



If you've ever thought about homesteading, then you’ve definitely thought about possessing goats. These bright, curious and very pleasant animals are frequently considered a “graduation” of sorts: The majority of homesteaders begin with chickens and move onto goats prior to considering larger livestock.

Goats have the ability to provide homesteaders with milk, which could also be utilized to produce cheese, soap or butter. Here are eleven things you may not have known about domestic goats:

1. Goats can differ in size ranging anywhere from the 35 lb. Pygmy goats to the 230 lb. Boer goat. Both types of goats are in fact raised for meat production; however, the Pygmy goat is also known for its top-quality milk.

2. Genetic tests show that all domestic goats originate from the wild Bezoar Ibex of Anatolian Zagros, which is a part of the Middle East. Scientists are of the belief that goats are one of the primary domesticated animals, with proof that suggests they were domesticated at least 10,000 years ago.

3. Goats are curious by nature. While they do not actually eat tin cans and paper, they are frequently seen chewing odds and ends typically to find out more about these items. Behaviourists believe that goats chew these objects to find out more about them and to see whether or not they are edible.

4. This curious nature of theirs might be the root of a legendary story about goats and coffee. An apocryphal legend on the discovery of coffee goes like this: Kaldi, an Ethiopian goat herder, began chewing coffee beans after his goats began dancing once they ate the beans.

5. The largest amount of goats in the US reside in Texas. However, goats could be raised, anywhere in the country.

6. While referring to a group of goats as a “herd” is deemed acceptable, the more proper terms for a group of goats is a tribe or trip.

7. Baby goats were known as ‘kids’ first! Records show that the word was used to describe a young goat as early as the year 1200 AD. In contrast, the term ‘kid’ was not used to refer to a human child until nearly 1600 AD.

8. Cashmere, the ultra-soft and desirable wool utilized in numerous garments, is harvested from Cashmere goats. The wool is shorn from the goats and then “de-haired”, which parts the coarse outer hair from the soft inner downy coat. The softer hair is made into yarn and thread for textiles. Initially the goats were raised in Nepal and Kashmir, but they are now cultivated all over the globe.

9. The well-known fainting goats do not actually faint. A condition of the central nervous system known as "Congenital myotonia", in which the muscles of the animals are paralyzed for a short while when they begin to panic. The condition does not result in pain, however, the animals do indeed fall over. Older fainting goats, in contrast, keep themselves braced against a wall or other support, so they do not actually fall over.

10. The London Telegraph reported some time ago that goats have accents. Scientists at the Queen Mary University of London found out that the calls of goats change as they grow older and move into varying groups. Goats in the same group sound alike to since they spend more time together.

11. Milk goats must be segregated by gender. If does (female goats) are kept in close proximity to bucks (males) their milk can take on a “goaty” flavour, influenced by the strong smell of the buck.





Do you know anyone who raises goats? Show that person love by getting him/her a goat tote



