ABOUT ARAPAWA GOATS

Arapawa goats are the rarest heritage breed of goats in the world, with a global population of only around 700 animals, approximately half of which reside in the United States. According to The Livestock Conservancy, the Arapawa goat population thrived on the island without major threat for hundreds of years, until the 1970s. At that time, the New Zealand Forest Service concluded that the goats were too damaging to the native forest and had to be removed. In reaction to the news, in 1987, Arapawa Island residents Betty and Walt Rowe stepped in with friends and volunteers to create a sanctuary for the breed. They began conservation work with 40 goats returned to domestication. It is largely through their efforts that the breed gained international attention and survives today. The Arapawa remains one of the rarest goat breeds.

Listed as "Critically Endangered" by The Livestock Conservancy, these goats are among the most at-risk heritage breeds in North America. This official status underscores the urgent need for conservation efforts to prevent their extinction and preserve their unique genetics for future generations.

Known for their exceptional intelligence and friendly personalities, Arapawa goats possess unique characteristics that make them valuable to preserve. They are highly adaptable, excellent foragers, and demonstrate strong maternal instincts. The breed is renowned for its natural resistance to parasites and disease, making them particularly hardy and low-maintenance.

These goats play a crucial role in biodiversity conservation. As one of the few remaining unaltered heritage breeds, they carry genetic traits that have been lost in many modern domestic goats. Their genetic diversity is invaluable for future breeding programs and could hold the key to developing more resilient livestock breeds in the face of climate change and emerging diseases.