Golden Guernsey Goats at Pear Tree Farm.

Within sight of the famous Humber Bridge in North Lincolnshire lies Pear Tree Farm, the home of the Goxhill herd of
Golden Guernsey goats. The owners, John and Marlene Hankinson, have been members of the Rare Breed Survival Trust since 1987, and their herd was first registered with the British Goat Society in 1988. From the start the Hankinson’s breeding programme has recognised and responded to the needs of a breed with a very narrow genetic base.

While these beautiful and docile little dairy goats are the main livestock on the farm, six Shetland ewes and a Ryland tup follow the goats from paddock to paddock, clearing the grass before each paddock is rested and then eventually grazed again. The three resident male goats have separate paddocks and a pond is kept for wildlife with foxes and badgers visiting nightly. Resident water hens will rear two or more clutches of chicks and the pond edge buzzes throughout the summer with bees from the farms 7 beehives. The farm also keeps rare and minority breeds of poultry including Silver Dorking and Speckled Sussex, which can be seen in the painting.

Goxhill Guernsey Goats have sold throughout the UK and can be seen at RBST approved farm parks such as Odds Park Farm near Windsor, and the prestigious Nottinghamshire children’s farm park, White Post Farm at Farnsfield.

The herd is kept to a maximum of 12 breeding females with only four being mated each year. The female stock follow three distinct bloodlines and each year newborn female stock often attract a waiting list of new owners even before birth.

The origin of the Golden Guernsey goat is uncertain, though research has uncovered the likelihood that it has French, Syrian and Maltese ancestry. The first reference to them is in an Island Guide of 1826, which mentions the golden cow, goat and donkey.

There were a few golden goats amongst the scrubs herds and these were seen by Miss Miriam Milbourne in 1924. It is largely thanks to her efforts that the golden goat has survived. She started keeping goats in 1937 and in the early 1950s began a breeding programme for Golden Guernsey's due to the influence of a British Goat Society judge, Dr Tracey.

With great determination Miss Milbourne increased her herd to about 30 goats and in 1965 a separate Golden Guernsey register was opened in the Guernsey Goat Society’s Herd Book. The first successful imports were in 1967 and the mainland club was formed in 1968. The British Goat Society Golden Guernsey register was opened in 1970. At present, the Golden Guernsey Goat is classed as category 5 on the RBST scale of animals at risk.

- Information kindly supplied by John and Marlene Hankinson of Pear Tree Farm.