Pygmyinfo

African Pygmy goats are probably the most widely known and most popular
of all the pet goats. Pygmy goats were originally called Cameroon Dwarf
goats and originated in the French Cameroon area of West Africa. They first
arrived in North America in 1959. Prior to that they were exported to
Germany and Sweden where they were on display in zoos as exotic animals.
Breed specific markings are required. Muzzle, ears, eyes and forehead must
be accented in lighter colouring than the main body of the goat with the
exception of solid black goats. Front and rear hooves and cannons need to be
black, as well as dorsel stripe and martingale stripe. Pygmy goats are stocky,
have short, thick legs and short muzzles. They are best discribed as a beer
keg with legs. Heavily built, tough and hardy. Does have short to medium
length hair and fully mature bucks have a long beard and copious amounts of
mane draping over the shoulders and back.

Pygmy goats are fun-loving, impish, getintoeverything little troublemakers.
They are devilish and unbearably cute. They were originally bred as a source
of meat and less so, a source of milk. Today, Pygmy goats are almost
exclusively kept as pets. Easily tamed, intelligent and easy to train, even
children can handle them. Their nature is such that you will spend more time
laughing at them than actually getting any training done. The only exception
to the rule is the adult intact male. Unlike Myotonic goats and Nigerian Dwarf
goats, Pygmy bucks can, and tend to be, aggressive. One should never keep
an adult intact male where he has access to children or other pets. Bucks that
have been spoiled as babies often don't know where to draw the line between
play and aggression.

Pygmy does regularly kid twins, sometimes a single kid and once in a while
triplets. The does are fairly easy kidders but occasionally require assistance.
Newborn kids can weigh up to six pounds which is quite large considering
how small the doe usually is but the average weight is three to four pounds.
Babies mature at an average rate and reach full maturity in about two years.
Doelings can breed as early as sixteen weeks but it is NOT recommended.
Bucklings are ready to breed as early as eight weeks. The average life span of
a Pygmy goat with proper care is roughly the same as other goats, 12-15
years.

Our Pygmy goats are not registered with the National Pygmy Goat
Association or the Canadian Goat Society for a couple of reasons. Firstly,
Pygmy goats were the goats we started with and our first goats were not
registered and also, I have learned that the colour restrictions are such that
we would be limited in what we can produce. And lastly, unregistered Pygmy
goats are so numerous and available that registering the animals and
therefore making them more expensive would be detrimental to our ability to
provide the friendliest and happiest pet Pygmies available. We are far more
concerned about the health and character of our Pygmy goats than it's looks
and colour.