BREED HISTORY

ON GUERNSEY, CHANNEL ISLANDS

This attractive animal from the Bailiwick of Guernsey in the Channel Islands, has grown in popularity as a useful household goat with a pleasant temperament and steady yield.

Its origin is uncertain though golden goats have been in the Bailiwick for many years. It is not certain how long goats have been on Guernsey, but fine boned skeletons of goats were found close to the Dolmens, megalithic burial grounds some 2000 BC.

The first documented evidence is found in an old guidebook to the island in 1826 when the golden cow, golden goat and golden donkey were all mentioned. At this time it was common practice for ships to carry goats on sea journeys to provide fresh milk for passengers. When they reached a port these goats were put ashore. It is thought that Golden Guernseys originated from Maltese goats descended from various breeds including Chamoisee and Syrian, the latter being golden coloured with tipped up ears. However, the Maltese goats were crossed with local Channel Island goats and occasionally a golden kid would crop up. It was these goats of unknown ancestry who qualified for the early Register on account of their colour. Registration on the Island first started in 1922 in the Guernsey Goat Society’s general herd book.

There were always golden goats on the Island with several breeders developing and maintaining the breed. During the German occupation, although the GGS disbanded for the 5 year period, Golden Guernseys were still being registered. One of the most well known ones was Miss Milbourne of L’Ancresse, Guernsey, who kept a large herd (50+) goats that browsed on L’Ancresse common (now a golf course!) and played an important part in reviving the breed in the 1930’s, encouraged by Dr. Tracey, a British Goat Society Judge. She managed to retain her flock during the occupation and on her death her animals passed into the care of a trust – now disbanded.

In 1965 the Guernsey Goat Society opened a special section of the herd book for the Golden Guernsey as they were breeding true to type. In 1972 the Golden Guernsey Goat Association was started, now known as the Golden Guernsey Goat Breed Society. The objectives of the Society are to encourage the keeping of Golden Guernsey Goats in the Bailiwick of Guernsey, to retain the purity of this unique breed, to lay down rules and regulations and eliminate incipient bad points, to improve the milk yield, conformation and longevity factors, to provide an Island based authority on this local breed, to advise owners and breeders throughout the world.

The Golden Guernsey Goat is distinguished by its golden skin and hair, which can be of some length along the back and down the hind legs. There is some variation in golden colour allowed and small white markings and blaize or star on head, but no Swiss markings. It is fine boned with a straight or slightly dished facial line, the ears have a slight upturn at the tip and the neck is slender. It is a fairly small goat, males weighing 190-200 lbs and females 120-130 lbs. Conformation is neat and pleasing.

The milk yield is steady with good butterfats. Its reliability in food conversion and placid temperament make it an economic proposition as a family animal.

IN THE BRITISH ISLES

In 1965 the first goats were exported from the Bailiwick to breeders on the mainland and have continued over the years. The English Golden Guernsey Club was formed, now known as the Golden Guernsey Goat Society.

In 1970 the British Goat Society opened a Breed Register for the Golden Guernsey in its Herd Book.

In 1973 The Rare Breeds Survival Trust was established and the Golden Guernsey was and still is included on their Priority List in Category 3 (Vulnerable).

The dangers that especially threaten minority breeds are the narrowing of their genetic base and the problems of inbreeding. These have been particularly evident among Golden Guernsey goats, although significant progress has been made.

It must be remembered that before 1980 all Golden Guernseys on the mainland were descended from only 108 imports and of this number 30 failed to breed, so to be more correct prior to 1980 all Goldens on the mainland were descended from only 68 imports. Although there have been some imports since then this has not been in significant numbers.

1980 saw the breed awarded its first Challenge Certificate when Duesquene GG150H was made Best in Show at Devon Male and Youngstock Show.

Novington Boris became the first Sire of Merit in 1983, rapidly followed by Sark Roc and Chickering Pepetidor. Since then there have been a further 8 Sire of Merit awards within the breed, making a total of 11.

It was not until 1987 that the British Goat Society finally recognised the Golden Guernsey as a breed by allowing them to compete for Breed Challenge Certificates at shows. Only one year after this the breed gained its first Breed Champion in R105 Acorus Cordelia*Br Ch. To date (2003) there have been 18 male Golden GuernseyBreed Champions and 11 female Breed Champions.

In Herd Book 122 (December 1995 to Nov 1996) the British Goat Society replaced the Golden Guernsey Register with the Golden Guernsey Section and finally, in 2001, changed their regulations so that the Golden Guernsey was on a parity with all other breeds of goats in the Herd Book.