But 2019 could be the Island’s Year of the Goat, as a new venture aims to put their organic milk and goat’s cheese on the shelves next year.
Laurence and Louise Agnès, who run Douet Farm in Trinity, have recently taken delivery of 50 dairy goats to begin their goats’-milk enterprise.
And the couple hope to be selling their organic goats’ milk and cheese by spring next year.
The animals, which will remain in quarantine at the farm for another six months, have been specifically bred for the quality of their produce.
The previous owners, who have now retired from milking goats, have won scores of awards for their goats’ cheeses at the World Cheese Awards, British Cheese Awards and the Great Taste Awards.
Mr and Mrs Agnès were given the go-ahead for their new enterprise last year after the Planning Committee approved the building of a home, office and sheds on fields in Trinity.
The approval came despite the Planning Department recommending that the application be refused. The Planning Committee went against the recommendation because of the ‘overwhelming support’ the couple had from neighbours, the Jersey Farmers Union, Jersey Business and parish representatives.
Mrs Agnès said: ‘We’re so happy the goats are finally here.
‘It’s been a long process sourcing the right goats for us, and then having them health-tested prior to import. But it’s been worth the wait – they are a great bunch of girls.
‘The couple we’ve bought the goats from are amazing. They’ve been so helpful and they really know
their stuff.
‘We’re so proud to be taking on their herd. They’ve been bred to a really high standard, which gives us a fantastic starting point for our Douet Farm herd.
‘We’ve got a lot of work to do before we can start producing, but we’re planning to have milk and cheese on the market in spring next year.’
The agricultural shed will house the milking parlour, dairy processing rooms and farm machinery, as well as providing shelter for the goats when they’re not outside browsing pasture.
