The goat is the farm animal known for a distinctive split upper lip that helps it select leaves and grass.
A goat’s mobile upper lip and divided dental pad help it grasp and sort plant material. Goats can browse shrubs, twigs, and leaves as well as graze grasses, which gives them a different feeding pattern from cattle that primarily graze close-growing pasture.
Domestic goats descend from the bezoar ibex and were domesticated in the Fertile Crescent roughly 10,000 years ago. They have since been bred for milk, meat, fiber, skins, and brush control.
Goats are sometimes described as eating anything, but that is a myth. They are selective feeders and often investigate many plants with their lips before choosing what to consume. Their browsing ability does not mean every plant is safe or suitable.