Golden Guernsey
 | |
| Conservation status | |
|---|---|
| Country of origin | Channel Islands |
| Distribution |
|
| Use | goat's milk |
| Traits | |
| Skin colour | golden |
| Horn status | usually polled (hornless)[4]: 30 |
| Tassels | no |
| |
The Golden Guernsey is a rare breed of dairy goat from Guernsey in the Channel Islands, where it has been known for more than two hundred years. In 2024 it received a Royal title from King Charles III and is officially the Royal Golden Guernsey Goat.
It is an endangered breed, with fewer than 2000 living animals.
History
[edit]Golden-coloured goats have been known in Guernsey for some two hundred years;[5]: 381 the first documented reference is in a guide book published in 1826.[3] In the nineteenth century these goats were known as "Golden Gessenay", Gessenay being the French name for the Swiss Saanen breed.[5]: 381
Much of the development of the breed is attributed to Miriam Milbourne, who started a herd at L'Ancresse in 1937 and was able to maintain it through the German occupation of the Channel Islands during the Second World War.[6][7] From 1922 the goats were registered in the general herd-book of the Guernsey Goat Society; a separate register in the herd-book was created for them in 1965.[6]
From 1967 a small number were exported to England, where they were cross-bred with British goats to form the British Guernsey.[5]: 381 [6]
The Golden Guernsey is an endangered breed: it was listed by the FAO as "endangered-maintained" in 2007.[1]: 120 In 2019 the population numbers reported to DAD-IS were 1381 for the Golden Guernsey and 171 for the British Guernsey; both were listed as "at risk".[2][8] In 2020 the Golden Guernsey was listed as "minority" on the goat watchlist of the Rare Breeds Survival Trust.[3]
On 16 July 2024, the breed was granted a Royal title by King Charles III, becoming formally known as the 'Royal Golden Guernsey Goat'.[9]
Characteristics
[edit]As its name suggests, the goat is golden in colour, with hues ranging from pale blond to deep bronze. They are smaller and more fine-boned than other British milking goats, and there is great variety in coat length.[10] The males are usually horned, with very splendid horns, very few do not have horns.[11] The goats are easy to handle.[12]
At the time of their elevation to a royal title, Christopher Price, the chief executive of the Rare Breeds Survival Trust, noted that the goat breed contributes to environmental benefits because they are fussy eaters while they graze.[13]
References
[edit]
- ^ a b Barbara Rischkowsky, Dafydd Pilling (editors) (2007). List of breeds documented in the Global Databank for Animal Genetic Resources, annex to: The State of the World's Animal Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture. Rome: Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. ISBN 9789251057629. Archived 23 June 2020.
- ^ a b Breed data sheet: Golden Guernsey / United Kingdom (Goat). Domestic Animal Diversity Information System of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Accessed January 2020.
- ^ a b c Golden Guernsey. Rare Breeds Survival Trust. Accessed January 2020.
- ^ N.K. Gurung and S.G. Solaiman (2010). Goat Breeds. In: Sandra Golpashini Solaiman (editor) (2010). Goat Science and Production. Ames, Iowa: Wiley-Blackwell. ISBN 9780813820620, pages 21–38.
- ^ a b c Valerie Porter, Lawrence Alderson, Stephen J.G. Hall, D. Phillip Sponenberg (2016). Mason's World Encyclopedia of Livestock Breeds and Breeding (sixth edition). Wallingford: CABI. ISBN 9781780647944.
- ^ a b c The Royal Golden Guernsey Goat. Guernsey Goat Society. Archived 12 November 2024.
- ^ A Brief History of the Golden Guernsey Goat. Golden Guernsey Goat Society. Archived 12 November 2024.
- ^ Breed data sheet: British Guernsey / United Kingdom (Goat). Domestic Animal Diversity Information System of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Accessed January 2020.
- ^ "Golden Guernsey Goat to be granted Royal title". Guernsey Press.
- ^ "Golden Guernsey". British Goat Society. Retrieved 11 December 2024.
- ^ "Golden Guernsey Goats - Oklahoma State University". breeds.okstate.edu. 6 July 2021. Retrieved 11 December 2024.
- ^ Docile Golden Guernsey Goats, Live at the West Show
- ^ No kidding! King Charles III bestows royal title on rare golden goat breed, Associated Press, July 17, 2024