Alena Lidzhieva, Why Kalmyks Do Not Breed Goats

Abstract

One day in the distant past, god created four breeds of livestock, including a cow, a horse, a sheep, and a camel. While god was breathing life into them, a devil also created a goat but could not make it come alive. Then god breathed life into the goat and said, ‘Let it be counted as one of the breeds of livestock as well’. The superstitious Kalmyks, however, still see goats as devil’s animal. That is why they do not keep them.