BURPING, CLIMBING ANIMAL HAS FOUR ‘STOMACHS’
GOATS were one of the first animals to be tamed by humans and were being herded 9,000 years ago.
The average dairy goat can produce up to four litres of milk a day.
Goat meat is the most consumed meat per capita worldwide.
The life span of a goat is about that of a dog. They can be taught their name and come when called.
They are very good climbers and will often climb trees or walls.
The gestation period of a goat is five months less one day, with a birth rate average of 2.2 kids per year, although triplet, quad and quin births are possible.
Kids stand and take their first steps within a few minutes of birth. The mother recognises her kid not by sight but by its own unique call, as well as scent.
Contrary to the belief of goats being willing to eat anything, they are actually very picky eaters. They have very sensitive lips, which they use to “mouth” things in search of clean and tasty food. They will often refuse to eat hay that has been walked on or lying around loose for a day.
Goats have four “stomachs.” Their food moves first into the rumen (from which it is periodically regurgitated for more “cud chewing”), then to the reticulum, later to the omasum, and finally to the abomasum (which is most like a more sensitive human stomach).
Goats burp a lot! This is due to the role of their rumen, which in a mature goat holds four to five gallons of plant material. It breaks down cellulose and acts as a fermentation vat, which produces gas.
Goats are foragers, not grazers, and so it is unnatural to graze a goat on grass. Rather, they roam mountaintops and reach up high to pick out choice bits of forage.
Goats don’t like rain and will choose shelter over foraging out in bad weather.
They are herd animals and need companionship. They have excellent vision and can see around without having to move. This is because, like many hooved animals, their pupils are rectangular, giving them 320 to 360-degree vision.