Bagot

This goat breed was formerly feral at Blithfield Hall, Staffordshire, England but has scattered since 1957, and is nearly extinct.

The Bagot goat is one of the oldest breeds of goats in Britain. It goes back in history to around the 1380s, when it was introduced to Blithfield Hall in Staffordshire, the actual date being well documented. It is likely that the Bagot may be descended from the Schwarzhal goat from the Rhone valley. There are many stories as to how they got to Blithfield Hall, the most likely but lacking proof, is that some goats were brought back to England by the returning crusaders. Some were, it seems, given to the then John Bagot who was at Blithfield, by King Richard II. This was in recognition of a good day's hunting by the King at Blithfield, in Babots Park. These goats have been running semi-wild at Blithfield for well over 600 years. Since the crusades finished around 1100, the goats probably first went to one of the Royal Parks. The damage they would have done there, no doubt would have been considerable and the King would have been glad to send them to another place where they could be enjoyed for hunting.

In 1998 there were approximately 200 pedigree does in Great Britain. They have no commercial use either for dairy or meat.