| Goats belong to the same family as sheep and cattle, | | | | Because goats can live on relatively poor pasture |
| the bovidae family. There are over 60 breeds in the | | | | land, many people think that goats can live on almost |
| world, but only a few of these are common in North | | | | anything, including trash and tin cans. This is not true. |
| America. | | | | To be healthy and productive, goats must have |
| The breeds can be divided into two groups, mohair | | | | proper nourishment just like other animals. |
| goats and milk goats. The mohair group includes the | | | | Almost every large city in the United States has at |
| Angora goat, whose wool is well known as a material | | | | least one dairy nearby. Goat's milk is similar to cow's |
| for sweaters. Breeds of milk goats include the | | | | milk, but it is considered by some people to be easier |
| Toggenburg, Saanen, Nubian, and French Alpine. | | | | to digest. Many kinds of cheese are made from this |
| Texas is the leading goat-producing state. The | | | | milk. |
| bovidae raising area of Texas is the south central | | | | In many countries milk goats are popular dairy |
| region known as the Edwards Plateau. This is rugged | | | | animals. Switzerland, Italy, France, Spain, and |
| grazing land, thinly covered by grass, cedar, and small | | | | Germany are the leading countries in the production |
| oak trees, with a large amount of brush. The brush is | | | | of goats' milk. The main centers of Angora goat |
| of no value as food for other livestock, but goats | | | | raising are Turkey, South Africa, and the south |
| thrive on it. | | | | western United States. |