The word goat was derived from old English word “gat” which was basically extracted from Proto-Indo-European word “ghaidos” meaning young kid. The earliest remnants of goats (dating 10,000 years before) are found in Kermanshah, Iran. Archaeologists have been discovered the remaining of goats in Jericho, Choga Mami, Djeitun and Cayonu. Basically, goats are mammals which belong to the family Bovidae. Scientific name of goat is Capra aegagrus hirucs. Goats are closest species to Sheep having life span of fifteen to eighteen years. According to United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization more than 924 million goats are present in this universe. More than three hundred distinct breeds of goats are present. Female goats are known as “Nannies” and male goats are referred as “billies” and “bucks”. Goat has very sharp horns on head and also has hair on chin which appears as beard on the face of goat.  Goat has very unique digestive system which consists of four chambers i.e, rumen, reticulum, omasum and abomasums. Design of eyes of goat resembles with the eyes of horse, deer and cattle.  This specie likes to eat green food which consists of grass, leaves, plants and green leaves of corn. Goats are not grazing animals, they are browsing animals. Goats are very curious in behavior. They have a natural sense to observe things in surroundings.

Goats

Introduction.

Goats are stout-bodied mammals with horns and cloven hooves. There are two types of goats: domestic goats, which are raised and bred as farm animals; and mountain goats, which live in steep, rocky areas. Goats are members of the Bovidae family, which also includes antelopes, cattle and sheep.

Size.

Mountain goats can weigh from 125 to 180 lbs. (57 to 82 kilograms) and grow from 49 to 70 inches (124 to 178 centimeters) long. Their black horns grow up to 8 to 12 inches (20 to 30 cm) long. They do not shed their horns, so a goat's age can be determined by counting the annual growth rings. Both males and female mountain goats have horns.

There are about 200 breeds of domestic goat, so sizes vary greatly. One of the smallest breeds, the Nigerian dwarf goat, weighs about 20 lbs. (9 kg). Pygmy goats weigh from 53 to 86 lbs. (24 to 39 kg). The Anglo-Nubian goat weighs up to 250 lbs. (113 kg). 

Habitat.

Mountain goats are found in the Rocky Mountains, typically in Alaska, western Montana, central Idaho, South Dakota, Colorado and Washington. The wide spread of their cloven hooves allows them to climb steep mountain sides with ease. They usually live in elevations of 3,281 to 16,404 feet (1,000 to 5,000 meters) above sea level. 

Domestic goats are raised all over the world in almost every type of terrestrial biomes. The main habitat requirements for a domestic goat are grass to eat and a clean, ventilated shelter.

Habits.

Goats are very social creatures and live in groups called herds, which may contain as many as 20 goats in the wild. Mountain goats are most social during the winter and tend to go solo in the summer. In herds, there is a dominant female throughout the year, until mating season. At this time a male dominates the herd. Many times, males only live with a few other males or by themselves, year-round.

Diet.

Goats are herbivores, which mean they eat only vegetation. Their favorite food is grass, though mountain goats also eat mosses and plants. Many domestic goats will also eat trash, house plants or any other items they find lying around.

Goats grab food with their lips and bring it into their mouths. The upper jaw is wider than the lower jaw, so they can only use one side of their mouths to grind the food. This causes the rotary movement that is seen when a goat (or a cow) is chewing.

Other facts

·         Mountain goats can jump 12 feet (3.5 meters) in a single bound, according to National Geographic. 

·         Mountain goats have bright white coats that help them blend into the snowy areas of their home ranges. Domestic goats have coats that are yellow, chocolate or black.

·         Goats were one of the first domesticated animals and were first domesticated around 9,000 years ago, according to the Smithsonian. 

·         In bright light, the pupil in a goat's eye is rectangular rather than round.

·         Goat meat — called chevon or cabrito — is eaten all over the world.

·         More people consume goat milk than the milk from any other animal.