Domestic Goats ~

Domestic goats were tamed from wild goats from southwestern Asia and eastern Europe more than 10,000 years ago. Goats have been domesticated for production of meat, milk, hides, fur, and their dung for energy production. Today there are over 300 breeds of domestic goat globally.

We care for a herd of four older goats and three young goats at the zoo from a variety of different breeds including Boer, Saanen, and Nigerian dwarf goats. We feed the goats a sweet feed as well as hay, and guests can purchase a low calorie puffed feeder chow throughout the day. The goats enjoy being brushed by guests, climbing structures, browse such as grape, sugar maple, and sweetgum, and mounted brushes to rub against.