Buck the Giant Goat

NO TROLL would dare stop Buck the goat from trip-trapping over their bridge.Buck is a saanen goat belonging to Gisborne couple Steve and Rachelle Andrews on their Nelson Road lifestyle block.The pair acquired Buck five years ago from Gisborne’s Dennis and Heather Weatherall, who breed Heathden dairy goats.

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“He was tiny at the time,” says Steve. There was nothing to say he would grow to be so big.”But he did, up to 110 centimetres at the shoulder and well above the 81-centimetre average for his breed.He is up there with some of the world’s tallest goats, such as the markhor, which is found in Afghanistan and Pakistan and grows to a maximum of 115 centimetres at the shoulder.“Buck is quite a character,” Steve said. “He's extremely placid and a bit of a comedian.Buck fits in well among an eclectic farmyard featuring a donkey named Marko, who is only a wee bit taller, Bella the cat, Midnight the rabbit and various sheep and chickens.“They all hang out together and get along quite well. Bella will go and sleep with Marko and Buck in their shed, with all the sheep too.”Buck is known for his party trick of slipping through the wire fence, despite his size, to go and see his mate next door, the neighbours’ horse Devanti.“He goes over there and hangs out. Luckily the neighbours love him too.”Rachelle said Buck gets along with everyone.“He always wants to sniff and meet new people. He would be lost without Marko. They run around and play games together.”Rachelle said goats have their purpose, such as keeping the grass down, but make great pets as well.“There are so many animals in need and we are just trying to do our bit. We are so rewarded with the company they give us.“Goats as pets are totally underrated. People would benefit from having more goats in their lives.”Heather Weatherall says she has had other goats around his size.“It depends on genetics and bloodlines, but wethers can grow quite big.”Wethers are castrated goats.“They grow larger because they do not have the stress of mating. They have a nice cruisy life. I know Buck has a wonderful life with Steve and Rachelle.“Saanens can be pretty big but Buck might just be one out the box.”

Filmed and Edited by
Ben Cowper

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