The domestic goat or simply goat (Capra hircus) is a domesticated species of goat-antelope typically kept as livestock. It was domesticated from the wild goat (C. aegagrus) of Southwest Asia and Eastern Europe. The goat is a member of the animal family Bovidae and the subfamily Caprinae, meaning it is closely related to the sheep. There are over 300 distinct breeds of goat. It is one of the oldest domesticated species of animal, according to archaeological evidence that its earliest domestication occurred in Iran at 10,000 calibrated calendar years ago.

Goats have been used for milk, meat, fur, and skins across much of the world. Milk from goats is often turned into goat cheese.

Female goats are referred to as does or nannies, intact males are called bucks or billies, and juvenile goats of both sexes are called kids. Castrated males are called wethers. While the words hircine and caprine both refer to anything having a goat-like quality, hircine is used most often to emphasize the distinct smell of domestic goats.

In 2011, there were more than 924 million goats living in the world, according to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization.

15 Amazing Things You Probably Didn't Know About Goats

1. GOATS WERE ONE OF—IF NOT THE—FIRST ANIMALS TO BE DOMESTICATED.
2. GOATS WERE AMONG THE FIRST ANIMALS TO BE BROUGHT TO AMERICA.
3. GOAT POPULARITY SURGED FOLLOWING THE 1904 WORLD'S FAIR IN ST. LOUIS.
4. GIVING BIRTH IS CALLED “KIDDING.”
5. GOATS DON'T HAVE TEETH ON THEIR UPPER JAW.
6. GOATS HAVE RECTANGULAR PUPILS.
7. GOATS HAVE FOUR STOMACHS.
8. GOAT'S MILK IS THE MOST POPULAR KIND OF MILK WORLDWIDE.
9. THERE'S GOOD REASON TO DRINK GOAT'S MILK, TOO.
10. “FAINTING” GOATS DON'T REALLY FAINT, BUT THEY SURE LOOK LIKE THEY DO.
11. ABRAHAM LINCOLN LOVED GOATS.
12. CASHMERE COMES FROM GOATS.
13. ACCORDING TO LEGEND, GOATS DISCOVERED COFFEE.
14. GOATS HAVE INCREDIBLE AGILITY AND BALANCE.
15. GOATS HAVE ACCENTS.