national pygmy goat association of australia

NPGAA VIRTUAL SHOW RESULTS 2020

Please support us and enjoy the new world version of a show in these challenging times. 

The NPGAA Committee would like to thank our USA Judges Donna and Denise for hours of work associated with not only assessing our animals but  presenting the information in a form that can be published.

We would also like to thank those who took the opportunity to put animals up for Judging. 

We have all learnt a lot, both with regards to how to stand the animal, take the photo, crop, label, and email files onward.

Funny things have surfaced, and as you look through the comments below. As in the real world the Virtual Covid world is no different. Two world class judges individually assessing the files in the comfort of their own longe rooms did not always arrange the animals in a class in the same order.

Take notice of the phrases and critics of the stock, things we need to learn.

Have fun with it, and yes things could be better. We promise they will be each time we repeat an activity.

Buck Section

Class 1C Under 2 years

This is a nice example of a young percentage buck.  This buck has a nice level topline and good length of body, which relates to the body capacity needed in the smaller animals. The length and fullness of the masculine hair coat is a desired trait of the American pygmy buck, and Pedro is exhibiting  this nicely.  He is also showing breed character in the frosting around his ears and on his ears.  If I could improve something on him, I’d like to see tighter toes when viewed from the front and a more upright set to his ears.  

This Buck has several Positive traits with proportionate width and depth in relation to his length of leg. Good strength of bone, depth to the jaw

Class 3A 50 to < 70 %

B/W baby buck – This little buck may not be too keen on posing for his pictures, but he certainly is a cutie!  He is a very square-standing young goat and shows proper width when viewed from above.  His rear legs are nicely angulated from his stifle to his hock.  He could be more level in the topline, especially in the area of his rump

I admire the depth of jaw and width between the eyes of this young buck. He carries that width consistantly through the rear. We would want to see a bit more levelness over the loin, but see him on the move would help him with that assessment.

Class 5A Under 6 months  70 – <90%

This buck is very strong in the feet and legs and has one of the best pygmy type heads we see, upright ears and alert expressions. He is smoothly blended and correct and I would expect as he grows and develops those strengths will allow him to move with easeand agility

Chamoisee buckling –  Nice buckling!  Lots of pygmy character this little guy, very correct caramel pattern.  This baby shows nice width from above, and overall cobbiness.  Very nice head, with correct ear set.   Very promising as a herd sire.

5.A  Under 6 months.  70<90% 

Shows good depth increasing in to the flank but we would wan to see stronger feet and legs and more with , especially over th eshoulders and in the chest floor if we are looking for traits to improve.

This agouti buck shows a lot of masculinity and a nice pygmy head with the proper dish to the face.  Even at under a year, his hair coat is coming in nicely with his beard and his cape.  I’d like to see a bit heavier bone on him and a bit more cobbiness.  That said, he may be going  through a  bit of a growth spurt at the present and will develop further

Class 7B 1 year 90 – 100%

A buck showing excellent dish to the face, good ear set and breed markings. His depth of body is fine for his age.

Here we have a young buck that is maturing nicely, showing a lot of masculinity with the fullness of his hair coat and beard.  He really excels with his body capacity as seen in the length of his body. He could use more muscling in his neck and smoothness of blending from the neck into his shoulders; I expect that will come as he continues to mature.

Class 7C 2 years 90 – 100%

You can see the correct set to these front legs which indicates strong shoulder attachments and adds to his balance and symmetry. Nice dish  to the face and consisitant width. We would like to add some length of rump for balance by having it slightly more level, but a lot of nice traits here.

This agouti buck is a very balanced and symmetrical buck.  In a side view, he has a nice topline and a proper set to his rear legs.   He is also showing width between the rear legs.  I’d like to see him a bit more level from his hip to pin bones when viewed from the side. He certainly is a personable buck, really watching his handler!

Doe Section

2.B Foundation Does < 50%

Placings: 3, 2, 1.

Doe #3, the white caramel, is my first place doe.  Today she has an advantage over the other two for her overall cobbiness and depth of body. Some of that depth may be attributed to her being bred, but she is still proportionately a shorter-legged doe.  She is also receiving points for her udder – nicely balanced with good teat placement.

Doe #2, is my second place doe .  Another nice caramel, this doe has good balance with length of leg to depth of body.  She doesn’t have some of the width of the first place doe, but she should develop into a strong pygmy doe. 

Doe #1  – Though this doe is in third place, she should not be discounted.  She is a lovely, balanced young doe, and very elegant with her upright head carriage. She has well-angulated shoulders and a nice set to her forelegs.

This doe has the depth and width characteristic of the breed.  She appears to have consistent width from chest floor through the escutcheon.  Dark dorsal stripe is also characteristic of the breed.  Her proportionate depth of body to length of leg stands her at the top of this class.

This young doe shows more desirable strength in feet and legs than our 3rd place doe.  The more correct set to the front legs indicates some advantage in strength in shoulder attachment and her more level topline, especially in the area of the chine adds to her advantage in balance and symmetry. 

Doe #2, is my second place doe .  Another nice caramel, this doe has good balance with length of leg to depth of body.  She doesn’t have some of the width of the first place doe, but she should develop into a strong pygmy doe

Our 3rd place doe has some advantage in breed markings as commonly known in the American Pygmy over the first and second place does with the dark stockings and dorsal, typical caramel dark stripes on face as well as lighter stripes on dark stockings on the front cannons and fewer random markings (moonspots) but these may well be part of the Australian standard.  She would need to have rear legs more parallel from hocks to pasterns, giving more width between the hocks and more width in the chest floor to move her forward in this class.

Though this doe is in third place, she should not be discounted.  She is a lovely, balanced young doe, and very elegant with her upright head carriage. She has well-angulated shoulders and a nice set to her forelegs.

2C- Does < 50%

We commend the depth to the jaw and upright ear set in our 4th place doe.  She does not have the width and depth or straightness in front legs to move her up the line today.

Doe #1 is placing 4th today.  This doe has good structure, but doesn’t have the muscling and development of the others at this time.  As I commented above, she has a more correct rear end assembly  and set to her rear legs when viewed from the side than the doe in 3rd.*I don’t have the ages of these does, but I suspect this may be the youngest of the group.  Pygmy goats can be slower to development  than some other breeds.  I think #1 could certainly move up the line as she gets a bit more mature.

This doe also shows a lot of structural strength, with well angulated stifles and increasing depth in the flank.  Depending on the color restrictions in your breed standard, our second place doe has the advantage in American Pygmy breed coloration.  She has good depth to the jaw and balanced proportions for the breed. She has the advantage in breed character over number 4 for her increasingdepth in to the flank and an advantage in overall body capacity with her greater width over the top and depth throughout.

Doe #2 will be in second for having a more correct set to her rear legs when viewed from the side.  She also has more muscling throughout, especially in her neck

This doe is second in this class with an advantage in balance and symmetry due to a more more upright head carriage, more correct set to the front legs, giving her an advantage in strength in the topline. She blends more smoothly from the neck in to the shoulders than our 3rd place doe. Her greater levelness in the rump adds to her overall balance and the increasing depth in the flank adds to her breed character.  She would need a more correct set to the ears, set a bit higher and more upright to move her forward in the class, but she is to be commended for her overall structure which we would expect to translate to longevity and she continues to grow and develop.

Doe #3 is my winner today for her cobbiness, depth of body, and a correct slope to her rump.  The set of her ears is a bit lower than some of the other does, and having a more upright ear set would add to her femininity

In this class, I would place this doe first due to her overall breed character.  She has the advantage in increasing depth in to the flank as well as consistent width over the top and a more correct ear set than some of her closer competitors. 

Doe #4  is in 3rd place  for levelness  across her topline but especially in the area of the chine. She has more body capacity and depth of body than the 4th place doe, but this may just be a factor of growth and development.  She will grant to my 4th place doe a more correct set to the rear legs.

4A  4-6 months 50 – < 70%

This doe is showing excellent width as viewed for the top and front and rear.  Improvements would be mor level slope to the rump which would contribute to levelness in the topline in the area of the loin. Overall above average for this stage of growth.

A single entry here with a stylish black doeling.   She has a very feminine head with an upright carriage; she‘s also very wide across the back when viewed from above, which indicates good body capacity even at this young age.

4B Does Under 1 year 50 – < 70%

This doe is placing second for her advantage in structural strength which gives her some advantage in balance and symmetry as well as general appearance over the remaining does.  She is smoother blended throughout with a more correct slope to the rump and more correct rear leg angulation as we view her from the rear.

Doe #1 – I really like the body capacity and length of body on this young doe.  She is very level in her topline and stands quite wide when viewed from the rear.  Probably the youngest in this class, she should develop into a nice doe.

Doe #2 is my 2nd place.  The agouti pattern and pygmy markings give her an advantage in the general appearance; she also has a very feminine head as noted above.  I’d like to see her more smoothly  blended from the neck into the shoulders, but still a very nice example of the pygmy breed.

4 is placing over number 5 for her strength in shoulder attachment as well as her strength of bone.  She is smoother blended because of those traits but will grant more correct set to the ears and more feminity to the 5th place doe.

Doe #3 is in 3rd place today.   This was a close placing between this doe and the one above her.  This doe has a good depth of body. From the point of the elbow increasing back to her flank, you can see her body capacity increasing. 

This doe will place 3rd for her general appearance having a more correct topline and s more correct and upright set to the ears giving her more femininity and breed character with a more pleasing pygmy type head. attachment than our 4th place doe.

Doe #4 – This is another nice doe, even though she didn’t seem to want her photo taken.   ;]   She has good muscling in her brisket and width in her chest floor.  She maintains that width over the top as well as the rear*.   The does above are placing over her for having a more correct bite at this time.  (*even though she is not standing squarely, this can be seen through her forelegs for the placement of the rear leg as well as the width of her pinbones)

This does places first for greater depth of body and width over the top than our second place doe.  This adds to her advantage in overall body capacity.

 Doe #1 – I really like the body capacity and length of body on this young doe.  She is very level in her topline and stands quite wide when viewed from the rear.  Probably the youngest in this class, she should develop into a nice doe.

Class 4D Under 3 years 50 – <70% 5

Pixie is a single entry.  Here’s a doe who is nicely balanced and symmetrical with the length of her neck proportionate to the length of her body, giving her a lot of general appearance points.  She’s very level in her rump, with a correct set to both her fore and rear legs.  This allows us to see the development and muscling in her brisket.  I’d like to see more femininity with her head- a shorter, more dished profile and more upright set to her ears

This single entry is showing excellent angulation to the stifle with strong feet and legs.  Adding to that her upright head carriage and strength of topline, she is very balanced and symmetrical.  Her coloration is more typical of non American pygmies, or similar to Nigerian Dwarf breeds while still maintaining desirable proportions of depth of body to length of leg.  For more breed character we would want to see a bit shorter and fuller muzzle, but her excellent conformation is key to longevity of the breed. In conformation we would have her be more perpendicular from hock to pastern.

Class 6B Under 1 year 70 – < 90%

Two will place over 3 for stronger shoulder attachment and a more correct set to the forelegs. 2 and 2 are more similar in body type but as we view them from the side, our second place doe maintains more balance with greater levelness in the topline in the area of the loin. 

#1 appears to be the youngest, or perhaps smallest of these does, but she is showing some nice structure as well.  She has lovely width in the area of the escutcheon and between her hocks.  She also is a deep bodied doe which is important in these dwarf breeds.

We certainly commend the body capacity and depth of our 3rd place doe.

#2 is a large-bodied doe with good capacity and a very level rump.  She will stand over #1 for her correctness in legs and feet as well as having a more feminine head. 

This is an interesting class with several trade offs, but I am going with this balanced and feminine doe for first because of her advantage in general appearance with a more pleasing pygmy type head that includes more dish to the face and a more upright set to the ears, adding to her femininity.  I will grant depth of body to my second place doe.

#3 is my winner today for having the most pygmy breed characteristic, balance and symmetry, and femininity throughout.  She has the most correct pygmy head with the fullness of jaw, upright ear set, and dish to the face.  She stands on straight fore and rear legs as well.  She will grant to 2nd and 3rd place does more width between the hocks.

Class 6C Under 2 years 70 – < 90%

Our 1st place doe is a lovely example of the pygmy doe with her balance and symmetry, depth and width throughout. She is placing over number two for her advantage in breed character, greater width which begins in the head with width to muzzle and between the eyes, and carries through the body from chest floor to escutcheon.  She also excels over number two in overall body capacity.

#1 is in first place today for her overall muscling and smoothness of blending. She is also showing the greatest width when viewed from above

Two places over 3 for her advantage in general appearance with more correct pygmy breed markings.  She also has the advantage in more correct set to the rear legs which gives her great balance in length of rump and more correct set to the rear legs when viewed from the side.

#2 shows very a correct agouti pattern including the correct facial markings.  She is also a correctly angulated doe when viewed from the side and shows nice width between the hocks

I will grant to the 3rd place doe greater width as we view her over the top.

#3 is standing over #2 today for more muscling from the neck into the shoulders as well as a shorter, cobbier appearance.  She will grant to #2 more pygmy characteristic in the agouti coat pattern

Class 6E Mature Does 70 – < 90%

One over two for her advantage in general appearance with a more correct set to the rear legs giving her a more level topline.  Her advantage in overall body capacity with greater width through the barrel, greater spring of rib and deeper in the heart girth. 

#1 doe is in 2nd, but is a very nice doe as well. She will be commended for her strong topline and a very level rump.  Again, this was a close placing.

This doe should be commended for her breed specific markings about the head and her dish to the face.

#2 is my 1st place .  This is a very close placing; these are both very nice does.  Today my agouti doe has the advantage of standing on stronger legs and feet.  She is standing on more resilient pasterns, stronger bone, and appears to track more correctly.  She will grant to the 2nd place doe more levelness in her topline.

Class 8B

One over two for greater width throughout, otherwise two very similar does in type and conformation.

Both of these does are very nice examples of the pygmy goat breed scoring well with their general appearance and correct markings.  Both are showing good body capacity and depth of body from the point of the elbow deepening into the flank.

#1 will be in first place.  She is standing over #2 for her heavier bone and muscling in the brisket.

Both of these does are very nice examples of the pygmy goat breed scoring well with their general appearance and correct markings.  Both are showing good body capacity and depth of body from the point of the elbow deepening into the flank.

#2 is in 2nd, but will be commended  for her width between the hocks

Class 8C Under 2 years 90 – 100%

Balanced doe with excellent breed character- markings, strength of bone, adequate depth and width throughout.

Single entry in this class, and this doe shows a lot of pygmy type and breeding.  She has width and muscling throughout, stands wide when viewed from the front.  She’s feminine in her general appearance, especially her head.  I’d like to see her more level across her back especially in the chine and the rump. 

8E Mature Does 90 – 100%

Another doe showing a beautiful, feminine, pygmy head with excellent depth and width throughout.  I would improve the rear leg angulation with a more perpendicular set hock to pastern. 

A beautiful pygmy doe here with very nice conformation.  This doe is extremely correct with a very strong topline, well angulated shoulders, and forelegs that are properly set.  She is balanced and symmetrical throughout as well a very feminine doe.