Goat - Animals Town

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Goat

Type: Mammal
Diet: Herbivore
Lifespan: 8 - 15 years
Group name: Herd, tribe or trip

Along with sheep, goats were among the first domesticated animals, the domestication process starting at least 10,000 years ago. Easy human access to goat hair, meat, and milk were the primary motivations. Goat skins were popularly used until the Middle Ages for water and wine bottles when traveling and camping and as parchment for writing in certain regions.

Fainting Goats video .

What does a Goat look like?
Most goats naturally have two horns, of various shapes and sizes depending on the breed. Their horns are made of living bone surrounded by keratin and other proteins, and are used for defense, dominance, and territoriality. Goats have a four-chambered stomach. Goats have horizontal slit-shaped pupils, an adaptation which increases peripheral depth perception. Both male and female goats have beards, and many types of goat may have wattles, one dangling from each side of the neck.

Where do Goats live?
There are about 600 different kinds of goats. There are some kinds that are wild and live in mountains and other wild places. Goats can live in places that are very hot and dry or hilly, where it is hard for other farm animals to live.

What does a Goat eat?
Goats are browsing animals, not grazers like cattle and sheep, and will chew on and taste just about anything resembling plant matter in order to decide whether it is good to eat, including cardboard and paper labels from tin cans. Another possibility is that the goats are curious about the unusual smells of leftover food in discarded cans or boxes.

How smart are goats?
Goats are extremely curious and intelligent. They are known for escaping their pens and getting into mischief. Goats are also widely known for their ability to climb trees, although the tree generally has to be on somewhat of an angle. They may also jump on parked automobiles. It is a stereotype that goats eat everything; this probably arises from the fact that they tend to chew (but not eat) almost anything. Goats prefer to browse shrubbery and weeds for food.