Australian Miniature Breed Standard
The Herdbook Purebred Australian Miniature Goat is considered to be the Ideal
Females not exceeding 57cm and Males not exceeding 60cm at 3 years of age. The general impression should be one of refinement, beauty, symmetry and balance, possessing the conformation characteristics desirable of the breeds. Miniature Goats should show refinement and femininity in the Does, and boldness and masculinity in the Bucks. Official Scorecard (100 points)
STANDARD OF EXCELLENCE - AUSTRALIAN MINIATURE GOAT
BEHAVIOUR/TEMPERAMENT
GENERAL APPEARANCE, STYLE AND QUALITY (15 points)
FITTING & HANDLING
Good temperament, tractable, alert, curious, intelligent, co-operative and friendly.
PRESENTATION
Top presentation of the animal & handler. The coat is shown well groomed; may be naturally short or clipped, cashmere or long coat. Any colour, marking or pattern is acceptable.
MOTION
Balanced and flowing, the front legs traveling straight and true, with hocks carried wide and straight from rear, following in line with front hooves, producing a clean, rhythmic and fluid way of going.
HEIGHT
Purebred- Females not exceeding 57cm and Males not exceeding 60cm at 3 years of age. Height Measurement is to be taken at the highest point of the wither to the ground with the animal standing squarely on all four feet with all legs in a vertical line to the ground, with the head held in an upright relaxed position.
HEAD & BREED CHARACTER (10 points)
The head is medium in length in balanced proportion, the bridge of nose is straight or slightly dished. Jaw broad, strong, well-muscled, symmetrically aligned on a relatively wide muzzle, with even bite, broad lips and large open nostrils. Eyes are bright and set well apart and any eye colour is accepted. Polled, dehorned or neatly disbudded. Ears regardless of type should be evenly placed on the head and of even size and shape.
EARS
Recognised ear types:- (1) Elf ears: ideal ear is non-existent to a maximum length of 5cm (2″), the end of the ear should be turned up or down and cartilage shaping the small ear is allowed; (2) Pixie ears: open, erect and alert and; (3) Munchkin ears: flat along majority of length and fold downwards. Tip should sit between eye level and mid-muzzle.
NECK & FOREQUARTERS (10 points)
The neck should be in proportion to the size of the animal and must blend smoothly into all body junctions, feminine in does and masculine in bucks, showing appropriate muscling. Withers, wedge shaped, set prominently above tightly assembled shoulders. Points of shoulder and elbow should be tight and blend smoothly with body allowing the forelegs to move smoothly against the ribs. Refined bone with sturdy, clean moulded joints. The crop should be full and the brisket moderately prominent & low. Chest floor deep and wide.
BODY (15 points)
Long, deep, wide body increasing in width from heart girth to rear barrel; level top line and proportionately short, strong, broad back that is level along chine and loin; Full at elbow, Well sprung, open, long flat ribs with increasing width and angling towards the rear of barrel. Refinement of bone but not lacking in substance, especially in the chest, girth, shoulder and hip..
HINDQUARTERS (15 points)
Slightly sloping long, wide level rump with good width between thurl to thurl and pin to pin and a slight angle from the hips to pins (back to the tail) to facilitate easier kidding. Thighs from side curving moderately inwards from pin to stifle. Thighs from rear, clean and wide apart, highly arched, curving outward into the escutcheon to accommodate udder and attachment.
REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM (25 points)
DOES
Udder should be moderately deep, wide and capacious in relation to the size of the doe. Udder should be balanced and tightly attached, soft and pliable, blending smoothly as viewed from the side and the rear. Medial suspensory ligament clearly defining udder halves, holding udder snugly against body and well above hocks. Udder pliable and elastic, well collapsed after milking, balanced and free of scar tissue. Teats proportionally shaped and evenly sized, ideally plumb when viewed from side or rear.
BUCKS
Must have two evenly placed rudimentary teats and a full, well attached, relatively even, appropriately sized scrotum and two evenly sized testicles. Sheath clean.
FEET & LEGS (10 points)
GENERAL FAULTS (to be judged on their severity)
Teeth protruding less than ½cm (5mm) not visible, neck too long or thin, loose shoulders, shallow or narrow chest floor, roach or sway back, slab sided, shallow body, short rump, narrow or steep sloping rump, fleshy pendulous udder, unduly divided udder, pockets in udder, teats too small, too thin, bulbous, double teats, supernumery teats, double orifices, that do not interfere with kids nursing. Bucks with divided scrotum, less than 2½cm. Cow or sickle hock, knock knees, posty leg, dropped pastern, feet pointing in or out, splayed feet, uneven gait, scurs/residual horn (post removal procedure).
SERIOUS FAULTS
Folded ears (length wise), teeth protruding more than ½cm (5mm), but not visible, double teats or supernumery teats that interfere with kids nursing, ill-defined unbalanced udder. Bucks with divided scrotum, more than 2½cm, scrotum small for age of animal.
Disqualifying Faults
Overshot/undershot jaw (>10mm); obviously twisted jaw; Hermaphrodism (both male & female), Monorchid/cryptorchid (retained testicle/s), serious emaciation, blindness, horns. Scrotum split over 5cm, urethra opening in wrong place.