Nature Features

There are many reasons why people choose to keep goats. As pets, for show, to keep the grass down, or perhaps for their excellent cheese, yoghurt and milk. Peter Girard brought his wagon load of goats to the West Show and was happy to tell John and Jim what makes goats so special.

His goats are the Golden Guernsey variety which are "very docile, very friendly goats", according to Peter. Some of their horns have been cut back for safety reasons and the males do smell a little. Peter explained that the smell, secreted from their glands, is just a part of their mating ritual: "They're trying to attract a female."

A Billy with her kid

When judging the best Golden Guernsey Goat judges were looking for goats that have a slight dish nose, or straight nose and have a wedge shape to them - with a straight back and not too much of a slope from the hips down to the tail. One of Peter's little goats won the title this year.

You get a lot of affection from these goats, according to Peter. You also get some excellent dairy produce, such as goats' milk. Many people can't tolerate cows' milk, so there's quite a demand for goats' milk as an alternative.

John and Jim also tasted a selection of Peter's goats' cheeses and yoghurts, including garlic and herb cheese and yoghurt with fresh Guernsey honey. Peter explained that "that's the benefit of keeping goats. You get all this lovely food!"

Peter suggested that anyone thinking about buying a dog or a pet, should consider a goat instead: "You've got the Goat Society, the Golden Guernsey Society ... they'll help you out."