For some people who spent a part of their lives in farms and rural areas, it is easy to distinguish between sheep and goats. While they may have many similarities, they belong to different species and have different number of chromosomes –sheep has 54 while goats have 60. While there may be instances where sheep and goats mate, their hybrid offspring (called chimeras) are rarely fertile.

One quick way to distinguish a sheep from a goat is to look at their tails. The tails of sheep hang down and are often shortened (docked) for health and hygienic reasons. On the other hand, the normal position of a goat’s tail is upwards unless the animal is distressed, anxious, or sick.

Another difference between sheep and goats is their behavior with regards to foraging and selection of feeds. Sheep are grazers; which means they prefer to eat grasses closer to the ground. They favor broadleaf weeds. Goats are browsers; they like to eat the top parts of the plants. Sometimes they stand on their hind legs to reach leaves, vines, and shrubs.

Be sure to have a Carlisle vet visit your sheep or goats regularly. Visit this website for more information.