What types of goats are there?
There are many different breeds of goats. Some produce milk, some produce rich fleece and some produce a wonderful healthy tasty meat while others are kept as companion animals. We raise Boers, Kikos and Nubians. The Boers have brown heads with white bodies, are very hardy and are known for the quality of their meat. The goat pictured above on our header is Gracie, she is a purebred Boer goat and very friendly. Kiko goats originated in New Zealand and are very new to Canada. The goat picture above is our Kiko doeling, Rosebud. They come in many different colours. Nubians are an good multi purpose breed. They are very vocal and friendly, making them popular in petting zoos.
Not all goats have horns.
Some goats are naturaly polled, that is, born without horns. Some goats have their horns removed as kids by a process known as disbudding. Most of our goats have horns to use for self defense and they also act as radiators on hot summer days. Goats learn to use thier horns to scratch with, little hoofs can't reach all areas after all. Besides horns look kinda cool.
Isn't a goat just an unfuzzy sheep.
Although similar, goats and sheep are different. Some goats produce some of the finest wool in the world, Cashmere for example. When sheep walk they have a distinct waddle while goats are more graceful. Sheep eat as a herd and move enmasse while goats wander and eat individually. Sheep just let the tails hang down, goats hold their tails up in the air like flags and often wag them. A goat will stand on it's hind legs to get at food and are very picky eaters, sorry no tin cans please.
What about beards?
Not all goats have beards.Male and females alike grow beards.
Only our male Boers and Kikos have beards, while our Nubian buckling does not yet.
We have two females with beards, one is an Angora and the other is a Saanen.
Did you know???
That a adult male goat is a Buck, an adult female goat is a Doe and together they produce Kids ( Bucklings and Doelings ).
That a group of goats is not a herd but a Trip?
That goats milk is closer in composition to human milk than cows milk is and it is low in lactose!
Goats milk can be tolerated by most people with milk allergies?
That the goat is the second oldest domesticated animal after the dog.
That a goat can be used as a pack animal, to pull a small cart, clear brush and weeds and to lead sheep.