeds, uses, and conservation status.
Sep 29, 2024 · Learn about goats, ruminant and hollow-horned mammals belonging to the genus Capra, related to sheep. Find out about their domestication, milk production, meat, wool, and various breeds.
- The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
- A goat is any ruminant and hollow-horned mammal belonging to the genus Capra. Related to the sheep, the goat is lighter in build and has horns that...
- Goats are browsers: they like to keep their heads up to eat available foliage. Goats are especially valued for eating inexpensive nutrient sources,...
- According to Martin Banks, a professor of optometry at University of California at Berkeley, goats have developed horizontal pupils in order to sur...
- If a goat’s horns are not removed, they will continue to grow throughout the goat’s life. Generally, goat horns reach a length of anywhere from 8 t...
- Goat horns can be removed through disbudding or dehorning. Disbudding involves destroying the corium of the horn bud without causing significant da...
Goat breeds (especially dairy goats) are some of the oldest defined animal breeds for which breed standards and production records have been kept. Selective breeding of goats generally focuses on improving production of fiber, meat, dairy products or goatskin.
- Alpine Ibex (Capra ibex) The Alpine Ibex inhabits the rugged terrains of the European Alps, particularly amidst rocky regions above the snow line. This robust animal, striking in appearance, stands about 3.5 feet tall at the shoulder and weighs up to 150 lbs, males being generally larger than females.
- Nubian Ibex (Capra nubiana) The Nubian Ibex establishes its habitat in the craggy terrains of North Africa and the Arabian Peninsula, preferring steep landscapes up to 9,800 feet.
- Spanish Ibex (Capra pyrenaica) The Spanish Ibex lives in the rugged mountainous regions of Spain and Portugal. Their habitats range from lowland forests to high-altitude rocky cliffs reaching up to 8,200 feet above sea level.
- Siberian Ibex (Capra sibirica) The Siberian Ibex dwells at elevated altitudes, mostly above 9,800 feet in rugged, rocky terrains. These mountainous habitats extend across Central Asia, particularly in Mongolia, China, Kazakhstan, and Tajikistan.
The many breeds may be roughly grouped: the prickeared—e.g., Swiss goats; the eastern, or Nubian, with long, drooping ears; and the wool goat—e.g., Angora and cashmere.
- The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
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Nov 9, 2023 · Coat color, horn shape, milk production, and climate suitability are just a few of the variations that enrich the world of goats. In this AnimalWised article, we will explore the different types of goats, their most important and distinctive characteristics, and their conservation status.
The goat or domestic goat (Capra hircus ) is a domesticated species of goat-antelope typically kept as livestock. It was domesticated from the wild goat (C. aegagrus ) of Southwest Asia and Eastern Europe. The goat is a member of the animal family Bovidae and the tribe Caprini, meaning it is closely related to the sheep.
You can bless your friends and family by sending a donation gift in their honor. Give Christmas donation gifts this year — a goat, clean water, emergency food and others.
