The Incredibly Talented Goat
Goats are curious, creative and unpredictable free spirits; smelling, nibbling and playing with everything in their environment. They eat the leaves and bark of trees by standing on their hind legs and pulling down the branches for all to share. Kids (baby goats) gallop in circles; make high, arching jumps and little dances. They jump, they slide, toss their heads, whirl on their own axis, spring vertically into trees, leap onto their mother's backs and get caught in places you would not believe they could get into. When exhausted they curl into tight little balls and sleep soundly in the hollow of a log or tree, under a hay wagon or alongside their twin.
Young kids spend long periods sleeping in sheltered places, nurse from their moms infrequently and do not follow their moms from place to place as lambs do. A low, vibration call from mom will bring the kid running to her side to nurse. If the kid gets into trouble it screams in a high pitched wail that sounds just like a child screaming. The mom will quickly move to defend it against danger and will take on a dog if necessary.
Goats live on cold mountains, savannah brush, sea fronts, deserts, throughout the tropics and are found on all the continents except for Antarctica. Their shiny coat reflects sun and protects from heat and humidity better than the wool characteristic of sheep. Their soft winter undercoat (called cashmere) keeps them warm in the coldest environments. They thrive in almost as wide a range of temperatures as humans and have lived around and among people since ancient times. Fossil evidence from Jericho (the oldest walled city in the world) shows goats were already domesticated about nine thousand years ago. Their continued popularity is partially due to the fact that they can be managed by children, their milk is nutritious and easy to digest, and they provide a low fat, tender meat. Their mohair (produced by Angora’s) and cashmere fiber is used for durable and specialty clothing. Their skins are used even today in some cultures for housing and lightweight, watertight containers so important for families throughout the ages.
Goats are talented at nibbling nutrient rich bits of plants that other animals cannot reach or digest. Note the delicate lip work by this Ethiopian goat on a native thorn bush.
Meat Goats
Boar goats are large framed, double muscled animals developed in Southern Africa specifically for meat, hardiness and to improve land that was too difficult to be cleared by humans. They can consistently produce more muscling in less time than other breeds. Boars are easy to raise, have mild temperaments, are affectionate and require no special care.
Goat
meat is one of the most widely consumed meats in the world. About 73% of the red meat consumed worldwide is goat. However, its consumption in the US has generally been limited to culturally diverse families. Much of the goat meat sold in the US is imported from New Zealand or Australia. About 1.5 million pounds of goat meat is imported every week and the demand just keeps growing. The molecular structure of goat meat is different than that of other meats. Therefore, goat meat digests more easily. It is also a low fat, good tasting alternative to chicken or fish. Goat meat is much lower in saturated fats than the rest of the commonly consumed meats including chicken with the skin off (see:
nutrition comparison chart). This is because goats tend to deposit their fat around their internal organs before they deposit it externally. This internal fat is easily separated from the organ meat. Goats do not marble (intersperse fat within their muscles).
Angora Fiber Goats
The name "Angora" comes from a province in Turkey, presently known as Ankara, where the fiber goat originated. Angora goats were treasured as household pets in Turkey, with most families keeping 5-10 goats. Their beauty and silky fiber entranced women and men alike. Fine garments and spun yarn were exported exclusively from Turkey until 1830 when the Sultan allowed the exportation of raw mohair for the first time. In 1849 seven adult angoras were imported to the United States with permission of the Sultan.
The fiber harvested from Angora goats is called Mohair. The word "Mohair" is derived from an Arabic word meaning "choice" or "select". Mohair is a strong, lustrous fiber. It is stronger and warmer than wool and is not subject to shrinking or wrinkling. Because of its anti-static properties, Mohair velour does not attract dust or dirt. Due to its long wearing qualities and resistance to soil Mohair was once a major upholstery fabric and continues to be used in expensive garments.