African pygmy goats are social animals and live in herds. Males are called billys, females are called nannys and babies are called kids. These goats are mainly black, white, grey and brown in colour and both sexes have horns but only the billy has a beard.
It is thought that goats were the first animal to be domesticated around 9000 years ago and to this day we drink more goats milk than milk from any other animal. Despite their small size, pygmy goats can produce large amounts of milk, however they are not raised for meat or milk and are generally kept as pets.
As well as milk and meat in parts of China they actually use goats to help farm tea. Goats are released onto the tea plantations where they avoid consuming the green tea leaves (which contain bitter tasting substances) but instead eat the weeds and then further help when they poo as their dung helps fertilise the tea plants.
Rare Breeds Survival Trust Watchlist Status 2022-23
Not applicable as the pygmy goat is not a native species.
