Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
appropriate to read the references provided when seeking
further information.
Table 1.1 Zoological classifi cation and ancestry
of domestic goats.
Common name
Species
EVOLUTION AND DOMESTICATION
OF GOATS
Evolutionary biology indicates that the goat was domesti-
cated about 10,000 years ago at the dawn of the Neolithic
age. Domestication was associated with three of the oldest
civilizations: the Nile in northeast Africa, the Tigris-
Euphrates in west Asia, and the Indus in the Indian sub-
continent. Archeological investigations of relics from past
civilizations show that links between goats and people and
their livelihoods were very close. Archeologists indicate
that the goat was fi rst domesticated in the “Fertile Crescent”
of the eastern Mediterranean. This landmass stretches
between the Black and Caspian seas along the coast of
Palestine, and curves like a quarter moon toward the
Persian Gulf. This is the site where agriculture originated—
in the narrow strip bounded by the Euphrates and Tigris
rivers.
Domestication of wild goats was evident fi rst in Jericho
(Jordon) around 7000 BC as well as in the Zagros
Mountains in Gangi Dareh (Iran) around 8000 BC (Zeuner,
1963). Since then, the goat has been involved in many
aspects of human culture including religion, tradition, folk-
lore, nutrition, livelihood, and economics (Boyazoglu
et al., 2005 ).
True goat
Capra hircus , including the
bezoar ( c.h.aegagrus )
Ibexes
Capra ibex
Caucasian tur
Capra caucasica
Spanish ibexes
Capra pyrenaica
Markhor
Capra falconeri
Source: Ellerman and Morrison Scott, 1951 .
family Bovidae, and is of either the Capra or the
Hemitragus genera. The distinction between these two
genera was based fi rst on horn structure, but the distinction
has been confi rmed genetically.
The domestic goat belongs to the genus Capra . It devel-
oped from the following fi ve wild ancestors:
1 . Capra hircus , the true goat including the bezoar
(e.g., aegagrus)
2 . Capra ibex , the ibexes
3 . Capra caucasica , the Caucasian tur
4 . Capra pyrenaica, the Spanish ibex
5 . Capra falconeri , the markhor
See Table 1.1. The Mediterranean breeds also owe some
of their distinctive characteristics to the ancestral infl uence
of the extinct Capra prisca.
The comparative morphology and breeding experiments
indicate that the bezoar of western Asia was the main
progenitor of most domestic goats. Both the markhor and
bezoar gave rise to the majority of the Indian and central
Asian breeds with their distinctive characteristics: long
coarse hair, black rather than white, brown, or other colors,
and scimitar-shaped horns (Devendra and Burns, 1983).
GOATS IN MYTHOLOGY
Goats, probably more than any other species, have been
associated with mythology in many cultures. In ancient
mythology, Jupiter was nursed by a goat and Thor's chariot
was pulled by a team of goats. The Greek god Pan often
is represented as half man and half goat. In Chinese culture
for example, the goat spirit Yang Chin is the god of Fan-
Yin, the transcendent goat with a white face, horns, a long
beard, and a special headdress.
In Chinese astrology, the goat is one of the cycles among
the 12 earthly branches of nature. Symbolizing love and
happiness, the goat represents Wei, the eighth earthly
branch and the embodiment of summer. The goat also is a
Mongolian god (Cooper, 1992). The zodiacal sign
Capricorn comes from the Latin word Capra meaning a
goat. In addition, the sign Aries has a mixed etymology.
In Umbrian it is a ram, in Greek it is a kid (goat), and in
old Irish it is a doe.
IMPORTANCE AND SOCIOECONOMIC
RELEVANCE OF GOATS
Goats provide products and services important for man
throughout the world. In developed countries goats are
valued mainly for their milk, fi ber, and meat; while in the
developing countries, they are valued mainly for meat,
followed by milk, fi ber, and skins. Table 1.2 summarizes
the products and services from goats in Asia, which will
be similar to other regions of the world.
The socioeconomic relevance of goats is greatest in
developing countries where they meet socioeconomic, cul-
tural, and recreational needs. Their small size is especially
relevant and relates directly to economic, managerial, and
ZOOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION
The goat is a hollow-horned ruminant that belongs to the
mammalian order Artidactotyla, suborder Ruminantia ,
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