Miniature Goats have become a very popular Hobby Farm pet in Australia.  They are affordable and excellent with children, making them a great Hobby Farm addition. 

 PYGMY GOATS are playful, loving and a joy to own. 

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​​​Prices are based on the % with the higher the % the greater the purchase price.   

Without doubt Wethers make the best pets and remain very affordable as a family pet (remembering you must have 2 at least).  Our wether price regardless of colour or % is $500 each or a pair for $800 if available.

We may sometimes have starter herd packages or retired breeding animals available. 

All available animals will be listed on our GOATS AVAILABLE PAGE. 

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Many prospective Pygmy goat enthusiasts do not really understand what a Pygmy Goat actually is.   It can be very confusing, especially when some goats are being sold under the label of “Pygmy” when in fact they have limited Pygmy breeding, effectively making them a cross breed.

The majority of Pygmy Goats in Australia have been “bred up” from *imported genetics and existing Goat breeds in Australia (primarily AM’s – Australian Miniatures).  It should be noted that the AM breed was developed in Australia from existing other goat breeds.

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*The first Imported genetics arrived in 2014.  Imported Genetics are limited to frozen semen (AI) and frozen embryo’s (ET’s).  Australian Quarantine regulations prevent live Goat imports into Australia.  In addition to this, any AI or ET’s imported into Australia have to go through a strict testing and quarantine regime in America which requires the donor goat to be killed.  This is due to tests which are undertaken on brain tissue samples of the goat post mortem.  For these reasons some American breeders are reluctant to take on the “ethical burden”  associated with testing, further reducing the gene pool available to Australia.

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Due to the high cost and the quarantine requirement of sacrificing the donor animal – there have been limited genetics imported into Australia.  In saying that Australia does now have a number of Full Blood FB Pygmy Goats.  FB = fully imported genetics.  The original and ongoing imported genetics allow the Pygmy Goat breed to develop in Australia.

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Buyers can be confused, and in some cases “think” they are buying a pure bred Pygmy goat when in MOST cases they are not.  90%+ is considered by most breeders to be “pure bred” status.  Animals of less than 50% are considered to be crossbreds.

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It is unfortunate that some breeders choose to label, advertise and sell goats as Pygmy when in fact the % dictates it is nothing more than a crossbred with limited Pygmy genetics. 

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What is % and what does it mean

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When purchasing a registered Pygmy goat, it will come with a noted % on its registration papers.  This % is relevant to just how much *proven Pygmy genetics is in the pedigree.  In theory the higher the % the more the goat should display typical Pygmy characteristics and match the breed standard on size and conformation (body structure and shape).  Some lower % animals can on occasion display more Pygmy characteristics than another, however there is a strong likelihood that when used for breeding it will “throw back” to other breeds in the pedigree which are not in line with what a typical Pygmy goat should look like.  The higher the % also dictates a higher purchase price.

 

*Proven can be simply what the breeder has recorded as the sire and dam and no evidence is required.  In Australia some Pygmy Goats are DNA parent verified, not all breeders choose to do this, and may have implications with some breed Associations if there is no DNA evidence (another topic for another day).  DNA parent verification (PV) (where a hair sample is taken and it is matched against a hair sample of the sire and dam) is common practice for many breeders.  Some DNA PV go back a certain number of generations, whilst other DNA PV records may go right back to the imported genetics. 

 

Formula for calculating %:

Buck % + Doe % = combined % ÷ 2 = offspring %

In real terms this looks like:

Buck 100% FB + Doe 75% = 175 ÷ 2 = 87.5% offspring (Pygmy genetics are dominate and the offspring should be displaying typical Pygmy traits in appearance)

Buck 95.31% + Doe 75% = 170.31 ÷ 2 = 85.15% offspring (Pygmy genetics are dominate and the offspring should be displaying typical Pygmy traits in appearance)

Buck 81% FB + Doe 60% = 141 ÷ 2 = 70.5% offspring (Pygmy genetics starting to dominate, less dominate than above but should be seeing improvement in type)

Buck 70% FB + Doe 30% = 100 ÷ 2 = 50% offspring (50/50 breeding – no real defined display of typical Pygmy type, size can be a big variable, may throw back to other genetics in the pedigree)

Buck 60% FB + Doe 30% = 90 ÷ 2 = 45% offspring (other, sometimes unknown breeds in the pedigree are dominate over Pygmy genetics – minimal display of typical Pygmy type, size can be a BIG variable, highly likely will throw back to other genetics in the pedigree) should not be identified as a Pygmy as offspring is a “cross breed”.

 

As we are now 10+ years down the track since Australia first imported Pygmy genetics, prices for higher % Pygmys are starting to stabilise and with more higher % animals being on the ground we are at the point where some Goat Associations (registrars) will be looking at minimum % for registration of breeding animals. 

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NPGAA (National Pgymy Goat Association of Australia) is looking to close the herdbook in 2032 only accepting goats over 90% as breeding stock.  Whilst this is a long way off, other Associations such as AABMGS are already introducing rules on minimum % requirements for the registration of Pygmy bucks.  These rules will evolve further over ensuing years (ie minimum % will be increased for registration of animals). 

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In my opinion, more breeders should consider wethering ALL bucklings under 75-80%.  There are too many low % bucks being sold, and at this stage of the breeds development in Australia there is no necessity to use such low % animals in breeding programs. Good quality, high % Bucks are essential in the success of a Stud.  Lower % does can still be used when utilising higher % quality bucks.  Unfortunately, some breeders are choosing to breed for colour over conformation and true Pygmy type, which is seeing some lower quality bucks enter the market place.  FOOD FOR THOUGHT there is no sense having a pretty coloured Pygmy if it doesn’t look like a Pygmy.   First and foremost, the aim of any breeder is to strive for breed improvement with the objective to produce Pygmy goats that match the breed standard to as higher degree as possible.

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In summary (my view):

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If you choose to buy a Goat advertised as a 30-40% Pygmy goat, then chances are it’s not going to look like a Pygmy.  Ýou would be buying  a cross bred goat. You get what you pay for, and you may be VERY disappointed.

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Any new breeder entering the market should consider does of a minimum of 60% in their starter herd.  Any buck purchased should be up around the 75-80% minimum. 

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If you are looking to buy a Pygmy as a PET – wethers (desexed buck) are your best option.  They are more than affordable and if you get a decednt % it will look like a Pygmy.

 

REMEMBER why you were attracted to the PYGMY GOAT in the first instance – if you set out to purchase for breeding purposes do your research, ask questions, shop around, look at the Sire and the Dam, ask for photos, look at pedigrees and note any compromised close genetics.    
 

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