The rare Golden Guernsey Goats are from the Island of Guernsey in the Channel Islands located in the English Channel. Where they originally descended from is unknown and their history on the island is a bit murky. Guernsey was occupied by Germany during WWII, and there is quite a bit of lore regarding the occupation and the Golden Guernsey goats. Some say the goats were nearly wiped out by hungry invading forces. It is rumored they were hidden in caves or a basement to preserve them. The truth is that a woman named Miriam Melbourne kept these goats and they were never really at risk from the occupation. The problem is there were never that many Guernsey goats to begin with. At the end of WWII, 347 does and 19 bucks were reported to be on the Island. All of the Guernsey Goats we have today are descended from those goats.
The full-blooded descendants of those original goats are referred to as Golden Guernsey goats. They were first imported to the mainland of England in 1967. Because there were so few Golden Guernseys, and in order to increase milk production and improve conformation, it was necessary to start a breeding up program in 1977. The resultant offspring are referred to as British Guernsey goats. They are slightly larger than Golden Guernsey goats but otherwise look the same. In 2024 during a visit from King Charles III to the Isle of Guernsey, he bestowed the title of Royal Golden Guernsey on these beloved goats.
We have very few true Golden Guernsey Goats in the US. What we mostly have are British Guernsey Goats which are registered with the British Goat Society (BGS) and those in various stages of being bred up. As of 2025 the American Dairy Goat Association (ADGA) has accepted Guernsey Goats for registration, providing they meet ADGA's requirements. My Guernsey goats are dual registered with both ADGA and BGS.
Why raise Guernsey Goats?
Guernsey Goats have so many positive attributes:
⭐Sweet, mellow, friendly personalities! They love people.
⭐Small, easy-to-handle size! They are the smallest of the full-sized breeds.
⭐Quiet! They are very quiet. Even when upset. They won't disturb your neighbors.
⭐Hardy! They are very hardy and adjust to new environments quicky.
⭐Great feed conversion.
⭐Plenty of milk!
⭐High butterfat!
⭐No (or minimal) clipping! Long hair is an important part of their breed character. You show them with long hair.
You can read more about Guernsey Goats and their fascinating history at the following links:
Registering Guernsey Dairy Goats With ADGA
ADGA Rules For Registering Guernsey Dairy Goats
Guernsey Goat Breeders of America
Royal Golden Guernsey Goat Society