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What an interesting question. I bow to your observation of the frequency of goats over sheep as farmyard animals in archaeo contexts. Personal insights: Goats are generally taller and (in my experience) are easier to milk than sheep - larger teats, bigger udders (more milk), less far to bend down and little or no wool to move aside to get at the teats (ie, they have better potential for cleaner milk). Sheep do learn to be friendly and bond to humans quite easily especially if you hand-rear them (it can be hard to rid yourself of the attentions of pet lambs, for instance). I don't think there is much difference in bonding re sheep:humans and goats:humans. Sheep and goats are about equal in their ability to succumb to "the thousand ills that flesh is heir to" - in the sense that if you buy sheep you should buy a good shovel too - but goats also have a reputation for longevity. Climate may be a criterion though as goats are better in hot dry climates than cold ones, and sheep (modern and modern-historic breeds at least) are better adapted to colder, wetter ones. Sue in Cumbria UK On 6 Feb 2015 at 15:43, Haskel Greenfield wrote: > > Hi. It is my sense that goats are selected for farmyard animals more so than sheep because of > their ability to produce milk. However, does anyone have any literature or insight that shows a > genetic predisposition on the part of goats to be used as farmyard animals (e.g. do they bond > better with humans, produce more or better milk, etc.)? > Best > Haskel > > Haskel J. Greenfield, Prof., University of Manitoba > Department of Anthropology, Fletcher Argue 432, Winnipeg, MB, R3T2N2 > Coordinator, Judaic Studies Program, Fletcher Argue 328, Winnipeg, MB, R3T2N2 > Co-director, Near Eastern and Biblical Archaeology Laboratory, St. Paulīs College, 70 Dysart Road, > Winnipeg, MB, R3T2M6 > Websites: Personal - http://haskelgreenfield.wordpress.com/ > Publications - http://umanitoba.academia.edu/HaskelGreenfield > Near Eastern and Biblical Archaeology Lab (NEBAL) - > http://umanitoba.ca/colleges/st_pauls/nebal/index.html > NEBAL Facebook - > https://www.facebook.com/pages/Near-Eastern-and-Biblical-Archaeology-Laboratory-NEBAL/395785780 > 512322?ref=br_tf > Tell es-Safi/Gath - http://tellessafi.wordpress.com/ > Office phone - 204-272-1591 > > No virus found in this message. > Checked by AVG - www.avg.com > Version: 2015.0.5645 / Virus Database: 4281/9066 - Release Date: 02/06/15 -- Graham and Sue Millard Daw Bank, Greenholme, Tebay, Penrith, Cumbria CA10 3TA 01539 624636 www.dawbank.co.uk Attached MIME and other non-readable files contain information necessary for your e-mail application to read this message. They are not viruses and can be ignored.