The domestic goat is a domesticated ruminant species, derived from the wild goat (Capra aegagrus) through domestication in the Middle East approximately 10,000 years ago, being one of the first species domesticated for milk, meat, wool, and hides. It has a robust body with horns varying in shape and size, covered in fur that can be short, long, or curly, in shades of white, black, brown, or spotted; there are over 300 distinct breeds, from pygmy to large meat breeds.
Habits
Goats are social animals with herd instinct, preferring to graze in groups, being adaptable to various types of vegetation and rough terrain; they communicate through varied sounds and have diurnal behavior, but can also be active at dusk to avoid predators.
Reproduction
Females reach sexual maturity between 6 and 12 months; gestation lasts on average 150-170 days, usually resulting in 1-3 kids (rarely up to 2 according to some enchanted populations), and the female can come into heat again a few weeks after giving birth.
Distribution
Initially domesticated in southwestern Asia and Eastern Europe, the goat has been spread by humans to all continents (except Antarctica), adapting to various habitats, from mountainous regions and grasslands to agricultural and semi-arid areas.
