| Pygmy Goat Information Page |
| Basic Facts: |
| Goats are ruminants. (They chew cud.) They have 4 stomachs or 4 parts to their stomach. These parts are the rumen, the reticulum, the obmasum and the abomasum. A female goat is called a doe. A male goat is called a buck. A wether is a castrated buck. In layman's terms he has had his testicles pinched, squeezed off, or cut off. (Someone once told me "Never let a man castrate a goat." I guess they whine too much.) Does come into heat every 18 to 21 days and can breed year round. Bucks can be "armed and dangerous" at as young as 7 weeks old. When goats give birth it is called kidding or freshening. Does can have as many as 5 kids in one kidding. (Normally 2) Bucks pee on their front legs and noses to attract the does. Both male and female pygmy goats grow horns. Does can grow beards just like bucks. |
| Normal Vital Statistics: |
| Normal Temperature: 101-104 degrees Heart Rate: 70-80 beats/min. Rumen Action: 1-1.5 per min. Gestation (length of pregnancy): 148- 156 days Length of Heat- 2 days (second day she is most likely to conceive) |
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| Breed Standard |
| From the NPGA website: www.npga-pygmy.com Copyright NPGA |
| NPGA Breed Standard 1. GENERAL DESCRIPTION: The pygmy goat is genetically small, cobby, compact. Its frame is clearly defined and well angulated; limbs and head are short relative to body length. Full-barreled and well muscled, the body circumference in relation to height and weight is proportionately greater than that of other breeds. The pygmy goat is hardy, alert and animated, good-natured and gregarious. |
| 2. BREED CHARACTERISTICS: Coat- The full coat of straight, medium long hair varies in density with seasons and climates. On females, beards may be non-existent or sparse, or trimmed; on adult males, abundant hair growth is desirable; the beard to be full, long and flowing, the copious mane draping, cape-like, across the shoulders. |
| Color- All body colors are acceptable. The predominant coloration is a grizzled, agouti pattern produced by the intermingling of light and dark hairs, of any color. Markings- a. Breed specific markings are required: muzzle, forehead/crown, eyes, and ears are accented in lighter tones than the dark portion of the body in goats of all colors except in goats that are solid black. Front and rear hoofs and cannons (socks) are darker than the main body coat, as are the crown, dorsal stripe, and martingale except in the solid black. On all caramel goats, light vertical stripes on front sides of darker socks are required. b. Optional markings: Light areas (on darker backgrounds) that appear as complete or partial girth belts are acceptable. All other patches are faulted moderate to very serious. c. A complete lack of Breed-specific markings is disqualifying. |
| Head- Short to medium long; profile somewhat dished. Muzzle rounded, not snipey; nose stort, wide, flat. Chin and underjaw full; bite even, neither over nor undershot; jaws broad, strong, well muscled. Forehead broad, flat or concave. Eyes set well apart, bright, brown in color, prominent but not protruding. Ears medium sized, firm, erect, alertly mobile. Genetically horned; disbudding and dehorning permissible. Neck-Well muscled; shorter, rounder, more full throated than other breeds; more slender in females than in males. Shoulder- Muscular, well angulated and well laid on; point of shoulder placed posterior to the prosternum. Back-Strong, laterally straight, level along chine and loin, rising slightly toward the illiac crest. Loin-Broad, strong, nearly level. Rump- Medium Long, medium wide, neither level nor steep: Hips- Wide, nearly level with back Thurls- High, wide apart; Pin Bones-Wide apart; somewhat lower than hips, pronounced; Tail-Set high; wide at the base, symmetrical, carried high. Legs-Strong, well muscled, wide apart: Fore legs- Short, straight, wide apart and squarely set, with elbows close to the ribs; cannon bone short. Hind legs- When viewed from the rear; straight, widely set to accomodate large barrel; femur and tibia proportionately longer than in other breeds and angulated toward a more pronounced stifle joint, thus compensating for the short hock (rear cannon). Bone flat ands flinty. Hocks- Cleanly molded, sharply angled; metatarsus short. Pasterns- Short, strong and resilient. Feet- Well-shaped, proportioned to size of animal; deep and level sole; hoofs symmetrical. 3. DAIRY CHARACTER: Animated, agile, generally open. Withers- Nearly level with spine. Ribs- Wide apart, well sprung; rib bone long, wide, flat. Flank- Deep, set low on barrel, well defined. Thighs- Long and wide, well muscles; incurving towards udder. Skin- Clean and resilient. 4. BODY CAPACITY: Large in proportion to size of animal, providing ample digestive and reproductive capacity as well as strength, vigor, and stamina. Barrel- Broad, deep, increasing in width toward flank, thus giving an impression of perpetual pregnancy; symmetrical, well supported by firm abdominal wall and well-sprung ribs. The disproportionately large circumference of the paunch is greater in females than in males. Heart Girth- Large, resulting from long, well-sprung fore-ribs; wide chest floor, full at the point of elbow. 5. MAMMARY SYSTEM: Udder- Firm, rounded, small to medium sized. Rear attachment- High halves evenly balenced, symmetrical. Front attachment- Well forward, tightly attached, without pocket, blending smoothly into body. Texture- Silky smooth, elastic, pliable but firm; free of lumps or scar tissue. Teats- Cylindrical, of uniform length and size-sufficient for milking with two fingersand thumb; symmetrically placed; free of obstructions, deformities, or multiple orifices. 6. REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM (BUCKS): Testicles- Two fully decended, of fairly equal size, healthy and firm. Teats- Two, non-functional. |
| Body Measurements also play a big role in breed standard. Please see the NPGA's website for more information... |