Students at the College of West Anglia’s Wisbech campus are celebrating the arrival of four bucklings, bringing a rare and valuable hands-on learning opportunity to animal care courses.

The goats named by students as; Winston, Bartholomew, Lancelot and Vincent Van Goat have already made a strong impression on campus. Winston and Vincent Van Goat are both Anglo-Nubian goat kids, Lancelot is a white Saanen goat, and Bartholomew is a brown and white Toggenburg goat recognised as one of the original milking goat breeds. The four kids were generously donated by a local breeder, enabling students to work with breeds not previously available on campus.

For students, the benefits go far beyond simply caring for the animals. Unlike the College’s existing Pygmy goat population, these larger dairy breeds are known for being more people-oriented and easier to train. This creates a more engaging and interactive learning environment, allowing students to build confidence in handling, training, and welfare practices.

The presence of young goats also provides a rare opportunity for learners to experience early-life care, including bottle feeding; an aspect of animal care education that is not always available.

Aaron Pettican, Companion Animal Coordinator for Wisbech, said: “This is a really exciting opportunity for our students, as we don’t always have babies on campus, so they don’t always get the experience of bottle feeding. It is fantastic to see them engaging with the animals at this stage, and I’m really excited to watch the babies grow and become part of our animal community here on campus.”

By introducing a wider variety of breeds and life stages, the college continues to enhance its practical, career-focused approach to learning. Students can develop essential husbandry skills, deepen their understanding of animal behaviour, and gain experience that directly prepares them for roles within the animal care industry.