HAND-FED and bottle-raised goats are proving to be a major draw-card for travellers on the Bruce Highway at Bambaroo.
Leeann Brace’s Hillview Meat Goats have attracted plenty of attraction and she is more than happy to share her passion for the animals with others.
She regularly has strangers dropping in to the farm to get a goat ‘selfie’ and even invites residents from the local nursing home and special school to come and bottle-feed the kids.
The goats are well loved and in prime condition.
Ms Brace feeds her goats pellets, grains and fresh fruit and vegetables.
“I feed pretty heavily here because we haven't got a lot of paddocks,” she said.
Goats don’t like getting wet, which has taken some creativity to combat in the Wet Tropics area south of Ingham.
Ms Brace has built specialised shelters, with raised platforms that can be moved around the property to higher ground, should it flood, as it did earlier this year.
Ms Brace educates her guests about the work involved in rearing and owning goats.
“When people come in and say I want a lawnmower, I say you're better off getting a lawn mower,” she said.
“If you're too lazy to mow your own lawn, you’re too lazy to look after a goat.
“People don't understand the work that's involved to look after them property, with the breeding and raring of little ones, it takes a lot of feed.
“When you're feeding everyday, and then you've got to trim feet, worm, vaccinate... people think you just chuck them out in the paddock.”