The main difference between goat sheep and lamb is that sheep is a domesticated ruminant animal while the lamb is an immature sheep that is less than one year old, and a goat is a livestock animal that has a pointed-up tail compared to the hanging down tail of a sheep.
A sheep is a lamb that is older than one year, while a lamb is a young animal that is less than one year of age. There are many visual and physical differences that make a lamb or a sheep distinct from a goat.
Key Areas Covered
1. Goat
– Facts, Features, Behaviour
2. Sheep
– Facts, Features, Behaviour
3. Lamb
– Facts, Features, Behaviour
4. Difference Between Goat Sheep and Lamb
– Comparison of Key Differences
Key Terms
Lamb, Goat, Sheep, Livestock
Goat – Facts, Features, Behaviour
A goat is a domesticated animal people usually keep as livestock. We can trace back the origin of the domesticated goat to the wild goats of Eastern Europe and Southwest Asia. Goat belongs to the animal family Bovidae and the tribe animal Caprini. Therefore, it has a close connection to sheep. Currently, 300 different breeds of goats have been identified worldwide.
If a fight arises between a sheep and a goat, there is a higher chance for the goat to win as the sheep easily panics in case of danger. Goats are more active and more aggressive than sheep. Most significantly, sharp and strong mountain goat horns have the ability to tear the flesh of sheep.
This ruminant and hollow-horned mammal is lighter in build than sheep. Furthermore, goats usually have backward arched horns, straighter hair, and shorter tails. Goats, being born browsers, prefer to keep their heads up and consume available foliage. Goats usually feed on weeds and woody plants disliked by other livestock animals. When it comes to Great Britain, Europe, China, and North America, the domestic goat is one of the main sources of milk production and a milk producer, with a greater portion of the goat milk being used in cheese production.
Sheep – Facts, Features, Behaviours
Sheep are domesticated, ruminant breeds of mammals people keep as livestock. Just like goats and all other ruminants, sheep also belong to the animal order of Artiodactyla, which include even-toed ungulates.
Just like goats, sheep are also cud-chewing mammals. People raise and keep sheep for milk, wool, and meat. Compared to goats, sheep are stockier, and their horns are more dissimilar. Furthermore, sheep possess scent glands on their faces and hind feet. Compared to goats, male sheep have no beards and have shorter tails. Wild sheep have an outer coat of fur that looks like hair underneath.
Lamb – Facts, Features, Behaviour
A lamb is an immature sheep that is less than one year old. Consequently, they are smaller in size and gentler than sheep. The meat of young sheep is also called lamb, instead of mutton.
Similarities Between Goat Sheep and Lamb
- Goat, sheep, and lamb are all domesticated, ruminant mammals.
- They are all even-toed ungulates.
- They are usually kept as livestock animals.
- Both goats and sheep deliver milk and meat.
- Goat, sheep, and lamb are all herbivores.
Difference Between Goat Sheep and Lamb
Definition
A sheep is a domesticated ruminant animal, while a lamb is an immature sheep that is less than one year old, and a goat is a livestock animal that has a pointed-up tail compared to the hanging down tail of a sheep.
Fur Coat
Most breeds of sheep possess a thicker coat of wool that needs to be sheared in order to make sure that they do not get overheated during summer, whereas hair on goats does not need to be sheared.
Diet
Although both sheep and goats are herbivores, goats take in a low-quality feed compared to the high-quality feed of the sheep. Generally, goats consume hay, forage, peas, barley, pellets, etc., whereas sheep eat plants, grains, grass, plants, corn, legumes, or fermented hay.
Advantages
People usually raise goats for milk and meat, while sheep are raised for wool, milk, and meat.
Conclusion
The main difference between goat sheep and lamb is that sheep is a domesticated ruminant animal while the lamb is an immature sheep that is less than one year old, and a goat is a livestock animal that has a pointed-up tail compared to the hanging down tail of a sheep. All these livestock animals are herbivores and give milk and meat for human consumption.
Reference:
1. “Goats and their Nutritions.” Maniotab Goat Association.
2. “Sheep.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
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