Female goats have a longer estrus cycle than ewes, a 21-day average. Female goats have a slightly longer gestation period than ewes. Goats are easier to artificially breed than sheep, due to a less complicated cervix. Goats tend to be more prolific than sheep and generally give birth to more twins and triplets. Goats seem to be more susceptible to parasites in grazing situations.
Young goats seem to be more susceptible to coccidiosis.
The demand for goat meat is almost entirely ethnic or religiously based. Moslems prefer sheep meat for their major holidays and eat goat meat on much more of a year-round basis. There is a strong demand for mature male goats for meat, mostly from Caribbean Islanders. Goat carcasses look very similar to sheep carcasses when they are hanging on the rail. Goat kids are sold at lighter weights than market lambs.