About Eira Creek
Small beginnings. A rare breed. A long view.
Eira Creek is an Oregon breeding program focused on the American Golden Guernsey. What began with a few family dairy goats grew into a commitment to thoughtful breeding, education, and the future of this remarkable breed.
Where It Began
We did not set out to become Golden Guernsey breeders.
Our journey with goats began in 2020 with three bottle-fed dairy kids and a simple goal: fresh milk for our family. Over the next several years, we learned the daily work of caring for a healthy, productive dairy herd and were welcomed into the registered dairy goat community by generous friends and mentors.
Along the way, one little goat changed our direction.
Meet Vanilla Bean
She came for an afternoon. She never went home.
Vanilla Bean was an exceptionally small Golden Guernsey doeling who needed a safe place to spend an afternoon. We offered to babysit her and fell in love almost immediately.
Her gentle temperament, intelligence, curiosity, and unmistakable charm gave us our first real understanding of what made the Golden Guernsey special. Vanilla Bean became the foundation doe of our Guernsey herd, and her daughters helped convince us that this was the breed we wanted to build our program around.
Our Approach
A capable dairy goat, without losing what makes it a Guernsey.
We want to leave the Golden Guernsey healthier, stronger, and better understood than we found it. We breed for health, productivity, longevity, and sound structure while protecting the moderate size, gentle temperament, and distinctive character that make the breed special.
Eira Creek is focused on developing the American Guernsey within the framework of the American Dairy Goat Association (ADGA). We believe each generation is an opportunity to build a capable dairy goat while preserving the qualities that make the Guernsey unique.
Looking Forward
The American Guernsey story is still being written.
The Guernsey is entering an exciting new chapter in the United States. Although ADGA recognized the breed in 2015, registration through ADGA only became possible years later. Today, American breeders are working together to grow the population, develop strong genetics, and build a lasting future for the breed.
In 2026 and 2027, Guernseys are being presented at the American Dairy Goat Association (ADGA) National Show through exhibition and education. In 2028, Guernseys will enter the National Show ring as a competitive breed for the first time.
Eira Creek is excited to be part of these formative years. We will be at Nationals in 2027, learning, showing our goats, supporting fellow breeders, and helping introduce more people to this remarkable breed.
We are grateful to the breeders who have shared their animals, knowledge, experience, and encouragement with us. As the American Guernsey grows, we hope to offer that same generosity to others and help build a strong future for the breed.
