A domestic goat has 60 chromosomes in its diploid genome.
Domestic goats (Capra hircus) inherit one set of chromosomes from each parent, giving most body cells 60 chromosomes arranged in 30 pairs. Their genetic material includes chromosomes that carry instructions influencing traits such as coat color, horn development, body size, and milk production.
Goats are closely related to sheep, but chromosome numbers help distinguish the two species: domestic sheep generally have 54 chromosomes, while domestic goats have 60. This difference does not prevent hybridization in rare cases, although goat–sheep hybrids are uncommon and typically have reduced fertility.
The number 60 refers to diploid body cells. Reproductive cells, such as sperm and eggs, contain half that number—30 chromosomes—so that fertilization restores the full count. Chromosome number alone does not measure an animal’s complexity or indicate how many genes it possesses.