When you’re raising sheep, there are many considerations you will need to make in their housing and care.From what kind of barn to build, how much bedding to use, and what the best kind of fencing is for predators, you’ll have your hands (and mind!) full as you begin to make these important decisions.
Regarding predators, sheep can be particularly vulnerable.Although they aren’t the smallest kind of livestock you can raise, they have a docile, group-dependent nature.This makes them easy targets for hungry animals like coyotes, wild dogs, bears, and wolves.
Aside from building a strong, secure fence that will both keep predators out and keep your sheep contained, there is one other trick you can try to keep your flock safe – companion animals.Raising companion animals with your sheep poses many benefits.
For one, sheep are social animals.
It takes at least about five sheep for them to display their natural flocking behaviors.
Sheep can be kept with other livestock, and although they will always prefer their own kind, keeping sheep with other animals is a great way to improve their socialization and maximize your use of space.Sheep kept with other animals are more friendly, calmer, and easier to manage.
One of these is parasite prevention.Allow other animals with different grazing patterns, like cattle, to eat and live alongside sheep.You’ll have a reduced parasite load in the soil and fewer health problems to deal with.
Raising sheep companion animals is never a bad idea, but it’s especially beneficial if you are thinking about raising just a couple of pet sheep.Again, sheep should not be kept alone or even in small groups, so introducing other species will allow you to keep them socialized and entertained without having to raise a large flock of sheep.
Best Companion Animals to Raise with Sheep1.
DonkeyDonkeys are often raised with sheep as livestock guardian animals.
Donkeys are known as being great friends of sheep, bonding with them easily.As long as you introduce a donkey early on, you shouldn’t have any problem bonding the group together.Even if you wait until a donkey is older to introduce it to your sheep, it still shouldn’t take more than a couple of weeks for them to get acclimated to each other.
Jennies and foals tend to be the best companions for sheep.
2. CattleAnother option is to raise cattle with your sheep.
Some people employ rotational grazing, allowing cattle to graze a pasture first and then allowing the sheep their turn.
They get along well, especially when introduced to each other at a young age.They can even be raised in the same barns, although you might want to pay special attention to your sheep at lambing time (the cattle are so large it is easy for them to insert themselves into situations where they aren’t needed!).
3. Chickens, Guineas, DucksPoultry are often raised with sheep as well.Guineas are particularly useful if you’re hoping to have an alert system in place for when intruders appear – guineas are loud and will sound the alarm for you.
Chickens, on the other hand, are great at keeping down parasite loads.Whatever the case may be, poultry makes a good choice for raising with sheep.Although the species won’t necessarily intermingle and interact with each other (they will more or less just coexist) there are several reasons to consider keeping these animals with your sheep, regardless.
4. Horses Horses and sheep also get along quite well, particularly if they are introduced to each other at a young age.
Sheep will generally keep to themselves, showing submissive behavior around the horses.
Horses are rarely aggressive toward sheep and, for whatever reason, leave lambs alone, too.Raising horses with your sheep also can benefit your pasture, as horses select the most nutritious grasses while sheep prefer stems, forbes, and new green leaves.
5. Llamas and AlpacasLlamas and alpacas are frequently raised with sheep as livestock guardian animals to help protect sheep.
In these cases, it is usually gelded (castrated) males that are kept with the sheep, but unbred females also make good options.
If you choose to raise these animals with your sheep, it’s important that you only introduce one.
If you have multiple male llamas or alpacas, they’ll bond with each other instead of the sheep.Some people also recommend introducing them just before lambing, as this can allow for a very special bond to develop between the llama and the sheep.
Not all llamas and alpacas will guard (this depends on the individual animal and the species) but in general, they can serve as pleasant companions and friends for your sheep.
6. Goats Goats are often raised with sheep because the care requirements for the two are so similar.
There have been multiple instances of sheep-goat hybrids (geeps) being produced when sheep and goats intermingle.That said, sheep and goats get along well with each other and you shouldn’t have issues with aggression, especially if you have equal numbers of both species being raised in the same areas.
Dogs make great companions for sheep and as long as they are introduced and trained when they are puppies, they will not harm your sheep.They can be somewhat standoffish toward people but will do an excellent job keeping your sheep and lambs company and protecting them from any predators that wander by.Considerations With Sheep Companion AnimalsOf course, raising additional animals with your sheep isn’t totally free from work.
You will still need to put in a bit of extra effort to make sure your companion animals are well cared for.
Although most of the animals listed above can eat the same kinds of food as your sheep (hay and pasture, for example) that’s not true of all of them on the list.Livestock guardian dogs, for example, are omnivores.
If you’re raising more creative, wily animals like goats with your sheep, the fence should be more or less airtight.
The old saying is that if it can’t hold water, it can’t hold goats.Make sure the fence you choose is equipped to contain the cleverest of your livestock.
Make sure the most sensitive animal in the group is well provided for.
You may find it helpful to check out this article on multi-species grazing as you get started, too.
It will give you more information on how to raise animals of different species together – including sheep!
Examples of animals like goats include alpine ibex, Arabian tahr, argali, barbary sheep, and bharal.
There are many animals that look like goats in both appearance and behavior.
In this article, we will take a look at some of the most common animals that people mistake for goats.
We will also discuss the unique features of each animal, as well as their habitat and diet.
In this article, we will explore what makes these animals look so similar to goats and why they are often mistaken for them.
Examples of Animals Like Goats
Examples of Animals Like Goats
Scientific NameCapra ibexType of AnimalMammalRangemost or all of the Italian and French alpine ranges, southern Germany, Switzerland and Austria
The Alpine ibex, also known as the steinbock or bouquetin, is a species of goat that is native to the Alps in central Europe.
It is one of the largest types of goat, with males weighing up to 300 kg and females weighing up to 200 kg.
The Alpine ibex has a stocky build with long legs and large hooves
Scientific NameArabitragus jayakariType of AnimalMammalRangethe Hajar Mountains, between Oman and the UAE
The Arabian tahr is a species of tahr native to the Arabian Peninsula.
It is the smallest member of the family Bovidae and is closely related to the wild goat.
The Arabian tahr has a stocky body with short, coarse fur that is brown or reddish in color.
The male tahrs have a thick, mane-like coat of hair on their necks and shoulders.
Scientific NameOvis ammonType of AnimalMammalRangewestern East Asia
The argali is a species of wild sheep that is native to Central Asia.
They are the largest member of the sheep family and can grow to be up to 6 feet tall at the shoulder.
Argali have thick, woolly coats that are typically brown or gray in color.
4. Barbary Sheep
4. Barbary Sheep
Scientific NameAmmotragus lerviaType of AnimalMammalRangeNorth Africa
The Barbary sheep is a species of wild sheep that is native to North Africa.
These animals are relatively large, with males reaching up to 160 cm in length and females up to 120 cm.
They have thick, woolly coats that can be brown, black, or white in color
The bharal, also known as the Himalayan blue sheep or naur, is a native of the Himalayan region.
Bharals are relatively small compared to other sheep, with males reaching a maximum height of about 2.5 feet at the shoulder and females only reaching about 2 feet.
6. Bighorn Sheep
6. Bighorn Sheep
Scientific NameOvis canadensisType of AnimalMammalRangethe western mountainous regions of North America, ranging from southern Canada to Mexico
The bighorn sheep is a type of goat that is native to North America.
It gets its name from its large horns, which can grow up to two feet in length.
The bighorn sheep is an herbivore and feeds on grasses, leaves, and shrubs.
Scientific NameNaemorhedus griseusType of AnimalMammalRangein the steep slopes of wooded mountains in east-central China
The Chinese goral is a species of wild goat that is found in the mountains of central and southern China.
They are closely related to the Himalayan tahr and the Japanese serow
8. Dall Sheep
8. Dall Sheep
Scientific NameOvis dalliType of AnimalMammalRangethe mountain ranges of Alaska
The Dall sheep is a species of wild sheep that is native to North America.
These animals are usually considered to be medium-sized, with an average weight of around 275 pounds.
They have thick, white fur coats and horns that curve back from their heads.
9. Desert Bighorn Sheep
9. Desert Bighorn Sheep
Scientific NameOvis canadensis nelsoniType of AnimalMammalRangethroughout the American Southwest, including Grand Canyon, Mojave Desert, and Sonoran Desert
Desert bighorn sheep are one of the most common animals that people mistake for goats.
These animals are native to the deserts of North America and can be found in both Mexico and the United States.
They get their name from their large, curved horns which can grow up to two feet in length.
Scientific NamePseudois shaeferiType of AnimalMammalRangeSichuan-Tibet
The Dwarf Bharal is a species of goat-antelope that is found in the Himalayan mountains of India, Nepal, Bhutan, and Tibet.
They are also known as blue sheep or pseudois nayaur.
The Dwarf Bharal is similar to goats in both appearance and behavior.
Scientific NameCapra cylindricornisType of AnimalMammalRangethe Greater Caucasus Mountains
The eastern tur is a species of deer that is found in parts of Asia and Africa.
They are similar to goats in appearance, with their long necks and legs.
However, they are much larger than goats, reaching up to 2 meters in length.
Eastern turs are also herbivores, like goats, and they eat leaves, grasses, and fruits.
Scientific NameCapricornis swinhoeiType of AnimalMammalRangeisland of Taiwan
The Formosan serow is a goat-like creature that is native to Taiwan.
Scientific NameNaemorhedus goralType of AnimalMammalRangethe Himalayas from Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, southern Tibet, and the states of Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh in India to possibly western Myanmar
The Himalayan goral is a small, even-toed ungulate that is found in the mountains of Nepal, India, Pakistan, and China.
They are closely related to the Chinese goral and the red goral.
Himalayan gorals are about 3 feet long and weigh between 30 and 60 pounds.
Himalayan Serow
Scientific NameCapricornis sumatraensis tharType of AnimalMammalRangeeastern, central, and western Himalayas
The Himalayan serow is a goat-antelope that is native to the Himalayan mountains.
They are medium-sized animals with a stocky build and short legs.
Himalayan serows are herbivores, and their diet consists mainly of grasses and shrubs.
Scientific NameHemitragus jemlahicusType of AnimalMammalRangethe Himalayas including China, North India and Nepal
The Himalayan tahr is a large, horned mammal that is native to the Himalayan mountains.
They are often mistaken for goats due to their similar appearance and behavior.
Tahrs are slightly larger than goats, with males weighing up to 200 kg and females weighing up to 100 kg.
Scientific NameCapricornis crispusType of AnimalMammalRangedense woodland in Japan, primarily in northern and central Honshu
The Japanese serow is a small, stocky mammal that is native to Japan.
It has a reddish-brown coat with white spots and a long, goat-like face.
Serows are closely related to goats, and their appearance is similar enough that they are often mistaken for them.
Long-tailed Goral
Long-tailed Goral
Scientific NameNaemorhedus caudatusType of AnimalMammalRangethe mountains of eastern and northern Asia, including Russia, China, and Korea
The long-tailed goral is a small, forest-dwelling goat that is found in the mountains of Southeast Asia.
It has a reddish-brown coat with darker stripes running down its back.
The goral’s tail is very long, often reaching up to two feet in length.
Scientific NameCapra falconeriType of AnimalMammalRangethe mountains of Afghanistan, India, Pakistan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan
The markhor is a large Capra species native to Central Asia, specifically the Hindu Kush and Pamir mountain ranges.
The markhor is the national animal of Pakistan.
It is also known as the screw-horned goat, because of its distinctive corkscrew-shaped horns.
Scientific NameOvis aries musimonType of AnimalMammalRangeCaspian region from eastern Turkey, Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Iran
Mouflons are a type of wild sheep that can be found in Europe, Asia, and North Africa.
They are one of the ancestors of the modern-day domesticated sheep.
Mouflons have a stocky body with short legs.
Mountain Goat
Mountain Goat
Scientific NameOreamnos americanusType of AnimalMammalRangethe steep and broken mountain ranges of northwestern North America, from the northern Cascade and Rocky mountains to Southcentral Alaska
The next animal on our list is the mountain goat.
As its name suggests, this animal lives in mountainous regions and is well-adapted to life at high altitudes.
Mountain goats are covered in thick fur that keeps them warm in cold temperatures
Scientific NameOvibos moschatusType of AnimalMammalRangenorthern Canada, Greenland, and Alaska
The muskox is a large, horned mammal that is native to the Arctic tundra.
They are most closely related to sheep and goats, and they look similar in appearance to both animals.
Muskoxen have long, shaggy fur coats that keep them warm in the coldest climates.
Scientific NameNilgiritragus hylocriusType of AnimalMammalRangesouthern India
The Nilgiri Tahr is a wild sheep that is native to the Nilgiri Hills of southern India.
These animals are often mistaken for goats due to their similar appearance.
The main difference between these two animals is their size, as Nilgiri Tahrs are much larger than goats.
Scientific NameRupicapra rupicapraType of AnimalMammalRangethe Pyrenees, the mountains of south and central Europe, Turkey, and the Caucasus
The northern chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra) is a goat-antelope that is found in the mountains of Europe.
It has a reddish-brown coat and long, curved horns.
It has a reddish-brown coat and long, curved horns.
Chamois are about the same size as goats, and they can be mistaken for them at a distance.
Scientific NameCapra nubianaType of AnimalMammalRangeEgypt, Israel, Sudan, Saudi Arabia, Oman, and Jordan
The Nubian ibex is a species of wild goat that is native to the Horn of Africa and the Arabian Peninsula.
It is one of the largest species of ibex, with males weighing up to 160 kg (350 lb) and females weighing up to 120 kg (260 lb).
Scientific NameRupicapra pyrenaicaType of AnimalMammalRangethe Cantabrian Mountains, Pyrenees, and central Apennines
The Pyrenean chamois (Rupicapra pyrenaica) is a species of goat-antelope that is native to the Pyrenees mountains in Europe.
This animal has a reddish-brown coat with white markings on its face and neck.
It also has short, black horns that curve backwards.
Scientific NameNaemorhedus baileyiType of AnimalMammalRange India, Tibet and Myanmar
The red goral is a goat-like animal that is found in the mountains of central and southern Asia.
It has a reddish brown coat and is about the size of a small deer.
The red goral is an herbivore and feeds on leaves, stems, and flowers.
Scientific NameCapricornis rubidusType of AnimalMammalRangehilly tropical forests in northeastern India (south of the Brahmaputra River), Bangladesh (east of the Jumuna River), and northern Myanmar
The Red serow is a goat-like animal that is found in the mountains of Nepal, India, Bhutan, and Myanmar.
They are red or reddish-brown in color and have short, coarse hair.
Scientific NameCapra sibiricaType of AnimalMammalRangecentral and northern Asia, Afghanistan, western and northern China
The Siberian ibex is a species of wild goat that lives in the mountains of Central Asia.
Males have long, curved horns that they use for fighting and defense.
Snow Sheep
Snow Sheep
Scientific NameOvis nivicolaType of AnimalMammalRangeSiberia
Snow sheep are actually a type of goat, but they are often mistaken for regular goats because of their thick fur coats.
Snow sheep have long, curved horns and their fur is white or cream-colored.
They live in cold, mountainous regions and eat mostly grasses and shrubs.
Southwest China Serow
Southwest China Serow
Scientific NameCapricornis milneedwardsiiType of AnimalMammalRangeMyanmar, Cambodia,northern Thailand, Laos, central and southwest China, and Vietnam
The southwest China serow is a hoofed mammal that is found in the mountainous regions of southwestern China.
They are similar to goats in many ways, including their fur color and texture, body shape, and horns.
However, they are actually more closely related to antelopes and cattle.
Scientific NameCapra pyrenaicaType of AnimalMammalRangeSpain and along the coast in Portugal, as well a small reintroduced population in the French Pyrenees
The Spanish ibex, also known as the Iberian wild goat, is a species of wild goat that is native to the Iberian Peninsula.
These animals are typically brown or dark gray in color, and they have large horns that curve backwards.
Spanish ibex are often mistaken for goats because of their similar appearance and behavior.
Scientific NameCapricornis sumatraensisType of AnimalMammalRangeSumatra
The Sumatran serow is a small, hoofed mammal that is found in the mountains of Indonesia.
It is often mistaken for a goat because of its similar appearance, including its horns and beard.
However, the Sumatran serow is actually more closely related to antelope and deer.
Scientific NameBudorcas taxicolorType of AnimalMammalRangefrom forested valleys to rocky, grass-covered alpine zones, at altitudes between 1,000 and 4,500 m (3,300 and 14,800 ft) above sea level
The takin is a goat-antelope found in the forests of central and southern China.
Takin are large animals, with males weighing up to 400 kg and females up to 200 kg.
They have thick, shaggy coats that are brown or black in color.
They have short horns and long, curved necks.
hese animals are found in the mountainous regions of central Asia.
They have long, curved horns and a thick coat of fur that helps them to survive in the cold climates they live in.
Tibetan antelope are herbivores and their diet consists mostly of grasses and other plants.
Related Article: 15 Animals Like Antelopes
Scientific NameCapra walieType of AnimalMammalRangenorthern Ethiopia
The Walia Ibex is a species of wild goat that is endemic to Ethiopia.
The Walia Ibex is the national animal of Ethiopia and appears on the Ethiopian flag.
The Walia Ibex is the largest member of the Capra genus and can reach lengths of up to 8 feet (2.4 m).
Scientific NameCapra caucasicaType of AnimalMammalRangeGeorgia and European Russia
The West Caucasian tur is a species of goat-antelope that is native to the Caucasus Mountains.
These animals are typically brown or reddish in color, with a white underbelly and black legs.
They have long, curved horns and their faces are bearded.
Wild Goat
Wild Goat
Scientific NameCapra aegagrusType of AnimalMammalRangeTurkey and the Caucasus in the west to Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, and Pakistan in the east
The wild goat is a mammal that is closely related to the domestic goat.
They are both in the subfamily Caprinae, which also includes sheep.
Wild goats are found in Europe, Asia, and Africa.
They are usually brown or grey in color and have short horns.
Though they may look similar, each of the animals listed above have unique features that set them apart.
There are several animals that resemble goats in appearance, including certain members of the antelope family.
Some of these animals are actually more closely related to sheep than they are to goats, but they share many physical characteristics with true goats.
Living in South Africa I’ve had the pleasure of seeing most of these animals up close and personal.