What is your favorite barnyard animal? Choices include chicken, cow, donkey, goat, horse, pig and sheep. Each of these has its claim to fame, its singular breed with unique characteristics, definable personalities and very specific uses. Of course, there is no wrong answer. Animal lovers’ favorites are not debatable.
However, if the question is refined just a bit: “Which of the above livestock was the first to be domesticated, the most prolific in the products it supplies humankind, considers poison ivy a delicacy, and has the most outgoing personality?,” there is no contest. The goat has secured its place as the G.O.A.T. (Greatest of All Time) in the kingdom of domesticated farm animals.
Why, specifically, is the goat the G.O.A.T.? No other animal can compete with the manifold staples provided by goats, including milk from which cheese and yogurt are made, meat, fiber—cashmere and angora, and leather products such as gloves, wallets and jackets.
A goat’s gustatory toleration of invasive plants, including poison ivy and multiflora rose, provides owners with an efficient and inexpensive means of brush removal. Lively and frisky behavior provides comedic entertainment. Finally, some consider a goat to be the “new dog”. A goat’s potential to be a delightful pet will be explored later.
Many goats claim Granby and North Granby as hometowns. Their people are devoted and knowledgeable. They include Nancy Butler of Lyric Hill Farm, Dorothy and Stanley Hayes of Sweet Pea Cheese at the House of Hayes, Ann Wilhelm and Bill Bentley of Wilhelm Farm, and Emilia Sales and her family at Silkey Mountain Farm.
In addition, members of Granby’s 4-H interact with goats under the guidance of Ellen Hayes Whitlow and her mom, Dorothy Hayes. These youngsters learn about the feeding, milking and care of goats, ultimately preparing to show their animals at the Hartford County 4-H Fair held annually in Somers in August.
During a fair preparation practice at Sweet Pea Cheese this past July, four 4-H members spent an hour practicing skills required for showing their animal. Ethan (8) led Listerine, his sister Emmaline (10) managed Cora, sisters Vivian (8) and Amelia (11) teamed with Minuet and Nadine respectively. They paraded their goats in an approximate circle around Ellen Whitlow, who acted as judge. She directed questions to individuals as they circled, such as “Where is your goat’s ‘loin,’ ‘stifle’ or ‘pastern’?” They practiced lining up in the different ways they would be asked to do in the actual fair ring: in a “head to tail line” as well as “side by side.”
Leading a goat along a prescribed path is not the simple task it may sound: these goats were strong pullers and had their own ideas where they wanted to walk—and it was not necessarily in a circle for 10 minutes! The foursome competed in classes based on their ages and experience at the 4-H Fair on Aug. 16 and 17. It was exciting to observe each one perform with poise and confidence. Prize ribbons were won. Experience was gained. Please compliment Amelia, Ethan, Emmaline, Vivian, their teacher Ellen Whitlow and Dorothy Hayes, who made the goat pairings possible, should you have the opportunity.
Amelia Whitlow and Nadine 
Emmaline Poskus and Cora 
Ethan Poskus and Listerine 
Vivian Whitlow and Minuet
To be continued in October: Meet Granby’s Goat People and their goats.
Goat Talk
The process of birthing for goats is called kidding.
Once a doe has kidded, she is said to have freshened.
Baby goats are referred to as kids.
A female baby goat is called a doeling.
A male baby goat is called a buckling.
Weaned kids are approximately 4 months old.
Female goats are called does.
A male is referred to as either a buck or a billy goat.
Wethers is the term used to describe a castrated male.
Goatscaping refers to utilizing grazing goats to manage vegetation growth in an environmentally safe manner.
Soft goat cheese is called chévre. (from the French word for goat)
Meat from goats is called chevon.
A wattle is a fleshy decoration that hangs from the goat’s neck just past where the chin attaches.
Don’t miss Granby’s Open Farm Day on Sept. 14. Goats at Sweet Pea Cheese, Lyric Hill Farm and Wilhelm Farm will be looking to greet you with a nibble on your shirt.