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FRIENDS OF THE GOATS LYNTON FERAL GOAT Preservation SOCIETY Correspondence Address: Buzzards Ridge, Stock Hill, Barbrook, Lynton, North Devon 01598 752332 1999-2000 Hon. Member: Raymond Werner Chairman: Dr Roger Ferrar Secretary/Acting Treasurer: Mrs Joyce Salter Committee: Ray Holmes, Ms Melanie Small Acting Committee Members: Jan and George Hunt, Malcolm New Hon Veterinary Surgeon: Mullacott Veterinary Practice The Society was formed in July 1997 by a group of local people dedicated to the welfare and preservation of a small herd of wild goats that graze the Valley of Rocks near Lynton. The Valley of Rocks lies about 10 minutes walk from the centre of Lynton, on the North Devon coast and within Exmoor National Park. It is a dry, U-shaped valley, of origin as yet unknown, and is designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest and a Site of Special Geological Interest. The sides are boulder strewn, some of the larger stones being remnants of Neolithic stone circles. The habitat is coastal heath. We do not know how long goats have been in the Valley of Rocks but it is reasonable to assume that Neolithic peoples living in the valley some 6000 years ago would have kept goats of the same breed which graze the valley today. The Doomsday Book records 75 goats in the Manor of Lyntonia. We also know that goats were removed from the valley in the mid l9th century and that white goats, believed to have come from the Royal Herd at Sandringham were released into the valley in 1897. These survived as a small herd until the severe winter of 1947 which decimated numbers and the herd eventually died out during the very cold winters of the early 1960's. The current herd originated in December 1976 when three feral goats were released into the valley. They came from the College Valley herd, based in the Cheviot Hills of Northumberland. The herd flourished, it being necessary to cull surplus stock from time to time over the years, although the intention has always been to manage it as a gene bank and relocate surplus animals in other suitable areas. This was notably achieved in October, 1990, when a group was taken to Lundy Island, Bristol channel, to revitalise a failing feral herd there, and again in October, 1992, when another group was released onto chalk downland being invaded by scrub on the Isle Of Wight The latter introduction formed a part of a land management scheme. ' In 1997, when the herd exceeded one hundred and fifty in number, a mass relocation scheme was put into place by the recently formed Friends Of The Goats; a voluntary organisation dedicated to the management and welfare of the herd. All surplus stock was found homes, and a roundup was planned for the Autumn of that year. Before this removal could take place, however, over one hundred goats were shot This caused a scandal that reached the national press and television, although if did highlight the vulnerable status of the British Native Goat as it receives no protection in law. What the decimation of the Lynton Herd did, even so, was to highlight the vulnerability of a breed that is a part of our national heritage, but which receives little recognition as such and absolutely no protection in law. As a result of the shooting of a major portion of the herd, The Friends of The Goats was transformed into the Lynton Feral Goat Preservation society. The original aims of The Friends- to ensure that the herd was managed properly and suitable homes found for all surplus stock- remained, although the newly-formed Society moved quickly on to spearhead a campaign to secure the status of the British native goat as our national native breed, to maintain the Lynton feral herd as a gene bank for the future, and to gain the breed as a whole recognition and protection in law. In March 1998 an Advisory Goat Management Group was formed as a partnership between Lynton and Lynmouth Town Council, Exmoor National Park Authority and Friends of the Goats, the latter fund-raising to help finance agreed management activities. In September 1998, the herd was rounded up with the assistance of the Mammal Conservation Trust. 33 goats were relocated to the Surrey Heathland project near Guildford to clear birch and pine scrub, 6 were sent to a National Trust farm on the north Cornish coast, and two small breeding groups were sent to a wildlife park in Kent and to Trent Country Park in North London. 29 animals were selected to remain in the valley to form a gene bank for the future. In October 1998, three more goats from the College Valley were released into the Lynton herd. In September 1999 four billies were removed by tranquilliser darting and sent to the RSPB reserve at Minsmere in Suffolk to clear heathland infested with blackthorn and pine scrub.
PHOTO Catching up goats for RSPB reserve at Minsmere We are also actively supporting DNA testing initiatives to back up historical and archaeological evidence proving that these goats are our country's original breed. PHOTO Lynton goats now grazing Surrey heathland We welcome approaches from conservation bodies and
rare breeds parks interested in having goats. Our next round-up is expected
to be in September/October 2002 and we are starting a waiting list.
Whilst no charge is made for the animals, recipients are asked to
arrange collection or to reimburse our delivery costs and may be asked
to contribute towards other associated costs. Goats are currently
supplied on the understanding that they will not be crossbred with other
breeds. If you are interested in using goats for conservation grazing, the Friends of the Goats would be pleased to hear from you. At the present time, no charge is made for the animals but we ask recipients to arrange to collect the animals or to reimburse delivery costs. BREED PROFILE AND INFORMATION THE BRITISH NATIVE GOAT. SUMMARY. Our own original and 'native' breed with a history that extends back to the introduction of agriculture during the Neolithic period. The breed was further developed on the periphery of northern Europe as an all-weather, multi-purpose goat, able to withstand a harsh climate and indifferent husbandry. Extinct in domestication since the early 1950's but survives, albeit precariously, in isolated feral populations. Classed as a primitive and unimproved breed of livestock that retains a value as a genetically diverse landrace breed.
British Native Goats are medium-sized and extremely attractive, bearing little resemblance to our modern dairy breeds of largely foreign origin. They are both browsers and grazers, requiring little to no husbandry depending on habitat, and are able to maintain themselves on heath, moorland, waste, woodland, scrub and coastal areas ranging from high cliffs to dunes. Being aesthetically pleasing, they blend in well with natural landscapes. Their long history, ' native' goat status and strong cobby build has earned them the title of ' The Exmoor Pony Of The Goat World'. HARDINESS. Without doubt the hardiest breed of goat in the British Isles. The breed has the following attributes: - Adaptable to a wide range of husbandry. Originally a herding, cottager, free-range and semi-feral goat that was expected to find its own forage in the Summer, and subsist on tree bark and gorse or nettle hay in the winter. Hardy. Traditionally expected to outwinter in the harshest of conditions, and able to do so largely due to its large rumen, bulky conformation and thick waterproof coat. Requires a home range that has sheltered areas, but is tolerant of wind, rain and snow. Maintaining condition. They maintain their condition well on bulk feed of poor quality. Hay will only need to be provided when on limited browse or graze of very poor quality. Usefulness. Has proved to be very effective in controlling scrub on downland, restoring heathland and eradicating scrub PHYSICAL ATTRIBUTES AND HUSBANDRY. In free-range or semi-feral conditions, the British Native Goat will be self-maintaining, needing little to no human intervention. Hooves may need clipping on damp ground, however. Strong group cohesion and family bonding. Matriarchal, groups being led by an older female. Not territorial, but have a home range, outside which they do not wander. Restricting movement. Containable within standard goat fencing. Temperament. Behave much as Red Deer in isolated areas. If people are frequently around but not threatening or intrusive, they will grow accustomed to their presence. They remain, even so, shy without being given to panic or bolting when approached. Rather, the usual tactic is to outpace the intruder quite calmly and subtly, and without any undue haste. Handling. Easily tamed, and will readily feed from a bucket. Worming. Natural browsers that have no more internal parasites than healthy hill sheep. Breeding. Good dams, successfully kidding as yearlings. Good ratio of multiple births. Need for water. Will go to some lengths to acquire a water source. FEEDING CHARACTERISTICS. Both grazers and browsers, supplementing grasses with heather, scrub, gorse, bramble, ivy, bark and herbs. In woodland, will eradicate understory without adversely affecting mature trees, prevent regeneration or clear whole areas depending on density per hectare, duration and conditions. Very effective at scrub control in a variety of habitats. Known to improve the quality of rough or hill grazing, taking more forb species than sheep. INTERACTION WITH THE PUBLIC. Naturally wary of human intervention, but Intelligent, inquisitive and self-sufficient. Behaviour. Not at all highly-strung or nervous, nor easily stressed. Able to thrive on restricted areas. Not aggressive. Protective of young, but avoid confrontation. Only likely to attack a dog if cornered. Appeal to the public. Has proved to be very popular, due mainly to intelligent look with a broad forehead, dished face, small pricked ears and deep body standing firmly on short and strong legs. Multi-coloured, often pied. Coat thick to long. Always horned in both sexes. Beard well developed. General uses. To date has been used in the founding of a cashmere industry for improving hill sheep Grazing; maintaining sites of scientific interest; wildlife parks; scrub control and providing ' historical authenticity' to a variety of projects. BREED POINTS OF THE BRITISH NATIVE GOAT. The distinguishing breed points of the breed are to be found in the head, ears, horns, the issue of tassels, conformation, body proportions, rumen size, coat, colour and size. Head: The forehead is broad and narrows down to a fine muzzle. The facial profile is distinctly dished. Ears: Small and pointed. Horns: Horned in both sexes. They are close together at the base, and may be recurved (scimitar), semi-circular (curling) or twist outwards (dorcas twist). The angle of emergence is high. Tassels: Do not occur. Beard: Moderate to long in both sexes. Conformation: Square from all angles, being most usually described as cobby and robust Deep-bodied with short to medium-lengthed neck and prominent breastbone. The back is straight, rising neither to the shoulders nor rump. The hindquarters are square and the tail is set high. The belly line is deep. Legs: Stands firm on short and strong legs that have plenty of bone. Size: Generally small but size depends to some extent on environment and conditions. Male feral goats generally stand between 26 and 28 inches and weigh between 100 and 110 lbs., whilst females stand between 22.5 and 24.5 inches and weigh between 60 and 70 lbs. In better conditions it is possible for males to weigh up to 120 lbs. and females to weigh 80 to 100 lbs. Coat: Long in the males, sometimes reaching the hocks. More variable in the females, ranging from short but thick and dense, with or without fringes of longer hair over the quarters and along the belly line, to medium or long like that of the males. Below the coat there is invariably a fine underwool. Colour and markings: Faded black, through white, pied and all shades of grey, grey-brown and fawn-roan to brown. Eel-stripes occur, as do shoulder stripes. Legs may be black, white, pied or striped. The belly and rump may be dark or white. Head markings include a forehead patch of varying size, eye stripes or diamonds, blaze and spots around the mouth. A grey muzzle occurs, as does a white throat patch. In some breeds there is a breed standard with points differing from the ideal which are not encouraged but accepted. The standard for the British Native goat is, on the other hand, fixed, and there are no acceptable breed points that differ from the ideal. In particular, the following points would disqualify a goat from being registered: No beard or a wispy beard. No horns. Convex or rounded nasal profile. Large, wide, usually forward directed ears. Tassels. Wedge-shaped conformation. Exotic colour or markings, including black-and-tan, mahogany or spotted; Swiss facial markings. A fine and smooth coat without underwool. Please contact Joyce Salter if you are interested in acquiring any surplus stock.
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