Capra hircus reproduces by sexual reproduction. Individuals typically have either male or female gonads, but not both. However, in the case of intersexual organisms, individuals can be a true hermaphrodite and have both types of gonads, or be a psuedohermaphrodite and possess one type of gonads but exhibit behaviors of the other sex during puberty. Though intersexuality is a rarity, it is more common in goats than in any other domestic animal.

Goats are placental animals and undergo internal fertilization. For domestic goats, breeding is usually controlled by humans and can proceed through either direct or artificial insemination. Breeding is classified as polygynous. One male, usually with desired traits or health, is chosen to breed with several females. Males can mate between 10 and 20 times per day.

In the wild, the breeding situation is similar. Males

compete for rank within a herd by butting heads

and only the highest-ranking males mate with the

females. The dominant males exhibit a behavior

known as tending in which they stay close to their

female mating partner while she is in estrus. Once

they are done mating, the male moves onto the

next female. In some cases, the lower ranking

males (usually the less matured males) gain the

opportunity to breed. They do this by coursing, or

separating the female from her tending male.

Goat breeding season occurs during the fall and winter and is triggered by the decreasing amount of daylight as the day shortens. During these seasons the female, or doe, undergoes an estrus cycle that lasts for 18 days. Throughout this cycle she will frequently “flag” or raise her tail and will tolerate being mounted by other goats. During the fall and winter seasons, the male goat, or buck, produces more testosterone and its sebaceous gland produces a secretion that gives off a distinct rank odor.

                                                                        Once a male fertilizes a female, the gestation

                                                                        period lasts between 146 to 152 days.

                                                                        Typically, a female will have between one

                                                                        between three offspring at a time, but twinning

                                                                        is very common. Young goats, or kids, can walk

                                                                        within hours of birth. Their mother cares them for

                                                                        until about 10 months of age, at which time they

                                                                        are weaned and can graze independently. In

                                                                        some circumstances goats can be reared

                                                                        artificially and weaned after only 6 or fewer

                                                                        weeks. This process allows female goats to be

                                                                        able to breed sooner after giving birth because

                                                                        they do not have to care for their young.

                                                                        Young males are capable of reproducing at 4-5

                                                                        months of age and females mature within a

                                                                        year.

                                                                            For more information on artificial goat rearing, click here.

To return home, click here.

To learn about the goat’s interactions with other species, click here.

Male goats preparing to headbutt.

Photo by (nz)dave

Baby goat nursing from its mother.

Photo by ransford