Heritage Breed Week 2025: Honoring Our Arapawa Goats

Celebrating Heritage Breed Week with Our Beloved Arapawa Goats

At Happy Little Hooves Farm, Heritage Breed Week holds a special place in our hearts. It’s a time to celebrate and raise awareness for rare and endangered livestock breeds—animals that are not only unique in appearance and history but vital to maintaining genetic diversity in agriculture. Here on our farm, we are proud stewards of two such breeds: Shetland sheep and critically endangered Arapawa goats. While both breeds are remarkable in their own right, this week we’re shining the spotlight on our Arapawas—the heart and soul of our preservation mission.

What Are Arapawa Goats?

Arapawa goats are a rare heritage breed with a mysterious, romantic and tragic past. Believed to have descended from Old English milch goats brought to New Zealand by European explorers in the 1700s, these goats lived in isolation on Arapawa Island for centuries. As a result, they developed into a genetically distinct and hardy breed, perfectly adapted to rugged terrain and sparse forage.

Today, they are considered critically endangered, with only a few hundred left worldwide—and fewer still being actively bred. That’s where we come in.

Our Commitment to Conservation

At Happy Little Hooves Farm, We Raising Arapawa goats both a privilege and a responsibility. Every kidding season is part of a larger mission to ensure this rare breed doesn’t vanish into history. Our Arapawas are raised with care, compassion, and purpose.

We keep detailed records of each goat’s lineage to maintain genetic diversity, Our breeding philosophy is rooted in health, temperament, and the preservation of the breed’s unique traits—including their graceful horns, elegant profiles, and strong maternal instincts.

Life on the Farm

Our Arapawa goats live a peaceful life on our farm, Because of their gentle and curious nature, they make wonderful animal ambassadors for farm visitors, especially during events and tours. They thrive on human interaction and often steal the show with their quirky personalities and expressive faces.

Kidding season is always an exciting time—full of early mornings, gentle bottle feedings when needed, and the joy of watching newborns find their footing. Each new kid represents a step forward for the future of the breed.

The Role of Heritage Breeds

Heritage Breed Week reminds us why this work matters. These animals are living links to our agricultural past. Breeds like the Arapawa goat are not just relics—they are resilient, useful, and deserving of a future. Preserving them isn’t just about saving a breed—it’s about protecting biodiversity, honoring history, and cultivating a more sustainable farming model.

Join the Journey

Whether you’re a farmer, a fiber artist, an educator, or just someone who loves animals, there’s a place for you in this story. Supporting heritage breeds can be as simple as sharing their story, visiting a farm like ours, or even choosing heritage-breeds on your farm..

Come meet the herd at Happy Little Hooves Farm—where history lives, and hope grows.

Shawn Sweeney

Follow our journey at Happy Little Hooves Farm as we continue our mission to preserve critically endangered Arapawa goats and provide loving care to special needs animals. Each day brings new adventures, challenges, and joy in working with these remarkable creatures.