Breed Conservation History
Conservation of the breed began on Arapawa Island in the 1970s when the New Zealand Forest Service concluded that the goats were damaging the Native Forest reserve and were to be eliminated. Betty and Walt Rowe inserted themselves literally and figuratively to prevent the eradication of the herd. In 1987 they established a 300-acre sanctuary at Aotea with 40 goats. Walt has since died but Betty continues to care for the herd and promote their well being.
The Rare Breeds Conservation Society of New Zealand has acknowledged the importance of conserving the breed. There are now several breeders there. In 1994, Plimoth Plantation in Plymouth, MA imported 6 Arapawas accepting that they were most likely similar to the goats brought by the early settlers there in the 1600s. The breed is on display in the museum village. John Truelson, Rare Breeds Barn Manager, with Director of Museum Operations Liz Lodge have managed the breeding and dissemination of goats to satellite herds from coast to coast. At this writing, there are 12 herds in the US.
The American Livestock Breeds Conservancy (ALBC) first listed Arapawa goats in their Conservation Priority List in the ‘Study’ category in 2004. Their primary interest is in domestic breeds with origins in North America while acknowledging the value of all genetic conservation.
In the Fall of 2006 Marilyn Burbank, an Oregon breeder, traveled to New Zealand and arranged for semen collection from 5 bucks from the conservation herd of David Hughes. Nine does were laparoscopically bred from this trove in late December by Martin Dally of the University of California, Davis, where the semen is stored. This infusion of genetic material essentially doubles the foundation of the breed in the US.
Another group of 6 Arapawas went to the UK in 2004. Sandra Jones undertook this project with the hope of arranging for DNA research into the origins of this breed and as many others as could be accommodated. The expense of the research has held up the investigation thus far.
While the specific origins of the herd found on Arapawa Island have not yet been documented to everyone’s satisfaction, phenotypical evidence points to the Old English goat that is now extinct. The Old English was the predominant goat in England at the time Australia and New Zealand were settled and likely came with the early colonists. The breed was an all-purpose family goat that was replaced in the 1870s by breeds that were considered superior in either milk or meat production.
