Small Ruminants: Sheep and Goats

Our office does a lot of work with new and small-scale farmers interested in homesteading or enjoying a rural lifestyle. Depending on farm goals, size, and infrastructure, there are a few options for getting started with livestock. Two of the most popular livestock species for new or small-scale farmers are sheep and goats, what we collectively call “small ruminants” in the agriculture industry. These species are called “small ruminants” due to the anatomy of their digestive tract and have some similarities to one another, but there are also some notable differences to keep in mind if you’re interested in owning them for recreation or production purposes.
Domestic goats (Capra hircus) originated in Southwest Asia and Eastern Europe and were domesticated by humans roughly 10,000 years ago. Goats are primarily used for milk and meat. Similarly, domestic sheep (Ovis aires) originated in Europe and Asia and are believed to have been domesticated shortly after goats were. Sheep are primarily raised for wool, meat, and milk. There are roughly 200 breeds of goats and 200 breeds of sheep in production across the globe, and each breed has specific traits and characteristics which define it. Typically, sheep and goat breeds are categorized by the products they produce: meat, milk, and fiber. The most common sheep breeds in the U.S. include Rambouillet, Merino, Katahdin, Suffolk, Hampshire, and Dorset. There are an estimated 5.2 million sheep in the United States, with Texas, California, and Colorado boasting the highest sheep populations. Goat breeds prevalent in the U.S. include Nubians, Nigerian Dwarf, Angora, Boer, Kiko, and Pygmy. There are roughly 2.6 million goats in the U.S., with the majority of them located in Texas, Tennessee, and California.
While sheep and goats are often lumped together due to their digestive anatomy, they do have some important differences to consider if you’re interested in owning them. Sheep and goats are fully distinct species and unrelated to each other- goats actually have 60 chromosomes while sheep only have 54. Another difference is that sheep most often produce wool, though we do have breeds of sheep that produce hair instead. All goats produce hair. Sheep and goats have different diets- sheep are grazers, interested in eating grasses and forbs, while goats are browsers and tend to prefer roughage like twigs, leaves, or other vegetation. Behaviorally, sheep have very strong flocking instincts, meaning they tend to be more cautious, more reactive as individuals, and easier to handle as a large group. Goats on the other hand, tend to be more independent and inquisitive. They still like being in a herd, but they are not as driven by herding behavior as sheep are.
Sheep and goats can be a great addition to a farm, but there are some challenges with ownership including keeping them contained (goats LOVE to escape!), parasite management, and other management considerations. In March and April, UGA Extension is offering a Small Ruminant Education Series consisting of 3 weeks of lecture at the Lincoln County Extension Office and 2 hands-on workshops in Oglethorpe County to teach individuals how to care for these species. If you are interested in attending this program, get more information and register at tinyurl.com/SRES23 or contact us via email (uge3181@uga.edu) or phone (706-359-3233).