Goats in the Columbian Exchange
Fun Facts
1. The more proper names for a group of goats is a tribe or trip.
2. Goats are naturally curious, they are often seen chewing odds and ends mainly to find out more about these objects.
3. There are over 210 breeds of goats in the world.
4. The male goat is called a “buck” or “billy.” while the female goat is called a “doe” or “nanny.”
By Theo Grayer, Isabel Kasdin and Kenneth Kanoe
Effect of North America's geography
More Fun Facts
- Latitude played a significant role in cultivating goats in the U.S.
- Spread quickly while other animals did not
- Able to live in most climates
- Able to eat many foods
5. Goats communicate with each other by bleating.
6. Like sheep, a goat’s eye is rectangular rather than round. They have excellent night vision and will often browse during the night.
7. The goat is one of the 12 Chinese zodiac animals. It represents introversion, creativity, shyness and being a perfectionist.
How have scientists genetically engineered goats?
Creating BioSteel
- Scientists have inserted spider genes into goat DNA
- Makes goats have spider silk in their milk, or ‘silk milk’,
- Can be used to manufacture bio steel.
- 7-10 times as strong as steel if compared for the same weight
What do goats eat?
- In the wild
- Shrubs
- Grass
- Poison Ivy
- On farms
- Mainly hay
Conditions for survival
- Very adept
- Can climb on rough terrain
- Very versatile
- Can eat almost anything
- Can live almost everywhere.
- They are very easy to care for
Goats introduction to the US
Effect of goats not being in the US
- Would not be affected greatly
- We mostly rely of sheep on sheep for wool and cows for dairy
- The production of dairy and wool would decrease.
- Who: The Spanish and English
- What: Swiss, Spanish, English and Austrian goats
- Where: New England as well as South America
- When: from the 1500's to the 1700's.
Reasons for having goats
- Used for milk, meat, hair, and hides.
- Survive well with minimal management.
- Portable because they are small
- Have 1-4 kids at one time, which helps replenish the supply.
Impact on the U.S.
- Native American had only domesticated small animals
- Lamas and Alpacas
- Europeans had 72 large animal species
- Domesticated 13 of them
- Native Americans had a surplus of good food crops before 1492,
- Had few domesticated animals.
Trade
- Make milk, which can be used to make cheese
- Goat's milk cheese is considered a delicacy.
- Provide meat.
- Some consider goats meat to be the healthiest meat
- Provide wool and other fibers.
- Can be sold