The domestic goat is actually a domesticated species of goat-antelope typically kept as livestock. It was domesticated from the wild goat of Southwest Asia and Eastern Europe and  is closely related to the sheep. There are over 300 distinct breeds of goat and we see a huge variety here in the UK.

It is one of the earliest animals domesticated by humans; according to archaeological evidence its earliest domestication occurred in Iran 10,000 years’ ago.

Female goats are referred to as does or nannies, intact males are called bucks or billies and juvenile goats of both sexes are called kids.  Both male and female goats may have beards, and many types of goat (most commonly dairy goats, dairy-cross Boers, and pygmy goats) may have wattles, one dangling from each side of the neck. 

Each recognised breed of goat has specific weight ranges, which vary from over 140kg for bucks of larger breeds, to 20-27kg for smaller goat does.  Within each breed, different bloodlines may have different recognised sizes.  At the bottom of the size range are miniature breeds such as the African Pygmy, which stand 41-58cm at the shoulder as adults.  They’re a friendly and cute looking goat that is very popular here in the UK.

Goats have an ability to form close bonds with their human guardians.  They are social animals and usually prefer the company of other goats but, because of their herd mentality, they will follow their owner and form close bonds with them, hence their continuing popularity as companions.

In legends, according to Norse mythology the god of thunder, Thor, has a chariot that is pulled by the goats Tanngrisnir and Tanngnjóstr. The goat is also one of the 12-year cycle of animals which appear in the Chinese zodiac. Those born in a year of the goat are predicted to be shy, introverted, creative, and perfectionists. The Capricorn sign in the Western zodiac is usually depicted as a goat with a fish’s tail. 

In popular culture, the term G.O.A.T is aligned with the animal, meaning “Greatest of all Time” and so the animal imagery has risen to prominence recently.  One of the more infamous scenes in the wonderful movie, Jurassic Park, features a goat, about to be eaten by a Tyrannosaurus Rex, and in The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies, the clan of Dain charge on war goats.

As you can see, filmic themes around the animal vary somewhat; a goat’s character can come to mean many different things.  We love to see them in comedy roles, but equally, they’re an important part of filming in rural locations.  If you’re considering livestock for your media project, you can’t go wrong with our wonderful goats.

We supply professional animal location handlers around the world to ensure you get all the shots you require and, as overseers to ensure the wild is not disturbed, the crew will always be safe and no welfare regulations are ever breached.

It isn’t just the animals that are well trained, our team including our handlers are also highly experienced and fully qualified experts in the field. 

Your handler will take full control of any animals on set and ensure the entire shoot runs properly. They will also fully manage the welfare of all the animals both on and off set; the safety and welfare of the animals is their prime concern.  All of our handling is strictly force-free and only positive, reward based practices are deployed. This way you can have total confidence that by booking With The Animal Talent everything is taken care of legally, professionally and ethically.

The Performing Animals Licence is no longer relevant (it was scrapped in 2019) and has been replaced with the Animal Activity Licence, which we hold.

Our goats are covered by a £5 million Public Liability Insurance policy. 

Goats require certain licences and transportation logs for travel any distance away from their home.  They also cannot mix with other livestock on site at any time.  An Export Health Certificate is required along with a movement document and in some situations, an Animal Gatherings Order in order to comply with DEFRA and APHA.  Please speak with our agents to discuss which licences are appropriate for your requirements.

If any species of animal listed under the Dangerous Wild Animals Act are required, special measures will need to be put into place for the shoot. Precisely what is appropriate will vary species to species, but may include sectioned off areas where only trained handlers are allowed. In the event of large and dangerous carnivores, a specifically built green screen studio can also be supplied.