San Clemente Goats: Saving A “Feral” Endangered Breed
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The San Clemente Island goat is unlike any goat you’ve ever seen. Don’t expect a 4-ft. fence to stop one from leaping over. Even a 5-ft. tall fence may not be enough to contain an active male with 3-ft. horns. And check out its deer-like appearance, narrow nose and narrow ears with a distinctive crimp. Finally, the breed has feral tendencies, which is totally understandable when you know they survived on their own for at least 100 years off the California coast on San Clemente Island.
Introduced to the island in 1875, estimates indicate that there were between 15,000 and 30,000 running wild by the 1970’s. Hunters greatly reduced the population before the Fund for Animals rounded up volunteers to rescue them. Classified as critically endangered, there are about 750 San Clemente goats, but they are thriving in a variety of climates throughout the U.S. under the care of people interested in preserving the breed.
The biggest herd of about 200 is owned by John F. Carroll and Chad Wegener at Willow Valley Farms, LLC in Nebraska. They also recently inherited the role of leading the San Clemente Island (SCI) Goat Foundation, dedicated to preserving the genetic diversity and growing the herd while increasing the geographical distribution (www.scigoats.com).
“Their color scheme, intelligence and feral-ness is what I appreciate,” Wegener says. “They are fantastic mothers, and you rarely have to intervene with birthing. I’ve only had to do it 3 times in 5 years.”
He set up a chute fencing system to handle them for vaccinations and other treatments.
While many goat breeders raise them to conserve the breed, he and Carroll plan to set up a dairy operation and make boutique artisan cheese. Though the females have smaller udders than many goats and produce less milk, the milk they produce is high in butterfat so there is less whey and waste.
The challenge is that it’s common for San Clemente Island sheep to have an extra supernumerary teat, which does not work well with two-teat milkers.
“We’re working on selective breeding to increase our numbers of two-teated goats,” Wegener says.
Other producers are already using the milk to make soap and some sell males for meat. They could also be used for brush control.
Other than taller fencing, the San Clemente goats have similar care requirements as other goat breeds. They do well on pasture, but receive alfalfa, grass, hay and grain supplements during the winter and when nursing. With two coats, including a cashmere layer, they do well in an unheated barn in the coldest climates and can handle heat in the South.
Adult females average 24 in. tall and weigh 80 to 100 lbs. Males average 30 in. in height and can weigh up to 200 lbs. The males have spiral swept back horns that can grow to nearly 3 ft. long.
Prices vary according to the breeder. On the East and West coasts SCI goats average $300-$400, while prices tend to be a bit less in the Midwest.
The SCI foundation website includes a breeders list for people interested in helping the breed grow, Wegener notes.
“Do your research,” he suggests. “Goats are curious, so you have to have a proper facility and fencing.”
Members of the foundation believe that it’s important to maintain the breed and their genetics, which may also be valuable for crossbreeding. Most breeders do not disbud their goats so that they maintain their natural feral beauty. But as they domesticate a breed that ran wild for more than 100 years, it’s also important to let San Clemente Island goats be what they are.
“We have 40 acres and have rocky land, pasture, forest and sandy areas. The goats will climb trees, jump over rocks,” Wegener says. “I hope we never lose that or that they get lazy.” Carroll, says, “The best part of the day is when we get to let the goats out of their pasture and follow them around for a couple of hours. Goats will teach you a lot.”
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Chad Wegener, 6902 S. 240th St., Gretna, Neb. 68028 (ph 402 510-2408; chad@willowvalleyfarms.org).
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San Clemente Goats: Saving A “Feral” Endangered Breed LIVESTOCK Miscellaneous The San Clemente Island goat is unlike any goat you’ve ever seen Don’t expect a 4-ft fence to stop one from leaping over Even a 5-ft tall fence may not be enough to contain an active male with 3-ft horns And check out its deer-like appearance narrow nose and narrow ears with a distinctive crimp Finally the breed has feral tendencies which is totally understandable when you know they survived on their own for at least 100 years off the California coast on San Clemente Island Introduced to the island in 1875 estimates indicate that there were between 15 000 and 30 000 running wild by the 1970’s Hunters greatly reduced the population before the Fund for Animals rounded up volunteers to rescue them Classified as critically endangered there are about 750 San Clemente goats but they are thriving in a variety of climates throughout the U S under the care of people interested in preserving the breed The biggest herd of about 200 is owned by John F Carroll and Chad Wegener at Willow Valley Farms LLC in Nebraska They also recently inherited the role of leading the San Clemente Island SCI Goat Foundation dedicated to preserving the genetic diversity and growing the herd while increasing the geographical distribution www scigoats com “Their color scheme intelligence and feral-ness is what I appreciate ” Wegener says “They are fantastic mothers and you rarely have to intervene with birthing I’ve only had to do it 3 times in 5 years ” He set up a chute fencing system to handle them for vaccinations and other treatments While many goat breeders raise them to conserve the breed he and Carroll plan to set up a dairy operation and make boutique artisan cheese Though the females have smaller udders than many goats and produce less milk the milk they produce is high in butterfat so there is less whey and waste The challenge is that it’s common for San Clemente Island sheep to have an extra supernumerary teat which does not work well with two-teat milkers “We’re working on selective breeding to increase our numbers of two-teated goats ” Wegener says Other producers are already using the milk to make soap and some sell males for meat They could also be used for brush control Other than taller fencing the San Clemente goats have similar care requirements as other goat breeds They do well on pasture but receive alfalfa grass hay and grain supplements during the winter and when nursing With two coats including a cashmere layer they do well in an unheated barn in the coldest climates and can handle heat in the South Adult females average 24 in tall and weigh 80 to 100 lbs Males average 30 in in height and can weigh up to 200 lbs The males have spiral swept back horns that can grow to nearly 3 ft long Prices vary according to the breeder On the East and West coasts SCI goats average $300-$400 while prices tend to be a bit less in the Midwest The SCI foundation website includes a breeders list for people interested in helping the breed grow Wegener notes “Do your research ” he suggests “Goats are curious so you have to have a proper facility and fencing ” Members of the foundation believe that it’s important to maintain the breed and their genetics which may also be valuable for crossbreeding Most breeders do not disbud their goats so that they maintain their natural feral beauty But as they domesticate a breed that ran wild for more than 100 years it’s also important to let San Clemente Island goats be what they are “We have 40 acres and have rocky land pasture forest and sandy areas The goats will climb trees jump over rocks ” Wegener says “I hope we never lose that or that they get lazy ” Carroll says “The best part of the day is when we get to let the goats out of their pasture and follow them around for a couple of hours Goats will teach you a lot ” Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Chad Wegener 6902 S 240th St Gretna Neb 68028 ph 402 510-2408; chad@willowvalleyfarms org
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