By CAM LUCADOU-WELLS
ONCE a goat person, always a goat person.
So says self-confessed devotee Jo-Anne Duggan, who heads the goat section at the Dandenong Show.
Ms Duggan remains hooked by their large, distinct personalities.
“They’re quite personable animals. Cute. Not a high maintenance animal.
“And despite popular perceptions, they don’t eat everything.”
Since a young age, Ms Duggan has had one or two goats.
She says they prefer the company of another goat, and not being chained up by themselves as a make-shift lawn mower in the back yard.
On show at Dandenong will be about 50 specimens from breeds such as the Anglo-Nubian – known for their pronounced noses and floppy ears, the white Saanen, the black-and-white striped British Alpine, the hirsute Angoras, and the brown-and-white striped Toggenburgs.
There are also two Australian breeds – the Australian-bred black Melaans, and the self-descriptive Australian Brown.
They will be judged on their milk yields, their udders and their “confirmation” – which covers their gait, grooming and state of their hooves.
Most of the show specimens will be females – or does – quite simply, because the bucks tend to stink.
Ms Duggan still keeps two British Alpine does Thelma and Louise – named in tribute to the film – though they are too old for show.
“People who show goats genuinely love their animals,” Ms Duggan said.
“They are also absolute nutters, that’s the truth of it.”
This year is the Year of the Goat – but that doesn’t bother Ms Duggan.
“I’m a science teacher – I just deal in facts.”
