The Miracle of Birth

A goat is a mammal, and as such shares the typical characteristics of other warm-blooded creatures. Observe the picture to the right. This is the highlight of this young goat's life (note the small goat hoof emerging from the womb), because from the moment it pops out, things go downhill for the goat. Most likely, this goat is now dead. If the goat is still alive somewhere, it probably is either fenced in or tethered to a post unable to roam the earth a free being.

As depressing as this goat's life may have been, it serves an important purpose. As a human being, the owner of this goat views food as a necessity. For without food, he (or she) will surely die of starvation. This goat, like all goats, served as a valuable food source. Like most mammals, goats lactate. Post-lactation, milk, cheese, butter, and cream can be produced. Side note: Trader Joe’s sells some great brie cheese made from goat’s milk. It is deliciously creamy. Goat cheese is generally a great thing, and works wonders spread on water crackers, or even better, put on pizza with tomatoes and basil. Goat existence is justifiable for the goat cheese pizza alone. When the goat stops lactating, or you just get sick of goat milk products (hard to believe this is possible), the goat can be harvested for its meat. Now, goat meat is a little tougher that most, but when cooked in a curry, it is pretty good. Goat tends to be pretty inexpensive, but it is not served at every normal grocery store. Rather, it tends to be found at the neighborhood grocer, along with pig’s feet and other such meaty deliciousness.

The domestication of the goat is proposed by some to be the earliest form of animal domestication.[1] This does make some sense, based on the fact that goat cheese is delicious, and goats have a wide tolerance for environmental conditions (pretty hearty animals). The article footnoted above, which is pretty awesome, makes the claim that goat domestication lead to the domestication of other goat-like animals (animals that are great sources of food, such as the cow and sheep). The root of all good livestock is goat. Another reason why goats are the best animal, ever.

Let’s get back to the point. Goats are mammals. They give live birth to goat babies. The picture to your left is proof. Note the sack of goat as it emerges from the womb in its full glory. Now, I had the privilege to see a live, in person goat birth. The goat dropped her child standing up like it was no big deal. The goat had a whatever, I give birth to baby goats all the time look and let the small bundle of goat flesh and tendons fall from her body. Now, I for one am glad that my mother did not decide to go through the same procedure as the goat. Instead, she opted for an indoor experience full of machines and people in masks and scrubs running around looking important and busy. Much more preferable to the goat birth experience (although, I guess you can’t knock it until you’ve tried it).

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[1] http://www.pnas.org/cgi/content/full/98/10/5382