Bagot goat

The Bagot goat is a breed of goat, kept, especially, semi-wild at Blithfield Hall, Staffordshire, England. It is considered "critically endangered" by the Rare Breeds Survival Trust as there are fewer than 100 registered breeding females in the United Kingdom. [http://www.rbst.org.uk/watch-list/main.php Whitefaced Woodland at Rare Breeds Survival Trust watch list] accessed 21st May 2008]

The Bagot goats were introduced to England at Blithfield Hall in the 1380's. The goats were likely brought back to England by returning Crusaders and probably trace their ancestry to goats of the Rhone valley. The goats were said to have been given to John Bagot of Blithfield by King Richard II of England to commemorate good hunting which the King enjoyed at Blithfield. [ [http://www.ansi.okstate.edu/breeds/goats/bagot/index.htm Bagot goat, Oklahoma State University, www.ansir.okstate.edu] ]

Examples can be seen at Birmingham Nature Centre, near there, at Aldenham Country Park in Hertfordshire, England and at the South of England Rare Breeds Centre.

In January 2005, the breed featured on a British postage stamp.

References

External links

* [http://www.bagot-goat.freeserve.co.uk/ Bagot Goat Breed Society]
* [http://www.allgoats.com/breeds4.htm#BAGOT British Goat Society, Bagot page]
* [http://www.royalmail.com/portal/rm/content1?catId=16200176&mediaId=16300206 Bagot goat stamp]
* [http://baggetthistory.com/bagot_goat.html Bagot goat history]