The goat is a member of the family Bovidae and is closely related to the sheep as both are in the goat-antelope subfamily Caprinae. There are over 300 distinct breeds of goat. Goats are one of the oldest domesticated species, and have been used for their milk, meat, hair, and skins over much of the world.he Modern English word goat comes from Old English gāt she-goat, goat in general, which in turn derives from Proto-Germanic * gaitaz (cf. Dutch / Icelandic geit, German Geiss, geiß And gothic), gaits ultimately From-Proto-Indo *european ǵʰaidos meaning young (goat. cf