Goats were introduced by early settlers to be used as a source of food, then later for weed control and farming purposes.
Goat farming was popular in New Zealand from the 1970's-1990's, and is again giving positive returns to farmers from the sale of meat and fibre.
Angora goats produce the luxury fleece known as Mohair, and are shorn twice a year.
Boer goats developed in South Africa from an indigenous breed with the addition of some European, Angora and Indian breeds. The name comes from the Dutch word 'boer' meaning 'farmer' and was used to distinguish them from Angora goats. Our Boer goats are mother and daughter, and two of the most friendly animals in our park.
Feral goats are found throughout the country. They are classed as a pest as they eat a wide variety of our vegetation. By eating smaller shrubs in our native bush, the forest floor is opened up to create a suitable habitat for possums, and less suitable for our natives like the kiwi. Our family of feral goats are not always on display within the park, but do a great job eating all the weeds on our surrounding farmland.
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