[karenmike]

Hi everyone,
We are new to the site but not to smallholding, having had our own place now for 10 years. We came across this forum by accident after becoming quite angry with a would be smallholder today!!
We have sheep, pigs, poultry, a horse and the usual run of cats, dogs etc. Recently, we decided to add a couple of pygmy goats to the family and after researching and looking around, came across someone selling a 3 month old (without a mate or mother present which we thought odd). Having already located a pal for it and organizing to get them both on the same day we raised the issue of movement licence and ear tags.
Horrified to find out the owner had an untagged goat and no cph number. What is going on?!!!!! I can't believe people are flaunting the laws without a care - especially a breeder somewhere who sold this person the goat in the first place. There isn't a question for the forum here I am just letting off steam as I feel so sorry for this poor little goat on its own that will now probably end up being dumped somewhere after my wife put the owner right on the ways of animal ownership. Within 10 minutes the owner had withdrawn the advert for the goat!!!!
Hope to post again in a better mood next time

[Rosemary]

Hello and welcome from Carnoustie

Poor wee goat - must have been tempting to give it a home  Shame on the breeder for selling and untagged goat to someone without a CPH number - I know all these rules can be a pain but they are there for a good reason 

[Lesley Silvester]

  and welcome from Shropshire. There are some unscrupulous people around. I hope the seller now gets organised with a CPH and reports the breeder.

[plumseverywhere]

Infuriating and very frustrating for you    There are some who will happily flout the law and make a mockery of it. The laws are there for very good reasons and it makes me mad when people enter into keeping goats (and other stock) and treat it all so ignorantly. Too many out to make a quick buck (scuse pun) grrr!!

ps welcome to TAS!

[Anke]

I would say most people (with pygmy goats especially) have them without documentation etc because of ignorance rather then deliberately flouting the law. It leaves many people incredulous that pygmy goats - who really have no agricultural value - are classified as farm animal, but they are caprines after all.... I get asked about them at shows all the time... someone once asked me how easily they can be "house-trained"....
 
Why do you want pygmy goats rather than a pair of milking ones?