Goats a thing of 2015

But 2015 is their year.

The Year of the Goat, the eighth sign in the Chinese Zodiac, begins on February 19.

Each year is associated with an animal sign according to Chinese astrology, and works in a 12-year cycle.

The global celebration has given Young goat breeder Janelle Cooke, of Samittar Mini Goat Stud, a reason to smile.

Janelle has been busily handraising a number of kids, and will soon welcome new additions to her 50-strong herd of specially bred miniature goats and mini milkers.

Janelle has been cross breeding miniature goats on her Young property since 2005, when her son’s school assignment inspired the family to welcome five goats and one buck to the farm.

“We just love them,” Janelle said.

“They are a lot of fun and they are all individuals.

“The good thing about miniature goats is that they are just like dogs.

“A lot of people will buy a miniature goat if they don’t want two dogs in their backyard.

“They will walk on a lead, buddy up with the other dog and eat the grass down.”

Janelle said she has sold a number of her hand-raised goats to pet owners in Wagga, Canberra and across the Riverina.

“In Australia, miniature goats have been well liked for a while, but it is still a reasonably young industry,” Janelle said.

“In Australia, we don’t have the miniature goats or dwarf goats so breeders have to breed down the goats ourselves by genetically crossing back to get smaller goats.

“We are starting to get our bucks to around 57 centimetres and our females are down to 50 centimetres tall, which is from the ground to the shoulder. They are five crosses at least.”

To celebrate the Year of the Goat Australia Post has commissioned Hong Kong-born designer Dani Poon to illustrate a Lunar New Year stamp issue featuring the Chinese character for the goat.

“The goat is the most feminine sign of all the Chinese animals. Usually they are very goodnatured, genuine, timid and bashful,”