Goats

We always seem to have goats about. Most come to us when people move house and haven't enough space for their pet goats. They do need good fencing, plenty of space and shelter from weather, and can make very entertaining pets, being mischievous, inventive, inquisitive and intelligent.

Pygmy goats are all of these. We've had some that would regularly jump seven feet onto a lean-to roof and then onto the top of the barn. They would race along the 65-foot roof of the barn, carefully jumping round the skylights which we always thought would crack at any minute! They liked to jump onto cars (bonnets and roofs), especially if it meant they were able to reach branches of willow leaves or anything else remotely edible.

On one occasion we took three goats in as the owners were emigrating. They were Anglo-Nubian, very different to pygmies, being tall with large Roman faces and long lop-ears. They had been penned up together for the night awaiting our attention- two nannies and the ugliest billy you have ever seen. he was really vicious and had huge horns about three feet long which he'd angrily swing in all directions, determined to stab anything or anyone who got in his way. Fortunately we know someone who wanted a billy goat so he was quickly moved on! The two girls went to a friend who had an old, recently-bereaved nanny who needed company. All got on very well until a few months later when one of the Nubians

produced triplets! Luckily the new owner didn't mind and kept one baby, passing the others on to a neighbour.

Milking goats twice a day takes a lot of time, so beware before taking on an adult nanny. Castrated billies make good pets and such a life is preferable to the goat meat trade many of them end up in. If you have time to milk a goat there is nothing better than fresh, warm milk straight from the udder - and you can always learn how to make goat's cheese!