Small History of Modern Goats

    Goats are inquisitive, mischievous creatures but undeniably strike a chord deep inside the human heart.  Goats are highly socialable.  Although they seem to gang up on new arrivals into the herd, they do accept the need to live together.  Goats will also accept people into their herd, and often willingly follow their human "head goat".

    People domesticated goats as early as 10 000 years ago - far earlier than any other animal, including the dog.  Undoubtedly they kept the early goat for a source of fresh meat.

    The breeds we see in Canada are almost exclusively derived from the dairy breeds of Europe.  The Alpine came from France, the Saanen from the Saanen valley in Switzerland, and the Toggenburg from northwest Swizterland.  Even the Nubian underwent most of it'e development in England.