NationStates Jolt Archive

With more and more people getting exited about goats, goat farming, and goats as pets, I think it's prudent to start a thread for those of us goat fans on Nationstates, as well as those contemplating hopping on the goat bandwagon!

Although this thread is mainly a tribute to nature's perfect meat and dairy animal, as well as one of the brightest and liveliest pets in anyone's yard or farm, I'm also asking the question: All goats are great, but which breed is your favorite? ;)

The poll is also designed as a census to see what kind of goats everyone has! :)

Share your favorite goat stories, anecdotes or funny quirks. :p

Goats, meh. I prefer Llamas.

I prefer Llamas.

I don't think llamas are a type of goat. ;) Not that they don't have their charm, but they're a whole other animal.

I don't think llamas are a type of goat. ;) Not that they don't have their charm, but they're a whole other animal.
I know. But if you change there basic size, shape, anatomy, name, and give them horns they might resemble goats.

Goats are teh bomb. Smart, mean, sheep with horns.

I know. But if you change there basic size, shape, anatomy, name, and give them horns they might resemble goats.

Goats are teh bomb. Smart, mean, sheep with horns.

Mine will always have horns, because I have a soft spot and can't bear to burn them off a kid with a hot iron, :( Most don't have the horns nowadays though, which is a matter of preference. :)

Pete Sampras is THE GOAT!

Pete Sampras is THE GOAT!
teh G0@7

(okay, okay, I don't really know leet)

hahahahha! there's an 'oberhasli goat'??
:roffles:

hahahahha! there's an 'oberhasli goat'??
:roffles:

Yeah, why not? :) I prefer Alpine myself, but Obers are great too. The runner up to Alpines would have to be Toggenburg though, even though I misspelled it on the poll question. :headbang:

I voted nigerean dwarf because it has a cool name. Besides, I can picture cute little dwarf goats running around....*shudders*

Saanen all the way!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!SHIFT1111 :D :D

what is it :(

Yeah, why not? :) I prefer Alpine myself, but Obers are great too. The runner up to Alpines would have to be Toggenburg though, even though I misspelled it on the poll question. :headbang:
mwwwaaahahaha! even better, I didn't recognize it as that. *sigh* I definitely vote for the Toggenburg Goat then :D

GO TOGGENBURG!!!


i would have thought this thrad is just askling for evil pr0n spammers aswell :S

Saanen all the way!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!SHIFT1111 :D :D

what is it :(

Saanens are one of the most popular goat breeds worldwide, almost always pure white color from head to toe, with big straight ears. :)

I just think it's funny 3 of the above are named after areas of Switzerland (excluding the alpine one). Yay, so proud to be Swiss. The country of cheese, snow and goats! :D

http://www.esatclear.ie/~theborderhouse/images/goat.jpg

GOAT!!

Holy shit, is that that goat's nutsack?!!

I just think it's funny 3 of the above are named after areas of Switzerland (excluding the alpine one). Yay, so proud to be Swiss. The country of cheese, snow and goats! :D

Alpines are a widespread breed, usually called French Alpine, but sometimes called British, Swiss, and Rock Alpine, depending on the variety. Naturally, the British variety was named because it was bred in Britain, not because there's alps in Britain. ;) Rock Alpines are an American variety, named after a breeder named Rock, not because they like rocks more than other types. :)

Holy shit, is that that goat's nutsack?!!
yes. yes, it is. solid as a rock . :D
edit: actually...it think 'tis a female goat. a goatee, so to speak.

*shudders*

yes. yes, it is. solid as a rock . :D
edit: actually...it think 'tis a female goat. a goatee, so to speak.

A female's a doe. And of course that's a female. :)

Edit: On second look: Wow, that's much larger than normal for udders.. maybe it's like that in the wild.. dunno.

A female's a doe. And of course that's a female. :)

Edit: On second look: Wow, that's much larger than normal for udders.. maybe it's like that in the wild.. dunno.
How do you come to know so much about goats? :confused:

How do you come to know so much about goats? :confused:

From owning goats! :) I've had goats for a long time, but they get more popular every day.. maybe soon a friend or neighbor you know will have one. They're quiet, unlike dogs, and are very friendly and sweet, unlike some of the goat stereotypes. They also have no odor and don't eat tin cans. :D At least does don't I mean.. males have a musky smell around mating time, but that's understandable.

A female's a doe. And of course that's a female. :)

oooh, riiight... and I was wondering why they'd name that beard after a female goat :p

From owning goats! :) I've had goats for a long time, but they get more popular every day.. maybe soon a friend or neighbor you know will have one. They're quiet, unlike dogs, and are very friendly and sweet, unlike some of the goat stereotypes. They also have no odor and don't eat tin cans. :D At least does don't I mean.. males have a musky smell around mating time, but that's understandable.
and you can make good cheese of them. ...well... their milk, that is.

and you can make good cheese of them. ...well... their milk, that is.

Yup. Goatmilk's healthier than cowmilk, and has no difference in taste. The only difference is that goatmilk is white, while cowmilk is slightly yellow, since cows can't break down carotene into Vitamin-A like goats do - the fat in cowmilk keeps a yellow tinge because of the carotene. Goatmilk always wins in blind tastetests though. ;)

Edit: Also, goatmilk is more popular worldwide than cowmilk, although not domestically.

Yup. Goatmilk's healthier than cowmilk, and has no difference in taste. The only difference is that goatmilk is white, while cowmilk is slightly yellow, since cows can't break down carotene into Vitamin-A like goats do. Goatmilk always wins in blind tastetests though. ;)
I never really liked fresh cow milk. too heavy, too creamy. too warm ;)

I never really liked fresh cow milk. too heavy, too creamy. too warm ;)

There's always butter, yoghurt, ice-cream, milk-beer, cheese, cream-cheese, pudding, fudge, etc. Then there's always frozen and condensed milk, which lasts forever and can be used in cooking. Goats just keep on giving. :)

Yup. Goatmilk's healthier than cowmilk, and has no difference in taste. The only difference is that goatmilk is white, while cowmilk is slightly yellow, since cows can't break down carotene into Vitamin-A like goats do - the fat in cowmilk keeps a yellow tinge because of the carotene. Goatmilk always wins in blind tastetests though. ;)

Edit: Also, goatmilk is more popular worldwide than cowmilk, although not domestically.

Goat cheese is kinda gross though.

Goat cheese is kinda gross though.
oooh, no, it's not!
but you should definitely come and look at some of the cheeses they have at cheese stores over here...:eek:

Goat cheese is kinda gross though.

Goatmilk tastes exactly the same as cowmilk, and so does goat cheese. Some people don't like Feta, but that's not the goat's fault, it's because of the way it's aged in brine, which gives it the salty taste. You can make any kind of cheese with goatmilk. ;)

Goatmilk tastes exactly the same as cowmilk, and so does goat cheese. Some people don't like Feta, but that's not the goat's fault, it's because of the way it's aged in brine, which gives it the salty taste. You can make any kind of cheese with goatmilk. ;)
I like most Feta's. The cheese I am referring to was marketed as simply goat cheese. It tasted like sand.

I like most Feta's. The cheese I am referring to was marketed as simply goat cheese. It tasted like sand.
They sell a green goat cheese here, called Ziger and it's reeeeally good!

I like most Feta's. The cheese I am referring to was marketed as simply goat cheese. It tasted like sand.

It's all about the process. There's goatmilk Cheddar, ricotta, swiss, etc.

There's a lot of rich folks here too that pay top dollar for goatsmilk soap, so even a non-milkdrinker can make a living with a few goats, or as extra income or a hobby.

I voted nigerean dwarf because it has a cool name. Besides, I can picture cute little dwarf goats running around....*shudders*

Ever see that movie "Bio-Dome?" That's based on a real experiment called BioSphere 2, where 8 scientists locked themselves in a BioDome with thousands of plants and animal species to test a model for a space colony. Their goat of choice was the Nigerian Dwarf, because of it's superior milking ability and small size, as well as it's high quality meat. They'll probably be the first goats in space!

It's all about the process. There's goatmilk Cheddar, ricotta, swiss , etc.

Gehe, I have an American friend who seriously does not believe me that over here 'Swiss cheese' means all the different kinds of cheeses produced in Switzerland. There is no such thing as a 'Swiss' cheese here.

Gehe, I have an American friend who seriously does not believe me that over here 'Swiss cheese' means all the different kinds of cheeses produced in Switzerland. There is no such thing as a 'Swiss' cheese here.

It's kinda screwy here with dairy products. In fact, almost no one here under 40 years old has ever even had real milk, from a cow or anywhere else, unless they're from farm country. That's why sometimes people think goatmilk is "different," because when they try it, it's the first time they've had real whole milk that hasn't been chemically treated, stripped of any nutritional value, watered down and packed with preservatives.

It's kinda screwy here with dairy products. In fact, almost no one here under 40 years old has ever even had real milk, from a cow or anywhere else, unless they're from farm country. That's why sometimes people think goatmilk is "different," because when they try it, it's the first time they've had real whole milk that hasn't been chemically treated, stripped of any nutritional value, watered down and packed with preservatives.
I think it's funny you sell 'fat-free' milk and it's still white. Fat is what makes milk turn white (as far as I know) and therefore it shouldn't be white anymore when you take out all the fat.
...still tastes ok though :)

I think it's funny you sell 'fat-free' milk and it's still white. Fat is what makes milk turn white (as far as I know) and therefore it shouldn't be white anymore when you take out all the fat.
...still tastes ok though :)

I'm not sure how it works on the molecular level, other than that the fat in cowmilk is much larger in globule size than the short-strand fat in goatmilk, which is easier on the digestive system and why doctors proscribe goatmilk to some people. I've actually noticed a bit of a gray tinge in skim cowmilk before, but it definitely seems like something other than the butterfat gives milk its whiteness.

Mmm, chevon...:D

Bump for goats! :)

Goats are cool. Similar to sheep which are cool.

goats rule! I knew a nubian once- his name was frank, I loved him...He had the best ears. I love pygmys too, I bet they would do well in a home setting.

Hail Satan!

...Sorry, but that seemed oddly appropriate.

My father was once involved in helping to set up a party where a band had been hired to play. He also had to take a goat to the vet for his mother that day. He was running a bit late and decided to stop in on the way back from the vet to help set up the band, rather than taking the goat home first. When he arrived everyone was inside checking out the venue. My father thought it would be amusing to put the goat in the band's van (just to see the look on their face when they opened the van and a goat was inside), which he did before joining the others inside.

When everyone came out to start bringing in the band equipment, the sound of drums being pounded could be heard. The band members looking worried hurried to the van and opended the back doors. There was grandma's goat standing on his back legs, playing the drums with his front....unfortunately the band passed on Dad's offer to have the goat play as a permenent member...

goats rule! I knew a nubian once- his name was frank, I loved him...He had the best ears. I love pygmys too, I bet they would do well in a home setting.

Nubians make great pets. They're the #1 breed in the U.S., too, not surprisingly. :)

My father was once involved in helping to set up a party where a band had been hired to play. He also had to take a goat to the vet for his mother that day. He was running a bit late and decided to stop in on the way back from the vet to help set up the band, rather than taking the goat home first. When he arrived everyone was inside checking out the venue. My father thought it would be amusing to put the goat in the band's van (just to see the look on their face when they opened the van and a goat was inside), which he did before joining the others inside.

When everyone came out to start bringing in the band equipment, the sound of drums being pounded could be heard. The band members looking worried hurried to the van and opended the back doors. There was grandma's goat standing on his back legs, playing the drums with his front....unfortunately the band passed on Dad's offer to have the goat play as a permenent member...

That's a new one on me! I believe it, though.. just when you think you've seen everything, goats surprise you.

Reminds me of a few weeks ago, when it got particularly cold at night.. I went outside to see if the dogs wanted to come in, and the goat had stolen their spot on a blanket we keep out for them.. so there were both dogs, using the goat as a big pillow! The goat was puffed up to twice her normal size to keep warm, and the dogs musta thought she was pretty comfortable. They saw me, but chose to stay out in 35 degree weather with the goat, rather than come inside, which is rare for the dogs!

My favorite goat is Baphomet.

http://www.chez.com/alkast/baphomet.jpg

My favorite goat is Baphomet.

http://www.chez.com/alkast/baphomet.jpg

Error 403: the French version of 404 maybe? :p

Kudos to whoever voted Alpine! They're #1! :cool:

That's a new one on me! I believe it, though..
I didnt the first time my Dad told me (he was a bit of a 'jokster/leg puller'), but one of his friends who was present on the occassion (of the 'goat incident) confirmed that it did indeed happen, ....otherwise I'd have figured Dad was just 'pulling my leg'...