Global experts gather to help save rare goat

The Royal Golden Guernsey Goat is a dairy breed which is distinguished by its golden skin and hair

Experts from around the world have gathered in Guernsey to discuss how to safeguard a native breed of goat at risk of disappearing from the island.

Those attending the inaugural Royal Golden Guernsey Goat Symposium would be devising a long-term plan to protect one of the island's most distinctive and culturally significant native breeds, a States spokesman said.

The goat received its royal title from King Charles III in July 2024 in recognition of its unique contribution to the Bailiwick's agricultural and cultural heritage.

"Without structured support, the Royal Golden Guernsey Goat could face the threat of extinction in Guernsey," said Keith Opie, from the Golden Guernsey Goat Breed Society.

A States spokesperson said the Royal Golden Guernsey Goat was the only animal breed to have been formally granted a royal title by the British monarch in recent history.

Despite this recognition, experts had warned that, without coordinated support, the future of the breed on its home island remained at risk, they added.

King Charles III saw the goats during his visit to Guernsey in 2024

The two-day event at Government House, which began on Monday, will also be exploring the breed's potential benefits to the island.

Among those attending the event are representatives from the government, the local agricultural community and environmental organisations, along with the Rare Breeds Survival Trust, the Royal Golden Guernsey Goat Society and the Guernsey Goat Breeders of America.

Mr Opie said the granting of a royal title in 2024 marked "an extraordinary milestone for the breed, but it must be viewed as a step towards securing its future".

"I look forward to investigating how Guernsey can become a centre of excellence for rare breed management, genetics and sustainable agriculture," he said.

Dr Sarah Jane Owens, from Guernsey Goat Breeders of America, said: "The beautiful, gentle, generous Guernsey goat is on its way to becoming as iconic in the US as it is in the UK, but they need a helping hand to remain healthy."

She said that, in 2024, and for the first time in nearly two decades, they exchanged genetics across the ocean "and I am so excited that this symposium will link us directly to their Guernsey homeland".

"We hope to create a network of expert support to ensure they continue to flourish, both in Guernsey and beyond," she added.