Icelandic Goats (geitur)

September 2025 -- There aren't a lot of goats (geitur) in Iceland.  Few people eat goat meat, and goat milk isn't commonly consumed either. But we saw some and I got a few pictures. The Farm B&B where we stayed (2 nights) had a pair of white goats. We also discovered a field of goats along our drive. It was a very pretty area, so we stopped and took pictures. Maybe I took pictures and Lara smoked a cigarette. 

A pair of goats at the farm B&B

Posing with the goats

The goats looked Cashmere to me, neither meat nor dairy. In actuality, they were Icelandic (settlement) goats. Similar to Icelandic sheep and horses, they are an ancient breed that has been isolated for many centuries. They descend from the goats brought to Iceland by 9th century Viking settlers. But unlike Icelandic sheep and horses, their numbers are small, as their economic potential has not been explored. In the 1980's, they nearly went extinct. In Iceland, goats are kept primarily for pets. They are obviously well adapted to cold weather, unlike most goats in the US.

Goats grazing in foreground of glacier

Close-up

A bit closer