caprine

Caprine is an adjective describing goats or goats’ relatives. It derives from Latin capra, meaning goat.

In zoological and agricultural usage, caprine denotes things pertaining to the subfamily Caprinae of the Bovidae family, which includes domestic goats (Capra aegagrus hircus) and a range of wild species such as ibex, chamois, serows, and tahrs. In some classifications, sheep (genus Ovis) are treated as caprines as well, reflecting their close relationship within Caprinae.

Caprine can be used as a noun rarely to mean a goat or a person who keeps goats, but it is primarily an adjective.

Common uses include caprine milk and caprine meat, referring to products derived from goats. The term is also used in veterinary medicine and animal science to discuss caprine diseases, physiology, and husbandry.

Caprine contrasts with bovine (cattle) and ovine (sheep).