ST. LOUIS • Aldermen on Friday rejected a bill that would have allowed goats and more chickens within the city.

The board debated the issue for more than two hours.

Alderman Scott Ogilvie's bill would have allowed residents to own eight chickens, up from the current limit of four. Roosters would have remained banned in the city.

Property owners with bigger lots of 20,000 square-feet or more would also have had the option of owning goats, sheep, and larger birds like ostriches.

Ogilvie said its important for the city to be open to the growing trend of urban agriculture.

"It is not that long ago that these things were far more common," Ogilvie said.

Other American cities have passed urban farming and goat-friendly ordinances, including San Francisco and Portland, Ore.

Aldermen, several of whom own farms in rural Missouri, spent several hours debating the merits.

Alderman Joe Vaccaro noted that goats often become mean and worried they would be dropped off in various city parks, creating problems for city residents. Alderman Steve Conway opposed the measure based on property values.