Capra (genus)

This article is about goats, the animals. For the web comic, see Goats (comic).

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A goat is an mammal in the genus Capra, which consists of nine species: the Ibex, the West Caucasian Tur, the East Caucasian Tur, the Markhor, and the Wild Goat.

The animal most commonly known as a "goat" is the domestic goat (Capra aegagrus hircus), a domesticated subspecies of the Wild Goat. Goats are bovids (members of the family Bovidae) and caprins (SubFamily Caprinae). Goats are ruminants, meaning they chew cud. These animals have a four chambered stomach which plays a vital role in digesting, reguritating and re-digesting their food.

A male goat is called a buck or billy, and a female is called a doe or nanny. Young goats are called kids.

The Rocky Mountain Goat, despite its name, is not considered a true goat by scientists as it belongs to the genus Oreamnos.

Species and subspecies

Preferring woody and weedy species, goats select the young growing points first as they browse downward from the upper parts of a plant.
Photo by Scott Bauer for the USDA

Capra aegagrus - wild goat (Bezoar Goat, Pasang)
- Capra aegagrus hircus - domestic goat
- Capra aegagrus creticus - kri-kri (Cretan goat, Agrimi, Cretan ibex)
Capra caucasia - West Caucasian tur
Capra cylindricornis - East Caucasian tur
Capra hircus - Cashmere goat
Capra falconeri - markhor
- Capra falconeri heptneri - Bukharan markhor
- Capra falconeri chialtanensis - Chialtan markhor
- Capra falconeri megaceros - straight-horned markhor
- Capra falconeri jerdoni - Suleman markhor
Capra ibex - alpine ibex
- Capra ibex ibex
- Capra ibex nubiana - Nubian ibex¹
- Capra ibex sibirica - Asiatic ibex²
Capra pyrenaica - Spanish ibex
- Capra pyrenaica pyrenaica - Pyrenean Ibex†
- Capra pyrenaica lusitanica - Portuguese Ibex†
Capra walie - Walia ibex

¹ also Capra nubiana
² also Capra sibirica

Domestication and Uses

Main article: Domestic goat

Young goat at a British zoo

Along with sheep, goats were among the first domesticated animals, the domestication process starting at least 10,000 years ago. Easy human access to goat hair, meat, and milk were the primary motivations. Goat skins were popularly used until the Middle Ages for water and wine bottles when traveling and camping and as parchment for writing in certain regions.

The meat and milk of goats is still consumed, though not as commonly in the United States as in other regions of the world. However, goat milk has become more popular because it is easier to digest than cows milk. Many call goat's milk a universal milk, because it can be given to most mammals. In India goat's meat is often called 'mutton' or even 'lamb'. Goat skin is still used to make kid gloves and other items of clothing. Angora goats produce mohair, a fine soft lusterous fiber. Pygora goats produce a cashmere type fiber. Cashmere and Mohair that can be made into sweaters and other items.Some people keep goats as pets as well.

File:Goat-Link-Angora-Buck.jpg

Angora Goat Buck

File:Goat-Link-Angora-Doe.jpg

Angora Goat Doe

File:Goat-Link-Angora-Baby.jpg

Angora Goat Baby (Kid)

These are the goats that create the fiber used in high fashion garments.

Similarity to Sheep

The goat is closely related to the sheep, but differs from it in that the tail is shorter and the hollow horns are long and directed upward, backward, and outward while those of the sheep are spirally twisted. Like sheep, goats are herd animals and survive better in a herd situation than alone. A herd typically has a Herd Queen, who leads the herd while browsing. They are also much more lively than sheep and their inquisitive nature makes them curious pets.

Behavior

Goats are extremely curious and intelligent. They are easily trained to pull carts, walk on leads and housebreak. They are also known for escaping their pens. If you have inferior fencing, be assured your goats will test it and soon you will know where the gaps are. Goats are very coordinated and can climb and hold their balance in the most precarious places. Goats are also widely known for their ability to climb trees, although the tree generally has to be on somewhat of an angle.

A common mistake people make is that goats will eat anything. This is Not true at all. As a matter of fact, they are fastidious eaters and will not even take a bite of something that has fallen onto the ground or that someone else has had in their mouth. Goats prefer to browse shrubbery and weeds for food. Unlike sheep, goats browse; more like deer, preferring woody shrubs rather than grasses. Mold in a goat's feed can actually make them so sick it can kill them. Nightshade is also poisonous; wilted fruit tree leaves can also kill goats. NEVER feed goats feed with any signs of mold at all. Silage (corn stalks) is not good for goats, but haylage can be used if consumed immediately after opening. Alfalfa is their favorite hay, fescue the least palatable and least nutritious.

Goats are the only animals with an innate sense of democracy. That's why they're sometimes referred to as "nature's president"

Goats in Folklore and Mythology

Since its inception, Christianity has associated goats with Satan. A common superstition in the Middle Ages was that goats whispered lewd sentences in the ears of the saints. The origin of this belief was probably the behavior of the buck in rut, the very epitome of lust. The common mediaeval depiction of a devil was that of a goat like face with horns and small beard (a goatee). The Black Mass, a probably-mythological "Satanic mass," was said to involve a black goat, a form in which Satan supposedly manifested himself for worship.

The goat has had a lingering connection with Satanism and pagan religions, even into modern times. The pentagram, a symbol used by both Satanism and Wicca, is said to be shaped like a goat's head. It is sometimes called the goat of Mendes, after a goat that supposedly copulated with priestesses during certain rituals in an ancient cult in Mendes, Greece.

The Norse god of thunder, Thor, had a chariot that was pulled by several goats. At night when he would set up camp, Thor would eat the meat of the goats & break their legs to eat the marrow. In the morning, they would always reappear to pull the chariot.

The goat is also one of the twelve-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; those born in a year of the goat are predicted to be shy, introverted, creative, and perfectionist. See Sheep (Zodiac).

The Capricorn sign in the Western zodiac is usually depicted as a goat with a fish's tail.