Goat Facts for Kids

23 Goat Facts For Kids

1. The domestic goat is a small to medium sized mammal that is a member of the Caprinae subfamily.
2. The goat’s binomial name is domestic goat (Capra hircus)
3. The goat is a domesticated farm animal in the Capra genus.
4. The goat was one of the first animals to be domesticated by humans.
5. The goat was domesticated from the wild goat (Capra aegagrus) between 9,500 and 9,900 years ago.
6. Goats can be identified by their horizontal eyes with slit-shaped pupils, horns, and unique vocalization (“baaah”).
7. Goats are domesticated and can be found anywhere in the world settled and inhabited by humans.
8. There are an estimated to be about one billion goats living across the globe.
9. Goats come in many different colors, shapes, and sizes, all depending on the goat breed.
10. There are an estimated 200 different goat breeds according to the American Goat Foundation.
11. Goats are browsing herbivores and will eat just about any edible plant material.
12. A common myth is goats will eat anything, like a tin can, but goats won’t eat any inedible materials.
13. Goats were domesticated by humans for their meat, milk, and fur production.
14. Goats are used for land clearing and for years they have been used to clear away unwanted vegetation.
15. There are some people who choose to keep goats as pets due to the close bond they can form with their owners.
16. A domestic goat that lives without the support of humans is called a feral goat.
17. A male goat is referred to as a billy or a buck.
18. A female goat is referred to as a nanny or doe.
19. A juvenile goat is referred to as a kid.
20. A group of goats is called a herd, tribe, or trip.
21. The lifespan of a domestic goat is between 15 and 18 years but can be as low as 8 to 10 years in some cases.
22. The weight range of the domestic goat is between 45 and 300 pounds, varying by breed and geographical location.
23. Goats are quite good climbers and jumpers; they can jump up to 5 feet into the air and climb just about anything.

Goat Pictures

If a picture is worth a thousand words, then the below images will be helpful for your research on goats. Below are three pictures of various goats. These pictures should help you better understand what goats look like.

A picture of a brown goat.

A picture of a herd of goats.

A picture of two baby goats.