[ABC Rural] Miniature goats bring in bucks for enterprising high school student [Jane McNaughton] and [Emily Bissland] A high school student in south-west Victoria has turned a passion for animals into a growing business by picking up on a trending pet.Key points: – Charlie Poustie has been breeding miniature goats since he was 13 – The goat’s prices range from $500 to more than $2,000 – There are more than 10,000 miniature goats in Australian paddocks and backyards In addition to the pressures of study, the 17-year-old year 11 student from Cooriemungle has tapped into the market of breeding miniature goats.”It started in 2017 when my grandparents brought me a crossbred goat for Christmas,” Charlie Poustie, owner of Coorie Creek Miniature Goats said.The teenager said he always wanted a goat and, once he had one of his own at 13, he decided to invest in a breeding pair.”I purchased two Australian miniature goats and they were pregnant the next year,” Charlie said.
“It’s just kept growing and growing from there and now we have over 20.” Charlie’s favourite miniature goat is Sliver Creek, an Australian Sheltie buck.
“He’s only one year old at the moment, but we are hoping to breed him next year,” he said.”He’s got really long hair and when he hits three years old it should almost flow onto the ground.”He’s blue eyed and he’s got he best personality.” Big job with its own rewards A lot of time and attention was required when caring for goats, Charlie said, especially in kidding season.”They’re all breeders or presenters but they’re family.” Charlie said he started out branding his business at agricultural shows around Victoria, but now has a growing online customer base.”People are locked down looking for pets, and they’re looking for Australian miniature babies,” he said.”A lot of families with younger children are buying them.” Prices ranged anywhere from $500 to over $2,000, Charlie said, which he reinvested into the business.
“My friends are pretty shocked I’m doing all of this by myself, it’s challenging but it’s worth it.” Perfect pet Kassie Williamson brought a pair of goats, Odus and Max, from Charlie as a gift for her daughter Zoe.”Five hundred dollars for two boys is a reasonable price for a pet, compared to getting a Jack Russell for $3,500,” she said.”They run around and jump up on chairs, plus they’re very interactive with the kids.
Eleven-year-old Zoe said she fell in love with miniature goats while watching online videos of them playing.”They’re really funny; I think they’re cool,” she said.”We’ve never had goats before and I wanted something different.
Zoe said miniature goats were becoming a trendy pet.”One of my friends is now also on the waiting list,” she said.
Follow your dreams Proud mum Mandy Poustie said her son has always had a love for animals.The first goat he was gifted seemed untameable, but Charlie was patient and calmed the animal down.”It used to kick and buck, but he worked with this goat every day,” Ms Poustie said.”We used to watch him out the window with a lead and a collar like it was a dog, eventually the goat was [acting] like a pet dog.
“It was amazing; it was so well behaved and would interact with people.” Ms Poustie said from that moment, her son’s passion for miniature goats “ignited”.”The family had no expertise in goats whatsoever; he is fully self-driven.” Ms Poustie encouraged all parents to let their children dive into their passions.”Not only has his self-confidence improved, his business management, organisational skills, budgeting — it’s all developed,” she said.”But I think it’s the foundation of something a lot bigger.
“What he has achieved and the skills he now has, he’s set himself up for the big wide world — he’s capable of anything.” Related Stories Top Stories Popular Now – 1.- 2.- 3.- 4.- 5.- 6..
