Goats will never suffer from Down syndrome, then, so you have nothing to worry about from that point of view.
It’s an interesting question, nonetheless, so let’s look further into this.
What is Down syndrome?
Firstly, let’s look at what Down syndrome even is.
In humans, Down syndrome is a condition in which you are born with an extra chromosome.
This happens typically by chance, usually due to a change in the egg or the sperm before the baby is born.
It is not something affected by what anyone has done during the pregnancy.
Down syndrome is characterized by low muscle tone throughout the body, a short stature, a flatter nasal bridge, and a protruding tongue.
Those with Down syndrome are at higher risk of conditions like Alzheimer’s and epilepsy.
Those with Down syndrome have varying levels of developmental disabilities, but with support and early treatment programs, they can improve their skills.
They may have issues with speech, occupational skills, and other issues.
With therapy, these can be addressed to a remarkable degree.
Down syndrome is not overwhelmingly common in humans—around 1 in 1,000 people, as I said—but it is nonetheless a prevalent condition.
So, with all this in mind, can goats get Down syndrome?
Do goats get Down syndrome?
No, goats cannot get Down syndrome.
It is just not possible for them in the same way it is for us.
They do not have the chance for that extra chromosome to form, and even if it did, the same syndrome would not manifest.
As I said, there are no animals other than ourselves which can get Down syndrome.
Goats are no exception.
Some goats are often mistaken for having Down syndrome due to a variety of physical traits which some seem to assume are similar to those with Down syndrome.
These include short necks and overall short statures, misaligned jaws, and other physical issues.
But there are any number of things that can lead to goats having shorter statures, and all of these other physical traits.
None of them are Down syndrome.
The other important point to make is that Down syndrome is present from birth.
It is not something that can develop later in life.
If you are concerned about your goat in one way or another, whether that’s its behavior or its physical health, you should speak to a vet.
They will be able to tell you what the problem is, and it will not be Down syndrome.
Does inbreeding cause Down syndrome?
There are a lot of misconceptions surrounding the causes of Down syndrome.
Many worry that by interbreeding goats that are too closely related, they have caused them to have Down syndrome.
Regardless of the fact that goats cannot get Down syndrome to begin with, it is also not caused in any way by inbreeding.
Again, this is more the result of certain perceptions around the physical appearance of those who are inbred and those who have Down syndrome.
It is at best an unhelpful comparison and at worst an outright stigma which needs to be resolved through education.
Down syndrome is caused by the chance occurrence of an extra chromosome, and nothing else.
Can animals get it at all, then?
Do animals get Down syndrome?
Strictly speaking, no, animals do not get Down syndrome.
That definition is reserved exclusively for the human condition caused by the presence of an extra chromosome in the DNA.
It is, in that sense, a rather narrow definition.
That said, there are very similar conditions observed in some primates.
Researchers at the Kyoto University in Japan documented 2 cases of a chimpanzee with a genetic disorder, in which it had a third copy of one of its chromosomes.
But this is not the same as what we understand to be Down syndrome and is characterized in very different ways.
This is the closest thing the animal kingdom has to Down syndrome.
Can animals be autistic?
The simple answer is just that autistic is, again, a term reserved for human behavioral psychology.
That said, many animals can display autistic-like traits.
They may tend towards repetitive behavior, or have atypical social habits, preferring their own company.
This would be very unusual for goats, of course, so there are not many documented cases of goats with something autism adjacent.
But perhaps they can, on a deeper level—more study is required on the question at this time.
While there are similar conditions in the natural world, Down syndrome itself is something only experienced by humans.
Goats are not able to be born with Down syndrome, and thus that is one condition that you are safe from with your goat herd.
If you are concerned about your goat’s behavior and are stuck wondering what the cause of it is, then you should speak to a vet—this gives you your best chance of a proper diagnosis.