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If there were wisdom in beards, all goats would be prophets.

The myth that goats eat anything, from tin cans to noxious weeds is false. In fact, goats are notoriously persnickety.

• Worldwide more people drink goat milk than any other variety.
• Goats belong to the genus Capra, an offshoot of the cattle family, and like cows, camels, and giraffes, they are ruminants, which means they are cud chewing and hoofed.
• The Egyptians worshiped goats and the Greeks sacrificed them, making them “scape-goats” that took on the sins of the community.
• During the Middle Ages, Christians feared that goats were Satan’s associates because of their cloven hooves and their lecherous ways when in heat.
• In the traditional zodiac, the sign of Capricorn, represented by the goat, is noted for creativity.
• In Latin, the word for goat, capre gives us capricious for “lighthearted,” or “impulsive.”
• Many have found goats to be charming, whimsical, endearing, and quite possibly the precursor to the dog being “man’s best friend.”

Goats as Pets

• Goats hate to get wet and need protection from the cold. Plan to keep the stalls clean and draft-free.
• Well-fed, content goats with good fencing stay contained. If they’re being poorly fed and poorly fenced they will find a way out.
• Goats need a balanced grain nutrition. They should be fed from two to six times a day for high-yield production.
• Anything spoiled or soiled repels them.
• Trimming hooves, dehorning, castrating, shots, grooming equipment, feed, and fencing are chores and expenses required for keeping goats.