Goat

The goat is a domesticated ruminant mammal in the genus Capra, kept worldwide for milk, meat, fibre, and as a grazing animal.

The goat is a domesticated ruminant mammal in the genus Capra, kept worldwide for milk, meat, fibre, and as a grazing animal. Goats are browsers and herbivores with a four-compartment stomach adapted to digest fibrous plant material.

What it is

Goats are ruminant mammals with one stomach divided into four compartments: the rumen, reticulum, omasum, and abomasum. This system helps them break down fibrous plants through microbial fermentation. Domestic goats are closely associated with humans and are common on farms and smallholdings.

Key details

Goats mainly eat forage such as grass, hay, browse, and other fibrous plant material. They are browsers and often select leaves, buds, and shoots rather than only grazing grass. Domestic goats are raised for milk, meat, fibre, and vegetation control. Kids are young goats; adult males are bucks and adult females are does.

Why it matters

Goats are kept across Canada for milk, meat, fibre, and vegetation management, and Canadian livestock guidance commonly covers goat nutrition and husbandry. They are active, social animals that can be kept as pets or livestock when their space, diet, herd needs, and fencing requirements are properly met.