Latest news with #LisaBradley
RNZ News
19 hours ago
- General
- RNZ News
Pygmy goats: Big business in a tiny package
Pygmy goats can sell for up to $10,000 each. Photo: Lisa Bradley / supplied New Zealand's first, and smallest, pygmy goats are in high demand - and big prices are being paid. A South Island farmer's venture of being the first person to import a couple of pygmy goats has taken off, with more than 150 people now on her waiting list for the cheeky miniature pets. Lisa Bradley and her husband, who live in Golden Bay, started Waitotara Pygmy Goats three years ago. "My husband hunts deer and culls feral goats, and he always used to bring a baby goat home as we always enjoyed their antics over the years," Bradley said. "We've always had pet baby goats. As we've got older, I wanted an animal project which is a bit cute and small, and not already here in New Zealand.' Bradley said she decided pygmy goats fitted the bill, and there was quite a process to import them. "They are very stocky, they are very friendly and came from Australia where they are quite new as well (about a decade). They are particularly popular in the United States but we can't import directly from there, so went through Australia." The goats were put in quarantine for a month in Australia prior to being shipped to Auckland, and passing all the Ministry for Primary Industries' tests, then flown to Nelson. 'We bought in one full-blood buck and two purebred does. When we saw them for the first time, my smile showed it all - we were just ecstatic, and to see these little guys was amazing. "The full-blood buck, who is coming up nine years of age, stands just 49cm tall at his shoulder, or wither, area." Remu the pygmy goat. Photo: Lisa Bradley / supplied Bradley said they weighed about one kilogram at birth and were incredibly inquisitive, mischievous and full of antics. They also loved human company. "I have bred up the original imports with Nigerian dwarfs and ferals, and now I have about 30 goats and am getting them more true to type as they continue to breed." She said the demand for them was huge, with several people also wanting to breed them, but more who want them on a lifestyle block - such as those who want a couple for their grandkids to enjoy. "They are very small little animals so are not intimidating for children, and they are just so funny and love people - they love the attention." Bradley says she de-horned all her babies so there was no danger of young or old owners being bunted by little horns. There was now so much interest around the country that she has just started the New Zealand Pygmy Goat Association, which included a breeding registry. Bradley also went to Australia last year and was trained by an American pygmy goat judge to be an official judge herself. Bill Collins the pygmy goat. Photo: Lisa Bradley / supplied When it came to selling her kids, Bradley said it was a challenge and she had become a "nosy seller" who checked out facilities to make sure they went to the right home with suitable shelter. "I never sell one goat on its own - the only time I would do that is if it's going to be with other goats, as they are very social. "But they do transition much better into a new home if they go with a buddy. So I advocate for at least two babies to go together." And how much did it cost to buy one of Bradley's pygmy goats? The price of a de-sexed male kid started at $500, and for a young buck capable of breeding it was up to $10,000. All of her breeding goats were DNA-tested, microchipped and regularly checked for diseases. Grayson the pygmy goat. Photo: Lisa Bradley / supplied Meanwhile, Bradley said the next kidding season was going to be the best yet as it was the third year of breeding. "I have a rotation of paddocks for them and they all have houses in the paddocks. "I think I am a little bit of the 'crazy goat lady'. They are just amazing to see and I spend an awful lot of time with them. My husband thinks I love them more than him, but it's not true! I couldn't do it without him and it's an exciting thing to see." Bradley added that she currently had another buck and two does sitting in quarantine as she needed more diversity in their blood line. Mani the pygmy goat and Billy the cat. Photo: Lisa Bradley / supplied The miniature goats originally came from Africa and were taken to Europe in the early 19th century. They were then shipped to the United States in the 1950s and sold to zoos prior to gaining popularity as pets and show animals. The dwarf strain of goats they came from has achondroplasia. which results in an animal with disproportionately short legs, a plump body and a short head. Australia started importing them in 2013. Their lifespan is between 10 to 15 years, and a doe gives birth to up to four kids at one time. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
NJ Transit strike: How commuters will be impacted as union launches strike
The Brief NJ Transit engineers are prepared to strike at midnight. In the meantime, the rail system warned riders to reach their final destinations ahead of the strike deadline. HAMILTON, N.J. - About 350,000 commuters will be impacted by a strike of NJ Transit engineers leaving a lot of people worried about how they're going to get where they need to go. What we know As of midnight Thursday night, NJ Transit trains will go silent, signaling a strike by the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen. An announcement warning of an impending strike blared through the busy Hamilton Station, earlier Thursday, strongly urging riders to reach their final destination ahead of the strike deadline. What they're saying "Because I work so far up in the Bronx, it would be a nightmare for me to travel by car and I'm sure the buses are going to be crowded," commuter Lisa Bradley explained. She lives in Ewing Township and said, "My plan was to get a hotel for a couple days and see how it goes." By the numbers According to more than 350,000 commuters will be affected as a complete suspension of NJ Transit rail service takes effect. That includes the busy Northeast corridor and the Atlantic City line. Light rail service lines will keep running. Talks continue after the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers membership voted down a tentative agreement on pay, reached between NJ Transit and union leadership. The union says members earn an average salary of $113,000. They're asking for an average of $170,000. NJ Transit says the average earnings are actually closer to $135,000. President and CEO of NJ Transit Kris Kolluri said on Wednesday, "We have a contingency plan that runs our bus system as is. Our Access Link will continue to operate. We'll have supplemental service and four park-and-ride sites open." Vikram Mishra says that contingency plan has some kinks, though, "What's the frequency of the buses? They haven't yet clarified it. 5 a.m. to 9 a.m., yeah, but what's the frequency? Is it half hour? 15 minutes? 30 minutes?" Bradley added, "Oh, it's a definite impact. It's going to be a hardship for a lot of people and I hope they figure it out soon."
Globe and Mail
05-04-2025
- Business
- Globe and Mail
Ingalls Shipbuilding Hosts Second Annual Scouts Merit Badge Day
PASCAGOULA, Miss., April 05, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- HII's (NYSE: HII) Ingalls Shipbuilding division welcomed more than 80 Scouts from Mississippi, Alabama, and as far north as Kentucky and Tennessee for its second annual Scouts merit badge day at the Ingalls Maritime Training Academy. The event, designed to inspire and support the next generation of leaders, provided Scouts the opportunity to explore shipbuilding career interests and gain hands-on experience in various technical fields found at Ingalls. 'We are grateful to host this event again at Ingalls and to see so many returning and new Scouts this year,' Ingalls Shipbuilding Community Relations Manager Lisa Bradley said. 'Scouting builds character, leadership, and technical skills that align closely with what we value in our Ingalls workforce and it's an honor to be able to inspire and support these young Scouts as they explore potential careers and develop essential life skills.' This year, Scouts selected from nine different merit badge courses — communications, electricity, electronics, engineering, fire safety, first aid, painting, personal management, and plumbing — earning two merit badges by the end of the day. The event was led by Ingalls Shipbuilding employees, many of whom are former Scouts or active Scout leaders, who guided participants through activities in their chosen areas of interest. Photos accompanying this release are available at: 'Scouting taught me valuable lessons that have shaped my career as a shipbuilder,' Ingalls Shipbuilding Environmental Health and Safety Manager and Eagle Scout Kevin Kowalewski said. 'Both Scouting and shipbuilding emphasize dedication, teamwork, and skill-building, and it is inspiring to see young people investing in their future.' Ingalls Shipbuilding is committed to fostering the next generation of skilled professionals by supporting educational and career development programs like Scouts merit badge days. As the largest manufacturing employer in Mississippi and with over 11,000 employees, Ingalls Shipbuilding is dedicated to fostering a culture of innovation, growth, and community engagement by investing in initiatives that support and inspire the leaders of tomorrow. About HII HII is a global, all-domain defense provider. HII's mission is to deliver the world's most powerful ships and all-domain solutions in service of the nation, creating the advantage for our customers to protect peace and freedom around the world. As the nation's largest military shipbuilder, and with a more than 135-year history of advancing U.S. national security, HII delivers critical capabilities extending from ships to unmanned systems, cyber, ISR, AI/ML and synthetic training. Headquartered in Virginia, HII's workforce is 44,000 strong. For more information, visit: Contact: Kimberly K. Aguillard 228-355-5663 A photo accompanying this announcement is available at
Yahoo
05-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Ingalls Shipbuilding Hosts Second Annual Scouts Merit Badge Day
PASCAGOULA, Miss., April 05, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- HII's (NYSE: HII) Ingalls Shipbuilding division welcomed more than 80 Scouts from Mississippi, Alabama, and as far north as Kentucky and Tennessee for its second annual Scouts merit badge day at the Ingalls Maritime Training Academy. The event, designed to inspire and support the next generation of leaders, provided Scouts the opportunity to explore shipbuilding career interests and gain hands-on experience in various technical fields found at Ingalls. 'We are grateful to host this event again at Ingalls and to see so many returning and new Scouts this year,' Ingalls Shipbuilding Community Relations Manager Lisa Bradley said. 'Scouting builds character, leadership, and technical skills that align closely with what we value in our Ingalls workforce and it's an honor to be able to inspire and support these young Scouts as they explore potential careers and develop essential life skills.' This year, Scouts selected from nine different merit badge courses — communications, electricity, electronics, engineering, fire safety, first aid, painting, personal management, and plumbing — earning two merit badges by the end of the day. The event was led by Ingalls Shipbuilding employees, many of whom are former Scouts or active Scout leaders, who guided participants through activities in their chosen areas of interest. Photos accompanying this release are available at: 'Scouting taught me valuable lessons that have shaped my career as a shipbuilder,' Ingalls Shipbuilding Environmental Health and Safety Manager and Eagle Scout Kevin Kowalewski said. 'Both Scouting and shipbuilding emphasize dedication, teamwork, and skill-building, and it is inspiring to see young people investing in their future.' Ingalls Shipbuilding is committed to fostering the next generation of skilled professionals by supporting educational and career development programs like Scouts merit badge days. As the largest manufacturing employer in Mississippi and with over 11,000 employees, Ingalls Shipbuilding is dedicated to fostering a culture of innovation, growth, and community engagement by investing in initiatives that support and inspire the leaders of tomorrow. About HII HII is a global, all-domain defense provider. HII's mission is to deliver the world's most powerful ships and all-domain solutions in service of the nation, creating the advantage for our customers to protect peace and freedom around the world. As the nation's largest military shipbuilder, and with a more than 135-year history of advancing U.S. national security, HII delivers critical capabilities extending from ships to unmanned systems, cyber, ISR, AI/ML and synthetic training. Headquartered in Virginia, HII's workforce is 44,000 strong. For more information, visit: HII on the web: HII on Facebook: HII on X: HII on Instagram: Contact: Kimberly K. A photo accompanying this announcement is available at
