ED and Vickie van der Hoeven moved to Australia over two decades ago with dreams of offering on-farm luxury accommodation in the High Country.
The resulting BullerRoo Luxury Farmstay overlooking the Barwite Valley is a testament to their vision.
The establishment of BullerRoo Pygmy Goat Stud however is an added bonus.
What started off as a few goats in a paddock has evolved into an independent enterprise and a lifetime passion for the van der Hoevens.
It was back in Holland that Ed began his farming journey, volunteering at a kinder Boerderij, a farm that caters for local children, allowing them to visit and engage in farm activities and chores.
Latest Stories
Wanting to gain first-hand knowledge of livestock handling, Ed volunteered hoping to develop some skills that would set him in good stead when backpacking around Australia.
“The plan was to visit on a working-holiday visa and work in agriculture,” he said.
“And I thought this farm – which gave me a general understanding of the industry - would provide a good segue into agriculture.”
Ed worked there for two years before visiting Australia, however it was the dream of opening up a hostel or some other type of accommodation down under that would soon replace his farming aspirations.
BullerRoo has become the happy amalgamation of these two dreams.
“At the farm in Holland, there were goats, pigs and ponies (amongst other farmyard animals) and for every animal there was a measureable cuddle factor,” he said
“Goats would consistently sit there at the top of the ladder for cuddle factor, and for cuteness.
“Lots of children love goats.”
And Ed loved goats, so when the van der Hoevens emigrated and began to set their plan in motion - buying a rural block picturesquely set in the foothills of the Tolmie plateau - goats became part of the natural progression.
At this stage, the 24 acre block was a neglected paddock with two or three remnant trees, a quarry’s-worth of rocks and very little else, and so would begin the labour of love that has become the lauded and awarded BullerRoo, a luxury farm stay with a pygmy goat stud thrown into the equation.
When the van der Hoeven’s first started their farm stay in 2017, the BullerRoo goats were boer goats.
“Back then they were primarily dual-purpose, in that we used them to clear up the block and also as a source of meat,” said Ed
“However as we moved towards becoming a farm-stay they became that point of difference – an additional attraction for our guests."
It was at this stage that the couple began to wonder if there was a more appropriate breed for their family-friendly accommodation.
“Boer goats were just too big for some of our smaller guests,” said Ed.
“So when we were introduced to Pygmy goats, they just seemed the perfect fit.
“In 2017, as well as opening up for business, we also bought our first Pygmy goat.”
What originally began as part of the farm-stay experience rapidly became an independent enterprise for the couple.
Driven by a love of these pint-sized caprine with their good-natured and friendly temperaments, Vickie and Ed decided in 2020 to become a stud and BullerRoo Pygmy Goats was born.
This year 2023, will be their fourth kidding season with the van der Hoevens running a foundation herd of 27 which includes two whole males and three wethers.
The females – which predominantly have miniature goat and Pygmy genetics - kid down about 30 over a period of three months.
The three months is more of a rough guide as Ed always likes to have some young goats on site for the guests, staggering a small amount of pregnancies to allow for some later births.
“We’re running at 100 per cent pregnancy rate, so we’re very happy with our current buck,” said Ed.
Standing at a diminutive 42 centimetres at the withers, Trinity Roger Moore is the stud buck.
Adult Pygmy goats range in height from between 41 and 58 centimetres, making the two and a half year old buck on the shorter side of the scale which is ideal for BullerRoo’s breeding goals.
However what he lacks in height he certainly makes up for in virility, with the 100 per cent Pygmy sire entering his second year of breeding.
Trinity Roger Moore is Trinity Stud progeny, purchased in December 2021 from Paul Hamilton.
Owner of the Trinity Stud in Berwick and founder of the NPGAA (National Pygmy Goats Association Australia) it was Paul Hamilton who first imported and introduced Pygmy genetics into Australia under his business Semtech, implanting embryos into boer goats and miniatures as the initial carriers.
With the short legs and head characteristic of the breed, Trinity Roger Moore at 100 per cent Pygmy exemplifies the breed with his stocky well-muscled body, broad forehead, wide-set eyes, erect ears and a nose that is short, wide and flat.
He also sports quite an impressive beard and flowing mane.
A striking little chap, the van der Hoevens recently entered him into an online Australian goat show, hosted by National Pygmy Goats America.
Judged in America by American judges who are experts on the breed, the virtual competition was an interesting exercise for the stud as Australian Pygmy goats are slightly different from their American counterparts.
“Our handsome gentleman took out second place in the competition," said Ed proudly.
“The conformation is all there, however American breeders favour seven specific colourations, which vary from some of the Pygmies we breed in Australia."
The breed originates in West Africa however it is only in the States that restrictions on colourings and coat patterns exist.
“My personal goal is to breed a variety of Pygmies, some with specific colours, others with moon spots or stripes," he said.
“Everybody has their own personal preference, and I want to breed a mixture to cater for most tastes.”
Trinity Roger Moore for instance is a grey-toned agouti, a type of fur coloration in which each hair displays two or more bands of pigmentation.
“He recently gave us three beautiful little kids – two girls and a boy,” said Ed.
“The girls are the first agouti females in the herd and we’re thrilled.
“Another of my favourite breeding dams has a sheltie-style coat, and I aspire to one day breed a Pygmy that is over 90 per cent and also sheltie."
This year BullerRoo is expecting to welcome their first 78.125 per cent farm-bred Pygmies, with the end of October marking the traditional beginning of their kidding season, after a five month gestation.
This year’s batch of kids will all have names inspired by Harry Potter, with birthing paddocks all allocated a ‘house’ from the series.
“Last year it was Quentin Tarantino movies,” said Ed.
“And this year our daughter Tasmin chose the theme.”
Along with giving the goats names from popular culture, the van der Hoevens also host an Instagram account BullerRoo Pygmy Goats.
Initially horrified by the idea, Ed has since embraced the medium and regularly posts updates of dressed-up goats marking seasonal celebrations to a catchy soundtrack.
“I used to be confused by the whole concept of dressing up animals, but I went into Kmart one day, and left after having purchased a Christmas costume for one of the goats, and I’ve been hooked ever since,” Ed said with a laugh.
“People love it, and we’ve gathered quite a following.”
It’s a following that extends to many of the van der Hoeven’s endeavours, as they embrace everything from breeding Pygmy goats to delivering a five star farmstay experience.
