For Good Goats For Sale Santa Cruz County Offers A Recommendable Destination

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By Amy Murray


The domestic goat is one of the subspecies of wild goats that were domesticated in Eastern Europe and southwest Asia. Goats and sheep are closely related because they both belong to the goat-antelope subfamily called caprinae. According to research findings, there are more than 300 different goat breeds. The large number of subspecies shows just how widespread these animals are in the world. They are found on all continents and in all countries of the world. When in need of Goats for sale Santa Cruz County should be visited.

The name goat dates back in the earlier 12th century and continuously evolved over the centuries. The current name for a male goat, billy goat, came into existence in the 19th century. The predecessor of the name is hegoote. Female goat was referred to as nanny goat. This term was acknowledged as a replacement for the previously used term, she goat, in the 18th century.

Historically, goats are revealed to have been among the earliest animals to be brought under the domestication of man. Available archeological evidence point to the effect that current domesticated goat descended from the Bezoar ibex of Zagros Mountains. Neolithic man began the domestication of goats as a way of easily accessing milk and meat. Their dung was used for fuel as their hide, hair, and bones were used for clothing. The domestication of goat is thought to date back some 8000 to 9000 years.

Naturally, they are two-horned animals, but isolated cases of polyceerate, a case study of a goat having 8 horns have been reported. This situation is rare in genetics, with researchers suspecting it to be inherited. Cases of polled bucks or does to be successfully bred have turned out to be harder to achieve unlike in cattle. The cause reason behind this is the close link in the genes that determine sex and the genes that are responsible for horns.

Every breed of goat is ruminant. As such, they have four-chambered stomachs comprising of omasum, rumen, abomasum, and reticulum. Udders which occur in females have two teats and not four like in cattle. The Boer goat is an exception is this, since it may have up to 8 teats on its udder.

Pupils in a goat are slit-shaped and horizontal. The eyes have pale irises, which makes them more noticeable than those of sheep, most horses, deer, and cattle. Beards also occur in most breeds of goats, with some having wattles that dangle from either ear. The legs are usually evenly toed, which makes them even-toed ungulates.

Most breeds reach puberty at the age of 15 months. How fast the animal reaches puberty may depend on how it is fed and its breed. Does come into estrus after a period of 21 days every month. The estrus lasts between two and 48 hours. Does in heat wag their tails vigorously and stay near bucks if present. They also become more vocal and milk production goes down.

Naturally, goats are not grazers as they are browsers. Interestingly, these curious animals are known to taste anything prior to deciding whether to proceed with consuming it or not. Their strong sense of smell guides them to anything in the shape of a plant.




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