Fast Facts:

Wild Goat

Special Features

• The first livestock registry in the world was organized in Switzerland in the 1600s for goats.
• Goat meat is called chevon. Angora goats are raised for their hair.
• Goats were often passengers on the ships of early explorers and voyagers, including the Mayflower. Goats provided meat and milk for the travelers.
• Goats have a reputation for their odor. However, it is generally only the males that have an odor. If does are kept separate from bucks, the does do not 'smell' any more than other types of livestock.
• Bucks have scent glands between and just behind their horns, as well as smaller glands in other locations. Bucks may also urinate on their front legs or beards.

True wild goats, all of old world origin, including the Persian goats or pasan, probably the source of the domestic varieties; the several species of ibex; the markhor of India, with spiral twisted homes; and the Himalayan tur.

Domestic goats are found most abundantly in India, China, and Turkey. Their raised for milk, fresh, hair and wool, skins and for a brush control.

Goat's milk is easily digested and has greater protein and fat content than that of cows. In the United States the main breeds on the Toggenburg and Saannen, (both of Swiss origin), nubian, French Alpine , and rock Alpine goats. Many dairy goats hornless.

The cashmere goat is raised in Central Asia, North India, and Iran for the wool of its Downy undercoat . Angora goats, whose clips wool is known as Mo hair are more numerous than other breeds in United States; they are raised chiefly in Texas.

The Spanish or common goat, familiar in the southwest was brought to Mexico by early Spanish settlers. The Rocky Mountain goat belongs to the antelope tribe.