Goat Clipart

Goats have been domesticated by humans for over 10,000 years starting in the Fertile Crescent region of the Middle East. Originally kept for meat, milk, hair, and skins, goats are now raised all over the world as a valuable source of food and fibers. Humans have bred over 210 different goat breeds suitable for various climates and needs.

Goat Breeds

The major types of goats include dairy, meat, and fiber breeds.

• Dairy goats like the Alpine, LaMancha, Nubian, Saanen and Toggenburg are bred specifically for milk production which is often made into popular dairy foods like cheese and yogurt.
• Meat goat breeds such as the Boer, Kiko, and Spanish provide lean, high quality meat.
• Fiber goats including the Angora, Cashmere and Pygora produce valuable mohair, cashmere and pygmy goat wool.

Goat Biology

Goats are small domesticated ruminant mammals related to sheep and cows. They have a four-chambered stomach that allows them to break down tough plant materials.

• Goats are herbivores that use their mobile lips and tongues to browse on shrubs, trees, and weeds.
• They have an excellent sense of sight and smell to detect predators. Male goats grow horns that are used for fighting during breeding season. Goats have slanted rectangle pupils with 320° vision for detecting movement.
• The average lifespan of a goat is 15-18 years. Goats are precocial – born with hair, standing, and mobility. They reach puberty at 4-12 months of age depending on breed and gender.

Goat Behavior

Goats have many interesting behavioral traits!

• They are very agile and curious, which can lead to climbing and escaping enclosed spaces.
• Goats establish social hierarchies based on age and size. The herd is led by a dominant adult female.
• Vocalizations like bleating establish bonds between dam and kids or signal distress. Some breeds make unusual yodeling sounds.
• When threatened, mother goats will firmly plant their legs apart, squat down, and ram perceived predators with their heads!

Goat Care

Caring properly for goats requires suitable housing, fencing, feeding, and health management.

• Goats must have access to clean water, mineral licks, and roughage like grass or hay. Supplemental feed can include grains, vegetables, fruits and more.
• Barns should have enough room for exercise and rest areas. Good ventilation and clean, dry bedding helps control diseases.
• Fences should be strong enough to keep goats enclosed.
• Hoof trimming every few months maintains foot health. Monitoring for illness and parasites is essential.

Goat Milk and Dairy Products

Thanks to high butterfat content, goat milk has growing interest and demand among consumers.

• It offers good digestibility and a slightly sweet, grassy taste. Many people avoiding cow milk products find goat derivatives suitable instead for their diets or health conditions.
• Cheeses like feta and chèvre (soft, spreadable goat cheese) rely on goat’s milk during production. Goat milk characteristics like high calcium levels and smaller fat molecules provide specific texture and flavor attributes to cheese.
• Yogurts made from goat milk also offer probiotic benefits, protein, and calcium.

Goat Meat

While not as commonly consumed in America, chevon or goat meat offers many nutritional benefits. It has less fat, cholesterol, and calories compared to similar servings of lamb, beef or chicken.

• Goat has a sweet, mild flavor. It can be prepared similarly to lamb recipes with curries, stewing, grilling, etc.
• Young, milk-fed goat kids provide the most tender meat. Mature goats or bucks have stronger-flavored meat often used for sausage. Consumers’ preferences for goat meat leanness and tenderness influence meat quality.

Goat Fiber

Several breeds produce valuable hair and wool used in the textile industry or for hand spinning.

• Angora goats grow silky white, long, curly locks harvested as mohair for apparel like sweaters or suits or even upholstery.
• Cashmere fiber is also gathered from some goat breeds. The soft, fine hair is triple-dehaired and processed into luxurious garments or blends fetching very high prices.
• Pygora goats produce a mix wool of cashmere-like fibers and standard kemp goat hair used by spinners and weavers.

Goats as Pets

The small size, friendly nature, appealing characteristics and easier care compared to similar livestock has fueled a growing interest in goats as pets.

• Popular breeds like Pygora and Pygmy goats are suited for suburban backyards or small farms. Nigerian Dwarf goats also make good pets.
• Goats can learn their names, walk on leashes, carry packs, give kids rides and compete in agility courses and shows.
• Owners must provide proper shelter, vet care including deworming and vaccinations, hoof trimming and outlets for natural climbing and foraging behaviors even as pets.

Goats in Media and Culture

Goats frequently appear in literature, mythology, religion, nursery rhymes, movies and more.

• Ancient myths like fauns combine goats and humans. Satan is often portrayed as goat-like.
• Popular rhyme characters include the Three Billy Goats Gruff crossing a troll’s bridge.
• In the Bible, Jewish custom involves a scapegoat released to atone for people’s sins.
• Movies often typecast goats as comical farm animals like the zany goat in the film Men in Black.

Goat Clipart and Illustrations

Using clipart or stock art helps creatives easily access goat images for their projects.

• Goat clipart offers fixed images in different poses like leaping, grazing, or cartoon styles provided as digital computer files.
• Royalty-free illustrations save searching for suitable goat photos to decorate blogs, T-shirts, flyers, websites and more.
• Fun, cute, or majestic photos allow choosing imagery conveying specific feelings and symbolism.

I hope you’ve enjoyed this overview exploring some interesting aspects about goats ranging from basic information like breeds and biology to their roles in human societies regarding dairy, meat, and fibers plus representations in our culture and arts!

In this page clipartix present 70 goat clipart images free for designing activities. Lets download Goat Clipart that you want to use for works or personal uses.