A History of Agriculture in India v1.c16.40

v1.c16.40

Goat and Sheep. 'The chief differences between the goat and the sheep are in their ecological requirements and in the raw materials they supply. The sheep is essentially a grass-feeder, preferring (where available) the protection of open woods. The goat is a browser, preferring foliage of shrubs to grass. In spite of this all goats are well adapted to life beyond the tree-line, both in high mountains and in arid zones, where small shrubs are available in abundance. The goat is probably content with even sparser food than the oriental breeds of sheep. In particular it eats aromatic herbs despised by other ruminants; hence it can penetrate farther into the desert. Apart from the supply of meat, which both species provide, the sheep scores in respect of wool and fat and in the quality of its meat whilst the goat furnishes more milk. It is possible that the use of milk and its derivatives was first established with the goat, before the cattle were domesticated.