Pygmy goats the big attraction at Hampwood Farm

They are small, very cute and make great pets.

Hampwood Farm at Woodbridge has been breeding and selling pygmy goats to the public for around a decade.

Adrian Kelly and Peter Bultitude bought the property, which had been an apple orchard, 12 years ago.

“We both lived in Hobart and were very much city-slickers,” Mr Kelly said.

“We found that we were getting bored and we decided to move away from the city.”

When they first bought the Woodbridge property, it was a vacant block with only a small shed.

“We started out with some sheep, but they were boring,” Mr Kelly said.

“Then we got a couple of miniature cows, but they didn’t go very well because we didn’t realise how much they eat.

“And then we got the goats.”

The couple started out with larger breeds of goats before moving on to the Australian miniature and eventually the pygmy goat, with the farm currently boasting 25 females and two stud males.

Mr Bultitude said that the pygmys were easy to look after.

“They’re pretty irresistible and pretty cute.

“They are a great animal for a small property, and they don’t take up a lot of room.”

One of the male goats is from America.

“We bought the semen from the States and artificially inseminated a couple of girls,” Mr Bultitude said.

“And we were lucky enough to get a little boy from one of the girls.”

Hampwood Farm has a vetting process in place for prospective pygmy goat buyers.

“We want to make sure the goats are going to a good home,” Mr Bultitude said.

“We want them to understand the care and maintenance that’s required to keep them.”

Mr Bultitude said that adequate fencing and shelter were critical for a goat, as they struggle to withstand harsh conditions.

“They are a herd animal and don’t do well as a single animal – they require company.

“No good breeder will sell you one goat unless you can prove you already have another one.”

Mr Bultitude said three was the magic number of goats to have as pets.

“If something happens to one, then you’ll have a backup.

“But I have seen two works.”

Looking after the goats at Hampwood Farm keeps the pair busy.

“Cleaning out their house and rotating paddocks is very important,” Mr Bultitude said.

“Because they’re a paddock animal, they will pick up worms, so they need drenching a minimum of twice a year.

“Their feet needs to be trimmed every 7 to 12 weeks, and they need vaccinating twice a year – which we do at the same time as drenching.”

While breeding goats is something the couple enjoy, they do stress that they require a lot of work to look after.

“It’s a big commitment,” Mr Bultitude said.

“You can’t just put them in a paddock.

“They’re a very intelligent animal, so they like to be entertained.”

Once a year, in spring, Hampwood Farm opens its gates to the public so visitors can look through the gardens and the property.

But despite all the hard work the pair do, the farm is still a part-time operation as both still work.

“We find that the goats are easy for our lifestyle,” Mr Kelly said.

“I’m a real estate agent, and Peter used to fly with Qantas for 28 years.

“When the pandemic came along, having the goats and the hobby farm was very handy as it gave us something to do when the world shut down.”