Can Sheep And Goats Cross Breed
By: NDTVNewsDesk
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Sheep and goats can mate and sometimes produce offspring called "geeps" (goat + sheep) or "shoats".
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This is extremely rare due to significant genetic differences, leading to most hybrids being stillborn or having severe health problems.
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While both are in the same family (Bovidae) and subfamily (Caprinae), goats are genus Capra and sheep are Ovis.
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The 60 (goats) vs 54 (sheep) chromosome difference is a major barrier to successful development.
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The rare offspring is sometimes nicknamed a geep (goat mother) or shoat (sheep mother).
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When a geep is born, it is generally sterile (unable to reproduce), similar to a mule.
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Many sheep-goat embryos do not fully develop, leading to miscarriages or, in rare cases, live births with severe health defects.
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A "geep" can also be a chimera (created in a lab by combining embryos), which is distinct from a natural, but rare, hybrid cross.
Image: Pexels
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