national pygmy goat association of australia

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BREED STANDARD

The Pygmy Goat is hardy, good natured, genetically small, cobby and compact.  Head, neck and legs are short in relation to body length.  The body is full-barrelled and well muscled, circumference in relation to height and weight is proportionally greater than in other breeds.  Sexual characteristics are clearly defined. 

Breed Characteristics

COAT

The full coat of straight, medium long hair varies in density with seasons and climates. On does, beards may be non-existent or sparse. On adult bucks, abundant hair growth is desirable; the beard to be full, long and flowing, the copious mane draping, cape-like, across the shoulders.

Colour and breed-specific markings

Any colour and colour combination is acceptable in Australia due to the inclusive vision of the Association.

It is natural that the Full blood stock imported as embryo from the US conforms to the USA standard, that have resulted from intense selection pressure over many generations.

As the breed develops in Australia colours and combinations will be assigned names.

The colours recognised so far are

  • Solid black
  • Solid brown and shades
  • Solid white
  • Agouti over black,grey and silver
  • Agouti over dark brown tan and gold
  • Caramel/Badger diluting grey, brown and gold
  • Solid colour  – no other markings.
    • Black grey silver, dark brown, tan, gold
  • Background colour with spots
  • Back ground colour with Swiss markings
    • white, fawn and brown
    • Solid – does not exclude white mis-marking on the body

To describe a colour first, refer to the base colour then the pattern if relevant. Eg:

  • Chocolate colour /  Agouti patter
  • Black colour / Swiss pattern

COAT LENGTH

Short traditional and Sheltie are all acceptable to the current standard.

BODY STRUCTURE

Head: Short to medium long; profile somewhat dished.
Muzzle rounded, not snippy; nose short, wide and flat.
Chin and underjaw full; bite even, neither overshot nor undershot; jaws broad, strong and well muscled.
Forehead broad, flat or concave.
Eyes set well apart, bright, prominent but not protruding. Any colour is acceptable.
Ears medium sized, firm, erect, alertly mobile.
Horns: Broad based curving up and over the neck and shoulder, disbudded animals preferred.
Neck: Well muscled; short, round, more full-throated than dairy breeds; more refined in does than in bucks.
Withers: Nearly level with, but not lower than the spine.
Shoulders: Muscular, well angulated and laid-on, tightly attached; point of shoulder placed posterior to the sternum.
Ribs: Wide apart, well sprung; rib bone long, wide and flat.
Back: Strong, laterally straight, level along chine and loin.
Chine: Broad, level from withers to loin.
Loin: Broad, strong, nearly level, rising slightly toward the iliac crest.
Rump: Medium long, medium wide, neither level nor steep.
Hips: Wide, nearly level with back.
Thurls: High, wide apart.
Pin bones: Wide apart, lower than hips, pronounced.
Tail: Set high, wide at the base, symmetrical, carried high.
Flanks: Deep, set low on barrel.
Thighs: Long and wide, well muscled, incurving towards udder.
Legs: Short, heavy bone, well muscled, wide apart.
Forelegs: Straight and squarely set, with elbows close to ribs and cannon bone short.
Hind legs: When viewed from the rear: hind legs straight, widely set to accommodate large barrel; stifle held tightly to the body. When viewed from the side: femur and tibia proportionately longer than in dairy breeds and angulated toward a more pronounced stifle joint, thus compensating for the short, flat, and flinty rear cannon bone.
Hocks: Cleanly moulded and sharply angled.
Pasterns: Short, strong and resilient.
Feet: Well-shaped, proportioned to size of animal, deep heel and level sole with hoofs symmetrical.
Body capacity: Large in proportion to size of animal, providing ample digestive and reproductive capacity as well as strength, vigour, and stamina.
Barrel: Broad, deep, increasing in width and depth toward flank 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 does than in bucks.
Heart girth: Large due to long, well-sprung fore-ribs.
Chest: Well muscled brisket, wide floor, full at point of elbow.

Mammary system (Does)

Udder: Firm, rounded, small to medium sized, halves evenly balanced and symmetrical.
Rear attachment: High, full, tightly attached and blending smoothly.
Front attachment: Well forward, tightly attached without pocket, and blending smoothly into body.
Texture: Silky smooth, elastic, pliable but firm, free of lumps or scar tissue.
Teats: Two, cylindrical, of uniform length and size, sufficient for milking with two fingers and thumb. Symmetrically placed, free of obstructions, deformities, or multiple orifices.

Reproductive system (Bucks)

Testicles: Two, fully descended, of fairly equal size and firm. Epididamus full and pronounced
Teats: Two, cylindrical, of uniform length and size, symmetrically placed, free of deformities or multiple orifices.

Height and cannon length (Purebred measurements)

Under 6 MonthsDoesBucks
Height47cm47.5cm
Cannon10cm11cm
6 to 12 MonthsDoesBucks
Height52cm52.5cm
Cannon11cm11.5cm
12 Months and OverDoesBucks
Height57cm60cm
Cannon11.5cm12cm

Registration

All animals with pygmy percentage in their breeding are eligible to be registered on the NPGAA database and to be shown in NPGAA shows -their percentage of pygmy genetics (based on proof of documentation provided to the NPGAA registrar) will be recorded on their Registration certificate.

Animals less than 50% will be known as a Crossbred Pygmy.

Animals with no pygmy breeding in their genetics but who are animals used in the genetic recovery of the pygmy goat can be registered on the NPGAA database and will be referred to as Foundation animals.

The NPGAA does not require DNA testing to confirm parentage of Pygmies, but if breeders choose to have parentage DNA verified and the relevant paperwork is provided to the NPGAA Registrar, this information will be recorded on the NPGAA Registration certificate and remains the property of the breeder/owner.

Gestation Calendar

Based on a 145 day gestation

BredDueBredDueBredDueBredDueBredDueBredDue
1 Jan26 May1 Mar24 Jul1 May23 Sep1 Jul23 Nov1 Sep24 Jan1 Nov26 Mar
2 Jan27 May2 Mar25 Jul2 May24 Sep2 Jul24 Nov2 Sep25 Jan2 Nov27 Mar
3 Jan28 May3 Mar26 Jul3 May25 Sep3 Jul25 Nov3 Sep26 Jan3 Nov28 Mar
4 Jan29 May4 Mar27 Jul4 May26 Sep4 Jul26 Nov4 Sep27 Jan4 Nov29 Mar
5 Jan30 May5 Mar28 Jul5 May27 Sep5 Jul27 Nov5 Sep28 Jan5 Nov30 Mar
6 Jan31 May6 Mar29 Jul6 May28 Sep6 Jul28 Nov6 Sep29 Jan6 Nov31 Mar
7 Jan1 Jun7 Mar30 Jul7 May29 Sep7 Jul29 Nov7 Sep30 Jan7 Nov1 Apr
8 Jan2 Jun8 Mar31 Jul8 May30 Sep8 Jul30 Nov8 Sep31 Jan8 Nov2 Apr
9 Jan3 Jun9 Mar1 Aug9 May1 Oct9 Jul1 Dec9 Sep1 Feb9 Nov3 Apr
10 Jan4 Jun10 Mar2 Aug10 May2 Oct10 Jul2 Dec10 Sep2 Feb10 Nov4 Apr
11 Jan5 Jun11 Mar3 Aug11 May3 Oct11 Jul3 Dec11 Sep3 Feb11 Nov5 Apr
12 Jan6 Jun12 Mar4 Aug12 May4 Oct12 Jul4 Dec12 Sep4 Feb12 Nov6 Apr
13 Jan7 Jun13 Mar5 Aug13 May5 Oct13 Jul5 Dec13 Sep5 Feb13 Nov7 Apr
14 Jan8 Jun14 Mar6 Aug14 May6 Oct14 Jul6 Dec14 Sep6 Feb14 Nov8 Apr
15 Jan9 Jun15 Mar7 Aug15 May7 Oct15 Jul7 Dec15 Sep7 Feb15 Nov9 Apr
16 Jan10 Jun16 Mar8 Aug16 May8 Oct16 Jul8 Dec16 Sep8 Feb16 Nov10 Apr
17 Jan11 Jun17 Mar9 Aug17 May9 Oct17 Jul9 Dec17 Sep9 Feb17 Nov11 Apr
18 Jan12 Jun18 Mar10 Aug18 May10 Oct18 Jul10 Dec18 Sep10 Feb18 Nov12 Apr
19 Jan13 Jun19 Mar11 Aug19 May11 Oct19 Jul11 Dec19 Sep11 Feb19 Nov13 Apr
20 Jan14 Jun20 Mar12 Aug20 May12 Oct20 Jul12 Dec20 Sep12 Feb20 Nov14 Apr
21 Jan15 Jun21 Mar13 Aug21 May13 Oct21 Jul13 Dec21 Sep13 Feb21 Nov15 Apr
22 Jan16 Jun22 Mar14 Aug22 May14 Oct22 Jul14 Dec22 Sep14 Feb22 Nov16 Apr
23 Jan17 Jun23 Mar15 Aug23 May15 Oct23 Jul15 Dec23 Sep15 Feb23 Nov17 Apr
24 Jan18 Jun24 Mar16 Aug24 May16 Oct24 Jul16 Dec24 Sep16 Feb24 Nov18 Apr
25 Jan19 Jun25 Mar17 Aug25 May17 Oct25 Jul17 Dec25 Sep17 Feb25 Nov19 Apr
26 Jan20 Jun26 Mar18 Aug26 May18 Oct26 Jul18 Dec26 Sep18 Feb26 Nov20 Apr
27 Jan21 Jun27 Mar19 Aug27 May19 Oct27 Jul19 Dec27 Sep19 Feb27 Nov21 Apr
28 Jan22 Jun28 Mar20 Aug28 May20 Oct28 Jul20 Dec28 Sep20 Feb28 Nov22 Apr
29 Jan23 Jun29 Mar21 Aug29 May21 Oct29 Jul21 Dec29 Sep21 Feb29 Nov23 Apr
30 Jan24 Jun30 Mar22 Aug30 May22 Oct30 Jul22 Dec30 Sep22 Feb30 Nov24 Apr
31 Jan25 Jun31 Mar23 Aug31 May23 Oct31 Jul23 Dec1 Oct23 Feb1 Dec25 Apr
1 Feb26 Jun1 Apr24 Aug1 Jun24 Oct1 Aug24 Dec2 Oct24 Feb2 Dec26 Apr
2 Feb27 Jun2 Apr25 Aug2 Jun25 Oct2 Aug25 Dec3 Oct25 Feb3 Dec27 Apr
3 Feb28 Jun3 Apr26 Aug3 Jun26 Oct3 Aug26 Dec4 Oct26 Feb4 Dec28 Apr
4 Feb29 Jun4 Apr27 Aug4 Jun27 Oct4 Aug27 Dec5 Oct27 Feb5 Dec29 Apr
5 Feb30 Jun5 Apr28 Aug5 Jun28 Oct5 Aug28 Dec6 Oct28 Feb6 Dec30 Apr
6 Feb1 Jul6 Apr29 Aug6 Jun29 Oct6 Aug29 Dec7 Oct1 Mar7 Dec1 May
7 Feb2 Jul7 Apr30 Aug7 Jun30 Oct7 Aug30 Dec8 Oct2 Mar8 Dec2 May
8 Feb3 Jul8 Apr31 Aug8 Jun31 Oct8 Aug31 Dec9 Oct3 Mar9 Dec3 May
9 Feb4 Jul9 Apr1 Sep9 Jun1 Nov9 Aug1 Jan10 Oct4 Mar10 Dec4 May
10 Feb5 Jul10 Apr2 Sep10 Jun2 Nov10 Aug2 Jan11 Oct5 Mar11 Dec5 May
11 Feb6 Jul11 Apr3 Sep11 Jun3 Nov11 Aug3 Jan12 Oct6 Mar12 Dec6 May
12 Feb7 Jul12 Apr4 Sep12 Jun4 Nov12 Aug4 Jan13 Oct7 Mar13 Dec7 May
13 Feb8 Jul13 Apr5 Sep13 Jun5 Nov13 Aug5 Jan14 Oct8 Mar14 Dec8 May
14 Feb9 Jul14 Apr6 Sep14 Jun6 Nov14 Aug6 Jan15 Oct9 Mar15 Dec9 May
15 Feb10 Jul15 Apr7 Sep15 Jun7 Nov15 Aug7 Jan16 Oct10 Mar16 Dec10 May
16 Feb11 Jul16 Apr8 Sep16 Jun8 Nov16 Aug8 Jan17 Oct11 Mar17 Dec11 May
17 Feb12 Jul17 Apr9 Sep17 Jun9 Nov17 Aug9 Jan18 Oct12 Mar18 Dec12 May
18 Feb13 Jul18 Apr10 Sep18 Jun10 Nov18 Aug10 Jan19 Oct13 Mar19 Dec13 May
19 Feb14 Jul19 Apr11 Sep19 Jun11 Nov19 Aug11 Jan20 Oct14 Mar20 Dec14 May
20 Feb15 Jul20 Apr12 Sep20 Jun12 Nov20 Aug12 Jan21 Oct15 Mar21 Dec15 May
21 Feb16 Jul21 Apr13 Sep21 Jun13 Nov21 Aug13 Jan22 Oct16 Mar22 Dec16 May
22 Feb17 Jul22 Apr14 Sep22 Jun14 Nov22 Aug14 Jan23 Oct17 Mar23 Dec17 May
23 Feb18 Jul23 Apr15 Sep23 Jun15 Nov23 Aug15 Jan24 Oct18 Mar24 Dec18 May
24 Feb19 Jul24 Apr16 Sep24 Jun16 Nov24 Aug16 Jan25 Oct19 Mar25 Dec19 May
25 Feb20 Jul25 Apr17 Sep25 Jun17 Nov25 Aug17 Jan26 Oct20 Mar26 Dec20 May
26 Feb21 Jul26 Apr18 Sep26 Jun18 Nov26 Aug18 Jan27 Oct21 Mar27 Dec21 May
27 Feb22 Jul27 Apr19 Sep27 Jun19 Nov27 Aug19 Jan28 Oct22 Mar28 Dec22 May
28 Feb23 Jul28 Apr20 Sep28 Jun20 Nov28 Aug20 Jan29 Oct23 Mar29 Dec23 May
29 Apr21 Sep29 Jun21 Nov29 Aug21 Jan30 Oct24 Mar30 Dec24 May
30 Apr22 Sep30 Jun22 Nov30 Aug22 Jan31 Oct25 Mar31 Dec25 May
31 Aug23 Jan
Download Gestation Calendar

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