My wife, who works in the City of London and doesn't doesn't often run into livestock except for the occasional snorting bull, recently saw the Regimental Goat, Shenkin. It even has its own goat major. [Update:
since deceased. No, I haven't been following his career. Just checking for dead links a few years after posting this.] Apparently a mascot who awakened a sentry during the Crimean War made enough of an impression on
Queen Victoria for her to promise the Welsh Regiment fresh recruits from the royal herd in Windsor. She wasn't talking about her family.
"The Goat often accompanied the Battalion on active service and were, when applicable awarded the appropriate serve or campaign medals." And presumably ate them.
When I think of useful animals to have on a battlefield, goats don't come high on the list. How about a meerkat? They'd make excellent sentries, and they're already in camouflage.
At ease.
