Advantages and Disadvantages
Advantages
- Carry all sorts of gear, greatly reducing the amount of gear you have to carry. Goats can easily carry 20% – 30% of their body weight in saddles and gear (a 200 lbs. goat can readily carry 50 lbs.)
- Form close bonds with humans and easily follow you anywhere, on or off-lead
- Relatively easy to train and easily handled by people of all ages and abilities
- Less expensive to own and operate than other pack animals
- Well-suited to No Trace Camping practices
- Manage rougher terrain better than other pack animals
- Browse on the trail reducing or eliminating the need for extra feed
- Do not chase wildlife and don’t intimidate game as much as other pack animals
- They are lovable and friendly and make great heaters on a cold night
Disadvantages
- As with any animal, a certain amount of daily care and attention is required to keep goats (get disciplined)
- Initial start-up expenses may be quite high (but not as high as with other pack animals)
- Zoning regulations may limit your ability to keep goats in your backyard (move)
- Goats are happiest when they have company. You should consider keeping more than one or keep them with other animals