MORE than 200 of Tasmania’s top stud goats will take to the show ring on Sunday for the Tasmanian All Breeds Summer Goat Show.
The show will be held at the Deloraine Showgrounds from 9am until 4pm. More than 25 exhibitors will exhibit goats at this year’s show, which will feature four separate divisions.
The dairy goat division will include more than 70 entries and 10 exhibitors. Breeds represented include Saanen, Toggenburg, British Alpine, Anglo Nubian, Australian Brown, Australian Melaan, Nigerian Dwarf and Lamancha.
Judging the dairy goats will be Shelley Johnson from Tinderbox. Alicia Milligan-Martin from the Wheogo Stud is one breeder who will be taking part this year.
“Since recently relocating to Tasmania from New South Wales with our herd of dairy goats, we are really impressed with the show scene in Tasmania,” she said. “It’s great to see so many dairy goats competing down here. Some classes are proving to be bigger than the mainland show.”
Another highlight of the event this year will be the Tasmanian Boer Goat Championships, which will include more than 50 animals. Judging the championship will be Paul Ormsby from Forbes in NSW, who judged at Sydney Royal Boer Goat Show last year.
Mr Ormsby will also be hosting a free breeders workshop alongside his wife Jan at the Deloraine Showgrounds on Monday, February 20, from 10am, which is a first for Tasmania.
Boer championship administrator Callan Morse said: “With more than 50 animals entered, the championships present as a fantastic opportunity for those interested in Boer goats to view quality animals and speak to some of Tasmania’s mostexperienced Boer goat breeders.”
In the Angora division, both fleeces and animals will be judged this year by Audrey Gaffney. Miniature goats are growing in popularity and this year’s show will include nine exhibitors and more than 60 goats representing the Australian Miniature, Nigerian Dwarf, Pigmy and Mini Nuwby breeds. They will be judged by Jack Robinson.
Spectators are welcome and entry will be by gold coin donation.