Our Royal Golden Goats

Here at Cragg House Farm, we are proud champions for pedigree native breeds of livestock. Native breeds have characteristics that are better suited to our challenging climate and make a positive contribution to the ecosystem they have evolved to thrive in.

The Royal Golden Guernsey is an attractive animal that has grown in popularity recently as a useful household goat with it’s pleasant temperament & a steady milk yield containing good nutritional qualities. 

Defining Features:

The Royal Golden Guernsey goat is distinguished by it’s golden skin & hair which often takes a lighter look.  It can be fairly long down the back and hind legs.  In the breed standard,   variation is allowed in the coat of golden colour, along with small white markings and on the head a blaze or star.

They are a fine boned animal with a straight or slightly dished facial line. 

The ears have a slight upturn at the tip & the neck is slender.

They are a fairly small goat, adult males weighing 85 - 90kg  and adult females from 55 - 60kg and their conformation is neat & aesthetically pleasing. 

History:

The origin of the Royal Golden Guernsey is unknown, though research on DNA by the      University of Cordoba has concluded that the goat is indigenous to Guernsey. 

It is largely thanks to the efforts of Miss Miriam Milbourne that the golden goat has survived. She started keeping goats in 1937, and in the early 1950s began a breeding programme for Royal Golden Guernseys.

The Golden Guernsey Goat breed were granted their Royal title in 2024 becoming formally known as the Royal Golden Guernsey Goat.

Uses:

They are raised for milk but do not produce as much as the larger dairy breeds. The butterfat and protein levels in their milk are generally the same as most other breeds.

As goats are browsers, they can be suitable for those without grazing, who do not have a very large plot of land, and who want to give their family wholesome milk, produced at home.

Their milk can be used for a variety of things such as drinking fresh, making cheese and even making luxury soap like ours pictured here!

You can get to know our herd through updates on our social media channels or come and meet them in person by booking a “Goat Picnic”!