Primitive wild goats put on rare breed list

Goats living in a wild herd in the UK have been added to a watchlist of rare breeds.
The Cheviot goat population - estimated at just 450 - centres on a group in the Cheviot Hills in Northumberland.
It is considered an "authentic remnant" of Britain's original primitive goats and has now been added to the Rare Breeds Survival Trust (RBST) watchlist to support its conservation.
Of the estimated 450 Cheviot goats left - including those held by private breeders and for grazing schemes - only 86 females produced offspring in 2023, the RBST said.

AMAZING FACTS ABOUT GOATS

Extremely intelligent, sociable and curious – goats are fascinating animals. They are closely related to sheep and have played an important role in human lives for a long time. Here are 10 interesting facts about goats you might not know.

Goats May Be Able to Tell When Their Buddies Are Feeling Good or Baaad

You may not guess it when they are happily gnawing on your shoelaces, but goats are smart, complex creatures. Their emotional intelligence is a particularly interesting point of inquiry. Research has shown that goats, highly social animals that congregate in herds, are sensitive to human facial expressions, and that their vocalizations encode information about their emotional states. Now, a new study suggests that goats are able to distinguish between positive and negative emotions expressed in other goats’ calls—and that these calls might affect how the listener is feeling too.

Experiment shows how goats are smarter than you might think

Goats, are you paying attention to our tone of voice? A new study tries to answer that question. It involved 27 goats, a loudspeaker and recordings of the phrase "Hey, look over here!"

White kid

If you’ve recently welcomed adorable baby goats to your farm or are considering raising them, you may wonder when they’ll start munching on grass. As with any young animal, their diet is crucial to their growth and development. In this comprehensive guide, we will explore the fascinating journey from Baby Goat Eating Grass nursing to grazing, understand the factors that influence their dietary transition, and how to ensure a healthy start for these adorable creatures. 

Pygmy Goat 25738

This gregarious and fun little goat is thought to have originated from dwarf goats in Africa.  Owing to their lively personalities and friendly natures, pygmy goats are now popular as pets. They are known for their hardiness and for producing particularly rich milk.

Pygmy goats come in all sorts of colours, such as blue, black, brown, caramel and cream – as well as a variety of spotty combinations. As a herd animal the pygmy goat is very sociable and enjoys the company of other animals and humans. They have very inquisitive natures and are great jumpers and climbers – so we always have to make sure their enclosure is secure!

ALPINE GOAT

Alpine goats average 30-40 inches at the withers, or shoulders, and weigh 135-170 lbs. Males often have long hair along their spine and more pronounced beards. Colors can vary considerably and can include white, fawn, gray, black, red, etc. They have tall, slightly curved horns and erect ears.

Mountain goat

The mountain goat (Oreamnos americanus), also known as the Rocky Mountain goat, is a cloven-footed mammal that is endemic to the remote and rugged mountainous areas of western North America. A subalpine to truly alpine species, it is a sure-footed climber commonly seen on sheer rock faces, near-vertical cliffs and icy passages. Mountain goats generally avoid venturing down into lower elevations—except during seasonal food shortages or during particularly bad weather—as the extreme elevation which they inhabit is their primary defense against predators such as black and brown bears, pumas and wolves.

Eating Goat Green Grass

Niman Ranch founder Bill Niman became famous—and built a fortune—from selling beef, but in the years since, he’s fallen for another ruminant. Goats, he argues, can improve rangeland quality for other farm animals. And, when they're raised in the right conditions, Niman thinks they’re delicious. “If we were more attuned to nature and where our food came from, we would probably celebrate goat meat more,” he said.

Domestic goat (Capra hircus)

Domesticated goats are descended from the pasang (Capra aegagrus), which is probably native to Asia, the earliest records being Persian. In China, Great Britain, Europe, and North America, the domestic goat is primarily a milk producer, with a large portion of the milk being used to make cheese. One or two goats will supply sufficient milk for a family throughout the year and can be maintained in small quarters, where it would be uneconomical to keep a cow. For large-scale milk production, goats are inferior to cattle in the temperate zone but superior in the torrid and frigid zones. Goat flesh is edible, that from young kids being quite tender and more delicate in flavour than lamb, which it resembles. Some breeds, notably the Angora and Cashmere, are raised for their wool (see also wool; cashmere; Angora goat); young goats are the source of kid leather.

The goat

The goat or domestic goat (Capra hircus) is a species of goat-antelope that is mostly kept as livestock. It was domesticated from the wild goat (C. aegagrus) of Southwest Asia and Eastern Europe. The goat is a member of the family Bovidae, meaning it is closely related to the sheep. It was one of the first animals to be domesticated, in Iran around 10,000 years ago.

Hybrids Mixed Breed Goats

Goat Hybrids Mixed Breed Goats Born Stock Photo 1553244890 ...

ALPINE GOAT

Alpine goats average 30-40 inches at the withers, or shoulders, and weigh 135-170 lbs. Males often have long hair along their spine and more pronounced beards. Colors can vary considerably and can include white, fawn, gray, black, red, etc. They have tall, slightly curved horns and erect ears.

Alpine Marmot (Marmota marmota)

The Alpine Marmot is a squirrel relative found in Central and Southern Europe. It resides in rocky terrain and lush alpine meadows between 800 and 3,200 meters above sea level. 

The marmot digs burrows for shelter that can reach depths up to 3 meters, often located among the region's native flora, which makes up the marmot's diet. 

Likewise, the Alpine Marmot usually lives in colonies of up to 20 members. Each colony is a large family led by a dominant breeding pair and filled with their offspring.

Alpine marmots are hardy creatures built for survival in harsh climates. These squirrels hibernate  for up to nine months during the icy winters, only emerging when spring arrives. 

The Alpine marmot also does a unique whistle, echoing through the mountain air, which signals the rest of the colony that danger is near.

Alpine Salamander (Salamandra atra)

The Alpine Salamander lives in the European Alps and is distinguishable by its jet-black body. It has adapted to the region's rugged peaks and lush forests, with altitudes ranging from 2,300 to 6,600 feet. 

Interestingly, Alpine salamanders follow the viviparous reproductive method6, which allows them to give birth to live young. This is a trait uncommon in other amphibians.

ALPINE GOAT

Alpine goats average 30-40 inches at the withers, or shoulders, and weigh 135-170 lbs. Males often have long hair along their spine and more pronounced beards. Colors can vary considerably and can include white, fawn, gray, black, red, etc. They have tall, slightly curved horns and erect ears.

Alpine Currant 'Green Mound'

Compact, deep green Alpine Currant "Green Mound" (Ribes alpinum 'Green Mound') is Tegland's go-to foundation plant. "This shrub does really well in the shade," she says. "It'll also stay nice and compact with a little pruning. I've almost never seen a deer eat it."