Goat Stats

Use these quick facts to better understand how your goats operate.

By Audrey Pavia

Courtesy iStockphoto/Thinkstock

Sub Goat Physiology

Life span: 10 to 12 years, up to 30 in rare cases
Heart rate: 70 to 80 beats per minute
Respiratory rate: 15 to 30 breaths per minute
Temperature: 102.5 to 104 degrees Fahrenheit
Water intake: 188 cubic centimeters per kilogram over 24 hrs
Urine volume: 10 to 40 milliliters per kilogram body weight per day
Gastrointestinal transit time: 6 hours
Blood volume: 1/12 to 1/13 of bodyweight

Goat Reproduction

Puberty: 3 to 7 months
Birth rate: 1 to 5 kids; twins most common
Gestation: 146 to 155 days
Birth weight: 2 to 9 pounds, depending on breed
Weaning age: 8 weeks

Goat Anatomy

Hooves: cloven, two toes. Consists of wall, sole and frog. Grows constantly.
Tail: short and bare underneath; usually points upward
Ears: hanging or upright, depending on the breed
Eyes: rectangular pupil, good night vision. Color varies by breed and coat color.
Nostrils: narrow, just above the mouth; good sense of close-up smell to discern feed
Mouth: Upper jaw has no teeth and a hard palate; lower jaw has 8 incisors and 24 molars.
Horns: Most have 2 horns, made of living bone surrounded by keratin and other proteins.
Udders: two mammory glands, or teats

Give us your opinion on Goat Stats.

Submit Comment »

Don't forget our LaMancha friends, who have very small external ears, ranging from nearly absent to approximately 2 inches.

Jean, Mill Valley, CA
Posted: 9/28/2011 8:16:49 PM

Nice article. Goats don't have upper teeth in the FRONT but do have grinding molars on the top AND bottom. Mammary is spelled as shown - not with an "o." Other than that, very nice information!

Gail, Westpoint, IN
Posted: 7/21/2011 5:45:32 AM

View More Comments »