Oxfordshire goat that delivers eggs to villagers in Sibford Ferris is to retire
- Published
Two years ago Alan was attacked by a horse and since then he has struggled with his round
A goat that has been delivering eggs to villagers for the last four years is set to retire.
Alan, a five-year-old pack goat, puts his harness on his back every Friday morning and trots around Sibford Ferris in Oxfordshire on his egg round.
He travels with his owner Sue Sabin, who believes in giving animals work and a purpose.
Now Alan has been forced to retire after he was hurt in a horse attack and started struggling with his round.
Sue, a teacher who has a small holding near the village and tries to live as self-sufficiently as possible, initially took on goats to produce milk and cheese.
Male goats would normally be sold for meat but when Alan was born she decided to put him to work rather than selling him to the butchers.
She gradually introduced him to the harness backpack, and before long he was able to carry eggs on the two-mile round trip to the village and back home.
Alan travels with his owner Sue Sabin, who believes in giving animals work and a purpose
Sue said Alan seems to enjoy his work and has gained local celebrity status.
She said: "He's got quite the reputation. He has been up to the school at Sibford so the children can all see what he does.
"I have quite a few villagers come down and say hello to Alan in the fields.
"He really is quite a well known goat."
Alan is now training Boris, a younger goat, who will carry the pack and deliver the eggs in the future
On the way home from his work Sue said she treats Alan to a handful of peanuts and she carries the pack so that he is free to roam.
But two years ago he was attacked by a horse and since then he has struggled with his round.
Sue said: "What should happen, based on my ethics, is Alan should become meat but I think the villagers would be up in arms.
"So we will just have to find another job for him to do."
Alan is now training Boris, a younger goat, who will carry the pack and deliver the eggs in the future.
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