Difference Between Sheep and Goat

Sheep vs Goat

The first difference that can be thought of pertains to how the two animals look. A goat is more slender of the two, while a sheep is tubbier. That apart a sheep gives us wool while a goat does not. In the west sheep meat is eaten whereas in the Middle East and the Indian sub continent a goat is eaten.

Sheep belong to the Ovas Aries species and have 54 chromosomes while goats belong to Capra Hircus species and have 60 chromosomes. A goat’s tail is for most part stands up while a sheep’s hangs down. Their eating habits are distinct. A goat is a typical browser, feeding on leaves, shrubs, twigs and vines. A sheep on the other hand loves to graze on grass and clover.

Goats are curious by nature and are quite independent. A sheep on the other hand prefers to stay put in its flock. Another major difference is that sheep have an upper lip divided by a distinct philtrum. This is something that a goat does not have. Another difference is in the horns. Goat horns are narrower, more upright and less craved than sheep horns.

A ram could dominate a buck, but as adults there is a roles reversal with the goat easily dominating the sheep. The sheep happen to be much more prolific in breeding though. A comic anatomical difference that one could point out pertains to the fact that a goat has a beard while a sheep has a mane! Yet another piece of trivia is that while a goat has hair a sheep has fleece.

Another telling difference perhaps reflective of the differing nature of the two species is that fact that while wild goats are found in abundance sheep are entirely domesticated, suggesting that they have a greater symbiotic relationship with mankind. Thus we see that though goats and sheep look quite similar and bleat the same way there are some pretty stark differences between the two species that have distinct and separate traits that set them clearly apart. The debate about their differences though is largely academic as both the animals are among the most beneficial to mankind.

Summary:
1.A goat is more slender of the two, while a sheep is tubbier.
2.Sheep belong to the Ovas Aries species and have 54 chromosomes while goats belong to Capra Hircus species and have 6o chromosomes.
3.A goat’s tail is for most part stands up while a sheep’s hangs down.
4.A goat is a typical browser, feeding on leaves, shrubs, twigs and vines. A sheep on the other hand loves to graze on grass and clover.
5.Goats are curious by nature and are quite independent. A sheep on the other hand prefers to stay put in its flock.
6.While a goat has hair a sheep has fleece.
7.A goat has a beard while a sheep has a mane.
8.Wild goats are found in abundance and by all accounts sheep are entirely domesticated.

ncG1vJloZrCvp2OxqrLFnqmeppOar6bA1p6cp2aemsFwv8KinKeblWS7osDUq5xonJmbs6a%2BxKeanmWSmsG4scSnZKyglZq9bq3NnWSgp5GpfA%3D%3D