Wattles

Photo courtesy of...
Phoenix Rising Farm

Photo courtesy of...
Freedom Star Farm

Photo courtesy of...
TinyHooves Ranch

What are wattles?

Wattles are hair-covered appendages of flesh, generally hanging from the throat area. Similar to a skin tag. They serve no purpose.

Wattles seem to be dominant, just like blue eyed or polled genetics. In order to get wattled kids, it is believed at least one of the parents must have them. So you cannot get a kid with wattles from two "non-wattled" parents. Some breeders choose to remove the wattles to give their goat a "cleaner" appearance, however most breeders choose to leave them be. There are no benefits for the goat by having wattles. Many people consider them cute and refer to them as "goat jewelry." One detriment to having wattles is that they can potentially fill with fluid and turn into painful cysts or abscesses.

Wattles in weird places...

This doe on the left is an example of having wattles in an unusual place. This is not common, but happens occasionally. Thank you Amy Heiland at Circle H Acres for sharing this photo of your unique little doe.