THE
DOMESTIC
GOAT |
Domestic
Goats can live in most any environment and are thus a popular source of
livestock for many herders. They are fairly easy to take care of as well, as
they eat almost anything. However, if provoked, they can be a bit ill mannered.
Various terms are used to classify Goats based on gender and age. Adult males
are usually called bucks while adolescent males are called billy goats. A female
Goat is either called a nanny goat or a doe. A Goat less than one year old is
called a kid.
Appearance.
Domestic Goats tend to be the
same size as their wild cousins. They’re usually about 2 fores at the shoulder,
one ped in length, and 1.5 pygges in weight. However, unlike wild goats,
Domestic Goats usually have very small horns, if any at all. Their horns are
often cut off before they get too long to prevent injury to the shepard and the
other Goats in the herd.
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Domestic goats come in a larger variety of colors than wild goats. Their fleece
can be white, tawny, tan, brown, grey, black, and all colors in between.
Sometimes they even come in a combination of colors. Their coat, which they are
some times bred fore, can differ in texture depending on terrain, varying from
straight to curly, long to short. They also have cloven feet, usually small and
dainty, that often times need to be cut. Wild goats have their hooves worn by
their rocky habitat, but Domestic Goats have to have them cut. Their eyes are
usually a golden color.
Territory.
Domestic Goats can be found all over the
Sarvonian continent, in the region of the
United Kingdom of Santharia as well as at the lands of the barbarians to the
north.
Habitat/Behaviour.
Though Domestic Goats tend to be a lot more good-natured than wild ones, they
are known for charging rarely. However, they usually only do this when provoked
or annoyed. For this reason parents are often weary about letting children too
close to them unless the child is mature enough and smart enough not to annoy
the Goat to the point where they might become dangerous. For the most part,
Goats are easily herded. Their habitat depends on their location, but they
require a place with at least some vegetation.
Diet.
This little beast can eat any form of vegetation from grasses to
bushes to
flowers to weeds. Some ranchers use Goats
to clear brush and unwanted plants from their pastures. Goats living in the
desert, where vegetation is hard to find, have been seen climbing trees to get
food!
Mating.
During mating season between late summer and late winter the buck releases a
oily substance that has a scent that attracts the doe. Shepherds who breed Goats
for their fleece will put the Goats they wish to breed in a pen called a mating
pen. Usually there is one buck with one or more doe. The Goats will be kept here
until the female or females are pregnant.
Does usually carry the kid for 5 months before giving birth. The kid will stay
with its mother for several months, unlike the wild breed that will only stay
with their mother for one or two. They usually live between 8 and 10 years.
Usages.
Domestic Goats have a number of uses. One of their main uses is for wool. Some
Goats are especially bred for their coat, which may be silky and sheen or warm
and soft. Uses and styles often depend upon climate. Usually thicker, warmer
furred-goats live in northern parts of
Santharia while thinner, silkier furred-goats are raised in southern
Santharia. The Goat’s fleece is usually
cut off in summer when the Goat doesn’t need it due to warmer weather. It also
makes breeding less difficult.
Goats are also used for their milk. In fact, they are the second largest
producers of milk in Santharia behind
cows. Goat milk is a perfect substitute for those who are
allergic to cow’s milk. Goat milk also tends to be easier
to digest than cow’s milk and for this reason it is an
important source of milk for babies, especially those who’ve lost their mother.
Goat milk usually has a tangy flavor and is thicker than
cow’s milk, and tends to be stronger if the Goat is not held clean. This
milk is sometimes used to make cheese.
Goat meat is also a reason Goats are popular livestock. Shepherds will be able
to kill one of these Goats from their herd to feed themselves and their
families. Members of nobility may also keep Goats for a source of food.
Information provided by
Rayne Avalotus
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