Dandalee Park (DP) is a small farm specialising in producing top quality dairy goats, Angora goats and poultry. DP’s philosophy is that you only get out what you put in and therefore has spent many years developing its fencing and facilities to help enable this. Whilst breeding livestock can be unpredictable, through ensuring the safety and wellbeing of its animals through appropriate fencing, and access to suitable housing, shade, feed and water as well as facilities to manage kidding, kid raising, show preparation etc – potential issues can be minimised. DP runs its goats in small groups of animals with same feed requirements rather than large mixed groups. This enables more appropriate feeding and also minimises bullying and competition for feed and shelter etc. All kids are hand reared from birth, disbudded and well handled. Where necessary kids are provided heat lamps and extra care until able to join a small group of others for rearing together. All dairy does are milked twice a day a day. Milk production monitored and records of this production documented. Milk quality is also tested on a monthly basis through Dairy Express. Where eligible milk awards are claimed for individual goats. (For more details see the Herd recording pages of the Website).

Dandalee Park uses a combination of ‘pool’ type and electric fencing. Pool fencing is usually at least 1.50m high and has the advantage it is strong and unable to be climbed by goats. It’s especially useful in small areas such as around individual shade trees and areas of high traffic by children etc where electric fencing is less suitable. DP has and will continue to plant abundant shade and fodder trees to both improve the aesthetics and provide a very valuable source of nutrients. DP recently installed a bore which has provided valuable water source enabling the extension of its gardens and shade tree planting.

All goats are provided shelter from rain and sun. Poultry and goat kids also are locked into fox proof sheds at night to help ensure their safety. Both are considered essential to minimise risk and maximise animals’ wellbeing and health.

DP resides on approx. 5 acres. Therefore, stock numbers must be kept relatively low. Every year at least half the adult and kids produced are sold or culled. This also ensures only the best are retained and bred from in future. Whilst often challenging to implement this requirement has helped drive continuous improvement.

Dandalee Park has primarily sandy soil and has a high elevation. This ensures great drainage and, provided ample compost is added, trees and gardens thrive. Frosts are generally minimal however Lower Chittering can be subject to extended periods of extreme heat (over 40C) and strong winds. Extensive tree planting has minimised damage from winds. Bush fires are a real threat too in summer. In February 2021 DP and all its goats were evacuated. Unfortunately, each year there appears to be an increasing number of bushfire scares. DP is currently developing additional precautionary steps to help combat this potential risk.

Over last 14 years, DP has developed large gardens to improve the appearance and provide a more comfortable home for inhabitants – both human and goat. Some of the plantings also provide browse for goats.

Whilst DP is not open to the public, we welcome serious enthusiasts to visit – by appointment – and are happy to offer advice on fencing, housing, tree planting etc to others interested in establishing similar amenities.