DURHAM dairy goat society was host recently to the British Goat Society autumn conference at Durham county hall.

The event marked the 80th anniversary of the society and proceedings began with the president, Doreen Hutchinson, from Ryton, cutting a cake, and the chairman, Nancy Jackson of Cockfield, proposing a toast to the future.

The morning session included a talk by Venessa Roe who, as part of her final year at veterinary college, conducted a survey sponsored by the Goat Veterinary Society and involving more than 200 goatkeepers - both pet and commercial.

The survey examined the main problems in keeping goats, how they were housed, and which particular worming and disease factors were typical.

Prof Barti Synge from the Scottish agricultural college, Inverness, gave an informative talk on testing animals for CAE by milk samples instead of by blood testing, which is something under investigation at Inverness.

The afternoon session was a BGS question and answer session, chaired by the society chairman, Mr Barry Clark of Middleton St George.

More than 60 members from the North-East as well as from Aberdeen, London and mid-Glamorgan, attended the meeting.