Cornish & Coombe Farm News & Info

Goats are friendly animals, and very clever. Merlin and Arthur are no exception.

1. They Have Rectangular Pupils
   Goats have unusual rectangular-shaped pupils that give them a super wide field of vision—about 320 to 340 degrees. This helps them spot predators without moving their heads much.
2. They Can Climb Trees
   Yep, some goats (especially in places like Morocco) climb argan trees to munch on the fruit. It looks as bizarre as it sounds—like a tree full of goat fruit. They are often found attempting to scale the tree in the middle of their fields.
3. They Have Accents
   Studies have shown that goats can develop different “accents” in their vocalizations depending on their social group. Basically, goats pick up each other’s “meh.”
4. They’re Escape Artists
   If Houdini were a farm animal, he’d be a goat. They’re curious, clever, and can open latches, wiggle through tiny gaps, and climb fences. Ours do like to escape, that is why they never move fields, we can’t contain them!
5. They’ve Been to Space
   Well, kind of—goat cells have been used in space experiments. While no full goat has hit orbit, they’re part of science up there!
6. Their Stomachs Have Four Chambers
   Like cows, goats are ruminants, which means they have a complex digestive system that lets them break down rough plant material efficiently. But it also means they chew cud like it’s a hobby. They don’t mind eating thorns.
7. They Were Once Worshipped as Gods
   In ancient mythology, goats had serious clout—Pan (Greek god of the wild) had goat legs and horns, and Thor’s chariot was pulled by magical goats. Divine and fluffy.

And last but not least, the mysterious dangly bits! Those are called “wattles” (or sometimes “skin tags” or “goat tassels” if you’re feeling fancy).

What are wattles?

• They’re small, fleshy, tube-like flaps of skin that hang down from a goat’s neck, usually one on each side.
• Not all goats have them—they’re more common in certain breeds and are genetically inherited.

What’s their purpose?

That’s the quirky part—no one really knows. Scientists believe they serve no functional purpose. They’re basically a harmless, decorative extra. Goat bling, if you will.

So next time you see those dangly bits, or our goats, remember these interesting snippets.