Many historians believe that the goat was the first animal to be domesticated, and it is no wonder why since goats are very versatile. They are herbivores and primarily forage for their food when not being fed by humans on farms. They live in varied environments from rocky cliffs to green pastures.
It is known that the goat was so valuable to humans that they were eventually used as a form of currency. Before coins even existed, goats were valued and traded. Families passed them on. They became so valuable that they were traded for silver and other modern riches.
Besides having one of world's most popular meat, goats produce a wonderful milk. In fact, more people drink goat's milk than cow's milk globally. In comparison to cow's milk, goat's milk is lower in cholesterol, higher in calcium, vitamin A and B, and phosphorus.
A female goat is a "doe." A male goat is a "buck." A baby goat is a "kid."
6 major breeds of dairy goats:
Alpine
La Mancha
Nubian
Oberhasli
Saanen
Toggenburg
Other breeds like Angora are used for their fine wool. Boar and Pygmy goats are used for meat.
Find information about dairy goats and goat's milk at
American Dairy Goat Association - (ADGA)
or
The American Goat Society
or
The Dairy Goat Journal
Find a goat breeder near you at
University of California, Irvine
Read all about goats at
Goat Magazine
or
dairy goats.com
Find all kinds of information about goats at
GoatWorld.com
Get involved with goats
4-H
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