Picture of the day - April 9, 2005

Baby Goats Enjoying A Meal

Photo courtesy of Kim Nelson-Rouse.  In the animal kingdom there is one task that is common among most species: mothers nursing their young. Today's picture shows a pair of baby goats enjoying a pleasant meal, compliments of mom. Goats are interesting animals indeed. Humans have used them for various purposes for thousands of years - for food, for milk, as "lawnmowers"... even as pets. Like their distant cousins in the deer family, a female goat is referred to as a doe while a male is a buck. Baby goats are called kids. When a new baby goat is born, the mother will lick it to remove the mucous and stimulate its breathing. A healthy newborn will usually try to stand on its wobbly legs within 30 minutes and begin nursing soon after that. Like their human counterparts, kids of the goat variety typically have different personalities and unique little habits that are often amusing. Most goats enjoy being petted and scratched around their shoulder areas, and of course they love to eat. Perhaps this is why baby goats are so popular at petting zoos!   Picture Of The Day Homepage Interesting Articles