Got Goats?

Got Goats?Goats have received accolades in recent years, for their ability to munch down the greens and grasses that encourage wildfires on the west coast and keep roadsides and parks tidy and weed-free. They are extremely charming and sociable creatures and most of us have fond memories feeding pellets to goats at the fair or petting zoo as children. Goats are very affectionate, intelligent animals and are extremely agile creatures. 

Goats are used for meat, fiber, and skin in some parts of the world and perhaps more commonly, as dairy goats. Chevre and goat's milk are high in enzymes and are desirable for both their taste and health benefits. Angora and Cashmere goats produce extremely soft fiber which are used in luxury clothing items like coats, sweaters, and scarves. Goats are very low maintenance to keep as pasture animals and their poop makes great fertilizer, as it is low in acidity and high in nutrients and breaks down quickly into compost. Goats were the first animals to be domesticated, kept by Neolithic famers 10,000 years ago. Their skin and bones were used to make clothing and tools, their dung was used for fuel, and they provided easy access to meat and milk. Their meat is referred to as 'mutton' in most parts of the world and is generally somewhat dry and tough due to the low fat content.

All goats make great pets but, the very small Pygmy goats make them more accessible to folks who do not have a lot of open space to keep larger animals. Many cities work with goat herds and employ them to clean up parks and cut back on the dry matter which ignites during the dry seasons across the western states in America. Goats can be easily trained to pull carts but, if given the opportunity to return to the wild, they easily become feral and enjoy the freedom to roam as they please.

In the Chinese horoscope, people born under the goat sign said to be introverted, shy, creative, and perfectionists which, are all traits of the Western Zodiac sign of Capricorn. Goats are considered 'clean' animals by the Jewish and historically were slaughtered or sacrificed for an honored guest, as depicted in the Bible over and over again. However, somewhere along the way - Christians began to associate goats with Satan, perhaps due to the inverted pentagram loosely resembling the horns, face, and ears of a goat in shape. It could also be due to the mythical figure of Pan, who is half goat, representing the virility and magic of nature and music.

There are many folktales across the globe involving goats, all relating to their relationship as pets and companions to gods and goddesses.

Goats are very agile!