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.
Conservation status | |
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Country of origin | Channel Islands |
Distribution |
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Use | goat's milk |
Traits | |
Skin colour | golden |
Wool colour | golden, from pale to reddish-brown |
Horn status | usually polled (hornless)[4]: 30 |
Tassels | no |
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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
During the Second World War when Guernsey was occupied, Miriam Milbourne saved a small herd of Golden Guernsey goats by hiding them for several years.[6]
In 1965 the Golden Guernsey was exported to Great Britain and the English Golden Guernsey Club, later to become the Golden Guernsey Goat Society, was formed.[7]
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]
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.[citation needed] The males are usually horned, with very splendid horns, very few do not have horns.[citation needed] The goats are easy to handle.[9]