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Female goats
have no scent glands, while the males have them located between
and behind their horns. Besides the odors produced during mating
season, males also have the charming habit of urinating on their
front legs,beards and faces, making them less than ideal pets.
Some
types of goats, called "fainting goats" suffer from a
condition called myotomia where they will freeze in place,
or even fall over when startled. Throughout history, shepherds have
been known to mix these goats in with their herds of sheep,
so that in case of attack by predators, the goat will faint in place,
allowing the shepherd to escape
with the with more valuable sheep.
Goats
were possibly the earliest domesticated animals, with evidence that
they were kept by humans for milk, meat and skins as long ago as
8,000 BC. The first livestock registry in the world, in 1600's Switzerland,
was established for goats.
Goats are among
the most intelligent of domestic animals, and are well known for
their sense of curiousity. It is a myth that a goat will eat anything.
Because of their curiousity they will attempt to taste and explore
many things, but are actually quite picky eaters. The term "capricious"
comes from the goat's finicky and obstinate nature.
Goat are most
closely related to deer and antelope
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