The domestic goat or goat (Capra hircus) is a species of domesticated goat-antelope raised primarily as livestock. It was domesticated from the bezoar ibex (C. aegagrus aegagrus) of southwest Asia and eastern Europe. The goat is a member of the family Bovidae, meaning that it is closely related to sheep. There are over 300 different breeds of goat.[1] It is one of the oldest domesticated animal species: archaeological evidence suggests that its first domestication occurred in Iran 10,000 calibrated calendar years ago.[2]

Goats have been used for milk, meat, hides, and skins throughout much of the world.[3] Goat milk is often made into goat cheese.
As of 2011, there were over 924 million goats worldwide, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.[