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The Bagot Goat is one of the oldest known registered breeds of goat in Britain today. It can be traced back in history to around 1387 when given, as believed, to Sir John Bagot who lived at Blithfield Hall in Staffordshire by King Richard II. This, we are told, was in recognition of good hunting by the King in Bagots Park. When John Bagot was made Sir John, he apparently incorporated the goats into his own crest. Also his helmet with its goats head top can still be seen to this day hanging in Blithfield church. Ever since, the Bagot family has used the goat as their mascot, incorporating it into their Coat of Arms. There is also an old legend that states that when the Bagot goats die out, so will the Bagot family die out. That may be why the herd has survived so long.
It is well known that the Bagot Goats have been at Blithfield running semi-wild for well over 600 years. The goats roamed the parkland at Blithfield and were just hunted like deer. For centuries the goats lived in Bagots Wood and Park, which was in fact some miles across the estate away from the Hall. To give you some idea of the size of the Blithfield Estate in those times, it consisted of about 5,000 acres, split up into about 2,000 acres of woodland and 1,000 acres of parkland. The rest was mostly farmland of some sort or another. It is also known that these Bagot goats were not classed as truly wild like the deer. The reason for this is that when any of these goats got out of the fenced area and did damage to local farm crops, then the Hall had to pay compensation for the damage they had done. This system had gone on since early times. Any damage done by the deer was not the same, and nothing would be paid out as they were classified as wild. No doubt, in times long ago the goats were helped to get out on occasions, in order to get more compensation paid.
The actual numbers of goats on the Blithfield estate have varied through the ages. We do know from documentation that in 1710, for instance, that the Hall had to reduce the number of Bagot goats on the estate in the interests of agriculture. Again in 1938, we are told, when there was over one hundred in the herd, they were again reduced. We also know that in the Second World War, there was an extermination order placed by the War Agriculture Executive on the complete herd, again because of the damage they were doing to crops along with the deer. The goat numbers at that time were above eighty. The then Lord Bagot fought this order and got it altered, but had to agree not to let the herd number exceed sixty. This level was kept at sixty by culling until 1947. After this the herd was allowed to increase yet again. We know that in 1954 the number was up to around eighty. In 1954 some Blithfield stock was sent to other large country Parks.
In 1954 some male Bagot stock was released on mountains in Wales. This may be in part why some of the wild goats that are there today, have BAGOT type markings. Around this time, in 1957, the Blithfield goats’ fate was about to be sealed once and for all. The (5th) Lord Bagot sold the Blithfield Estate and the goats had to go. Some were sent to Halls and Zoos and some, we are told, went to private individuals. Many just went for dog meat no doubt. However, many in the United Kingdom are now scattered in small herds, which will ensure that they survive. Nancy Lady Bagot bought twenty of the surviving goats in 1962. These went back to the Hall at Blithfield under the care of Nancy Lady Bagot. The Hall was open to the public at that time.
The Bagot goat is basically a feral animal and is therefore very wary of humans. Although of course it can be tamed, they still keep their nervous character. They are quite hardy and well able to defend their kids from any predator. In the early 1950's the Bagot goats had their territory drastically reduced. Some of the Blithfield estate southeast of the Hall was taken over by the Staffordshire Water Authority to build a massive reservoir. After that, the parkland on the estate was sold and therefore the herd had to be dispersed, with only a few going to the Hall. From then onwards the goat numbers at Blithfield slowly declined. Nancy Lady Bagot then decided to send her remaining goats to the Rare Breed Survival Trust to ensure their survival. The Bagot Study Group was formed in 1989 by some of the breeders to try and help the breed. This group later transferred to a full Breed Society, and now it is true to say that Bagot goat numbers have dramatically increased, and the overall quality has much improved. The Bagot goat is impressive to look at and certainly has the longest recorded history of any British goat, but has no real commercial value at all. The breed standard is slowly being improved and the Rare Breed Survival Trust idea of grading has now gone out of favour.
Bagot goats are mostly black at the front and white at the back with long shaggy coats. The colour change should take place around the front shoulder line. Both male and female are horned, the males have larger horns, which sweep back and turn outwards. The overall impression should convey a medium sized, strong and well-proportioned animal. Supernumerary teats are banned in males and they are to be discouraged in females.
THE BAGOT GOAT SOCIETY was formed by its breeders solely to insure that the Bagot breed of goats survive and to help promote and encourage people who are interested in this rare breed of goats. Nancy Lady Bagot, owner of the Blithfield Estate, is President of the Goat Society and Peter Evans is Secretary. The Bagot goat is now documented far better than ever by the Society. The organization is really just a collection of breeders trying to help the breed to survive. The group membership is open to all those who have an interest in this animal with most Bagot breeders being members. The group sends out a breed newsletter, keeping members in touch with each other, and general publicity takes the form of shows, talks, workshops, booklets, and videos. The Bagot Breed is now totally controlled by the Bagot Breeders, including all breed registrations.
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