GOAT, the ruminant of the genus Capra, closely allied to the sheep. While usually easy to distinguish the two, certain hair breeds of sheep are, to the layman, only distinguishable from goats by the direction of the tail, upward in goats, downward in sheep. Domesticated goats are descended from the pasang (Capra aega grus). Probably the east was its original home, the earliest records being Persian. C. aegagrus is probably represented in Europe by the Cretan and Cyclades races, now crossed with the common goat (C. Iiircus). For other wild goats, see IBEX, MARKHOR, TAHR and ROCKY MOUNTAIN GOAT.
In China, India, Egypt, Europe and North America the goat is primarily a milk-producer. By good management its limited breeding season and the conse quent difficulty of maintaining a level supply throughout the year can be largely overcome. For large scale milk-production goats are inferior to cattle. The Angora and Cashmere goats pro duce "wool" or mohair. The flesh is edible, that from young beasts being quite tender. The goat, however, does not fatten easily. Goats are also used to keep sheep spread out and on the move.
The chalky-white milk con tains a higher proportion of solids than that of the cow, and is apparently more digestible. It is also free from tuberculosis germs. In parts of Europe it is much used for cheese-making.
Of the Swiss goats, from which many of the best modern breeds are derived, the Toggenburg and Saanen are most important. The French breeds have much Swiss blood. On the Pyrenees the goats are of very mixed origin, big but disposing of much food with out corresponding milk yield. In Germany there are many vari eties tracing to Swiss breeds. The Hartz Mountain goat is prob ably native. There are many goats of Swiss type throughout Scandinavia. Holland goats, mostly white, hornless and of Saanen type, are in high esteem.
The Maltese goat undoubtedly contains Eastern blood. Its milk is important, but is probably flavoured by the garbage feed. This goat is noteworthy as the carrier of Malta fever (q.v.). Many goats are found in Spain. Mauretania appears to be the home of three good types, Murcian, Grenada and La Mancha. In Italy and along the eastern Adriatic goats are fairly plenti ful: a recent edict of the Italian Government against goat-keep ing, owing to damage to trees, may diminish their number.
"Nubians" are eastern goats, chiefly Egyptian. They are usually large, short-haired, somewhat bony goats with large lop ears and Roman noses. Their colour, frequently black and tan, varies considerably. The goats in Palestine and Syria have long hair and large lop ears. Black, with or without white, is the commonest colour. The Mamber has the best reputation for milk. Most Indian varieties have lop ears, the best coming from the Jumna river area. They are like the Nubian. The Surti (from Surat) is another popular Indian breed, usually white and lop eared. In proportion to the cultivated area, goats are more plenti ful in Egypt than anywhere else. Their main function is milk, but the meat is also valuable. There are two distinct types, both of the lop-eared eastern variety.
The dwarf goat or Guinea goat, of central and west Africa resembles a small English goat in appearance. It is highly resistant to trypanosomiasis. These goats are also found on the Nile and in Mauritius, Madagascar and Bourbon. In South Africa the "Boer" goat, related to the Nubian, is principally used for meat. Angora flocks are numerous ; while Swiss and English milch goats have been imported.
In Britain there are native goats of two types, though their purity may be questioned. The original English type usually has tapering horns, short hair and colour commonly brown or fawn, often with large white patches. The Irish goat is more thickset and has long, shaggy hair. The colour is generally reddish black. They are good milkers and foragers but with a short lactation period. The Welsh and Scottish goats are of the Irish type. The British Goat society (founded 1879) represents some 1,500 goat-keepers. It conducts a herd-book, and by the end of 1927, had registered over Ii,000 animals. The society publishes a monthly journal and a valuable Year Book, besides Herd Books. Most of the im proved British goats have much imported blood, but are develop ing into distinct types and improving in milk-yield. The world's record (1928) for one day's milk-yield at a show is 18 lb. 7 oz., from Didgemere Dream, a British Alpine, and for 365 days lacta tion is held by Wonderstrike, a Saanen, with a yield of 4,464 lb.
In the United States and Canada, goats are valuable for wool, milk and as scrub removers. They are found principally in the Southern States, California and British Columbia. The wool type is the Angora, chiefly found in Texas, but also in California. The milk goats are largely Toggenburgs, Saanens and Anglo-Nubians. The principal herd-book association is the American Milk Goat Record association of Vincennes, Indiana. The Canadian Goat society is at Victoria, B.C. There are three journals published in the United States; The Goat World (monthly), The National Bulletin of Milk Goats (bi-monthly) and The International Dairy Goat Journal.
Of the wool goats there are two main types : the Angora or Mohair and the Cashmere or Shawl goat. The Angora, owing to its likeness to the sheep, has been held by many authorities to be descended from Capra falconeri, not from C. Aegagrus. Its original home was Tibet. There are many varieties. Angoras have been established in South Africa, Australia and the United States. About three-quarters of the mohair produced in the United States comes from Texas. The Angora is a poor milker. The soft, silky hair covers the whole body and most of the legs with close matted ringlets. If not shorn in spring the fleece drops off naturally as summer approaches. There is an undergrowth of short hair. The average weight of fleece is about 21 lb., though good speci mens yield up to 12 ib. The Angora must have a dry climate and then stands cold well.
In the Cashmere, which is more like the common goat than the Angora, it is the undergrowth which is valuable. The longer the hair, the more abundant the fine undergrowth. These goats are rather small, with lop ears and twisted horns.
The goat demands a varied, rather than rich, diet. It is portant that its food should not be soiled. Pasturage of different types, with some coarse fodder and branches will keep a range or tethered goat in good condition, but the milkers are better for some additional concentrates. Stall-fed animals should receive good hay and plenty of green foods, as varied as possible, besides roots. Oats are a good grain. Too much whole maize leads to inflammation of the stomach. Peas and beans are good, but wheat and barley are not properly digested. Brewers' and distillers' grains are good for milk goats. Oil cakes and patent foods can be recommended. Many milk goats do best if the concentrates are fed warm and wet. It is important that goats should have access to clean water and to salt. No goat should be given more food than can be readily consumed and feeding should be at regular hours.
The female goat, variously called "Nanny" or "Doe," is ready for the male ("Billy" or "Buck") between October and Decem ber, during which time they come on "heat" every three weeks. The gestation period is 21-2 2 weeks. Goats are sexually mature at six months, but it is unwise to mate females before 18 months old and a male should be used sparingly till 12 months old.
(A. D. B. S.)