Socking it to goat enthusiasts

Entrepreneurs to give presentations at Stonehaven conference

By Joe Watson

Published:

Goat enthusiasts from around Britain will be converging on Stonehaven later this month to hear from two north-east entrepreneurs.

The British Goat Society’s conference on October 31 is to feature presentations from the owner of Bonny Socks and Angora breeder Richard Baxter as well as Christine Ralph, who turns goat’s milk into soap.

Mr Baxter and Mrs Ralph will be joined at the event, in Stonehaven’s Station Hotel, by Ian Pritchard, of the Scottish Agricultural College, who will be explaining the benefits of goat producers becoming members of animal-health schemes.

Joint conference organiser Agnes Aitken, of the Grampian Goat Club, said places were still available.

She added: “This is the first time the Grampian Goat Club has organised the conference. Our two main speakers have considerable goatkeeping experience. Hopefully they will be able to tell others about their experiences in taking the raw material and turning it into a finished article that is marketable.”

Mr Baxter and his wife, Patricia, make socks, scarves, throws and gloves from the mohair of angora goats they keep themselves on their farm at Lumsden. They also buy in mohair from other producers for their business which is now at the Mossat Garden Centre, Kildrummy.

Mrs Ralph’s Gamrie Goat company was earlier this month among the winners at the RSPCA’s good business awards which celebrate the UK’s most animal-friendly cosmetic companies.

Her handmade soaps and a skin cream contain only natural ingredients, with the milk from her goats mixed with olive oil, cocoa butter, cocoa oil, sweet almond oil, shea butter and castor oil. She started making the soap as she found conventional soaps too harsh on her skin.

Mrs Aitken keeps 30 goats – British Alpines and pygmies – at Hillberry, near Stonehaven. An administrator with Grampian Police, she focuses on pedigree goat breeding. She reported increasing interest with the pygmies which were easier to keep and feed than other larger breeds. “They are very attractive goats. Their different colours attract the eye. I am more interested in the breeding side of things and in improving the next generation. It is not an easy thing to do, but that is all part of the challenge.”

More details about the conference can be had from Mrs Aitken on 01569 766775 or Catherine Le Huray on 01261 851407.

The Grampian Goat Club’s annual meeting is in the Station Hotel, Stonehaven, today at 1pm.