Golden Guernsey

The Royal Golden Guernsey is a rare breed of dairy goat from Guernsey in the Channel Islands, where it has been known for more than two hundred years.

History
Golden-coloured goats have been known in Guernsey for some two hundred years; the first documented reference is in a guide book published in 1826. In the nineteenth century these goats were known as "Golden Gessenay", Gessenay being the French name for the Swiss Saanen breed.

During the Second World War when Guernsey was occupied, Miriam Milbourne saved a small herd of Golden Guernsey goats by hiding them for several years.

In 1965 the Golden Guernsey was exported to Great Britain and the English Golden Guernsey Club, later to become the Golden Guernsey Goat Society, was formed.

The Golden Guernsey is an endangered breed: it was listed by the FAO as "endangered-maintained" in 2007. In 2019 the population numbers reported to DAD-IS were 1381 for the Golden Guernsey and 171 for the British Guernsey; both were listed as "at risk". In 2020 the Golden Guernsey was listed as "minority" on the goat watchlist of the Rare Breeds Survival Trust.

On 16 July 2024, the breed was granted a Royal title by King Charles III, becoming formally known as the 'Royal Golden Guernsey Goat'.

Characteristics
As its name suggests, the goat is golden in colour, with hues ranging from pale blond to deep bronze. They are smaller and more fine-boned than other British milking goats, and there is great variety in coat length. The males are usually horned, with very splendid horns, very few do not have horns. The goats are easy to handle.

At the time of their elevation to a royal title, Christopher Price, the chief executive of the Rare Breeds Survival Trust, noted that the goat breed contributes to environmental benefits because they are fussy eaters while they graze.