No rare goats in show for first time in 40 years

No Golden Guernsey goats will be taking part in the Royal Agricultural and Horticultural Society Show for the first time in more than 40 years, organisers say.

Despite having royal status, the goats are currently classified as at risk on the rare breed survival list.

Royal Guernsey Goat Breed Society president Keith Opie said there were goats on the island but they were not ready for the shows and their numbers had not recovered to those of the 1980s.

The Golden Guernsey is a dairy breed of goat distinguished by its golden skin and hair, which ranges in hue from pale blond to deep bronze.

Mr Opie said: "We know there are still more Golden Goats on the island but many of them haven't been bred, they haven't been back into milk for some time, they aren't really in show condition."

It means there will not be any of the rare goats competing in the show in Saumarez Park in July.

Mr Opie said he thought there were about 186 of the species on the island but there had not been any goat shows recently.

Last summer, King Charles III and Queen Camilla viewed the Golden Guernsey goats during a visit to Les Cotils at L'Hyvreuse, in St Peter Port during their two-day visit to the Channel Islands.

During the visit, the goats were given the special title of Royal Guernsey Golden goats - the first time in recent history the honour had been given to a breed.

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