The difference between sheep and goats

Each new year in the Chinese lunar calendar is dedicated to one of the 12 animal signs. The year of the goat … or, wait, is it the year of sheep? … is one of these years. We, Westerners, are very confused; “Year of sheep!” Swear the sheep pillars; “Year of the goat!” Couponia the dedicated goat. And it is a dilemma that we can probably wait every 12 years.

The problem is – and note, it is not a problem in China – that “Yang”, which in Mandarin does not specify between the members of the Caprinae subfamily as “goat” and “sheep” in English, is the word for the eighth animal in the 12 -year parade. Some people in China even throw rams into the mixture. According to the New York Times, “without any other qualifications, Yang could mean such an animal hoof that eats grass and hammers.” Pray-tell, uncertainty is enough to lead researchers of specificity among American bananas.

But rest assured.

“Few ordinary Chinese people are disturbed by the distinction of sheep goat cheese,” said Xinhua, principal of the Chinese press agency, in its report on the debate. “However, ambiguity experienced a discussion in the West.”

In the end, we still have to make our choice … and in the name of the elucidation, we thought that we would describe the differences between the two. Will you be on the team’s goat or team sheep?

Genes

While the two are from the Caprinae subfamily, sheep and goats diverge at the level of the genre and arrive as distinct species. Sheep (Ovis Aries) have 54 chromosomes; goats (Aegagrus goat) have 60. Hybrid sheep-hair (yes, a geep or a shoat) exist, but they are rare.

Grazers against navigators

The food search method is one of the main differences between sheep and goats. Sheep are grazers; They slowly decrease by eating short plants near the ground. Goats are navigators; They are looking for leaves, twigs, vines and shrubs. And, the agility and climbing capacity of goats allow them to reach charming positions in search of their fodder.

“Because they travel, goats spend a lot of time investigating things. They eat forever and eat things, “Cathy Dwyer said in the Scottish rural college, told NPR. “So they have more exploration, study behavior because of their style of food. They seem more interactive with the environment, and they are very engaging animals. ”

Personality

Due to the natural curiosity and independence of a goat, he may tend to have more problems than a sheep. The sheep are, yes, sheepish. They have a strong flagration instinct and become agitated when they are separated from their group.

A tail story

Generally, the fastest way to distinguish between sheep and goats is to take a look at their tail. A sheep tail is suspended; The tail of a goat generally points.

What they wear

Sheep are known for their woolly coats, which require annual shear. Goats are generally hairy and do not require haircuts.

Beard and lips

Some goats have beards; Sheep do not. But some sheep have manes. The sheep have a superior lip divided by a distinct philtrum; Goats do not do so.

Horns

Most goats have horns; Many sheep, but not all, naturally lack horns. Goat horns are narrower and generally more straight; Sheep horns tend to be thicker and curved, looped on the sides of their heads (like a tribute to the ruminants to Princess Leia).