The Pygmy Breed Standard

THE STANDARD OF EXCELLENCE OF THE PYGMY GOAT

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.

BEHAVIOUR/TEMPERAMENT

Unique, friendly personalities with an active nature.

GENERAL APPEARANCE, STYLE AND QUALITY (15 points)

The Australian Pygmy Goat is genetically and characteristically a small, compact, wide, cobby, full barrelled, well-muscled large body in proportion to size of animal with a disproportionately large circumference, short heavy boned legs. Shorter height is the primary breed characteristic of the pygmy goat.

FITTING & HANDLING

Top presentation of the animal & handler.

COAT & COLOUR

Full straight coat. Bucks with full beard and copious draping mane. All colours accepted, however distinct uniform pygmy markings preferred as follows; solid, agouti and caramel body with dark points – with muzzle, crown, eyes and ears accented with intermingled white (roan) hair preferred, optional white patches /belly bands on barrel between point of elbow and stifle joint.

HEIGHT

HEAD & BREED CHARACTER (10 points)

Small head relative to body length. A relatively wide muzzle, with even bite and broad lips and large open nostrils. Bright eyes set well apart. Any eye colour is accepted. Medium length erect ears. Neatly disbudded, dehorned and polled accepted.

NECK & FOREQUATERS (10 points)

The neck is shorter than that of the dwarf goat and should be in proportion to the size of the animal, it blends smoothly into all body junctions, feminine in does and masculine in bucks, showing appropriate muscling. The withers are 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. Substance 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)

The Australian Pygmy Goat is characteristically a small, compact, wide, cobby, full barrelled, well-muscled large body in proportion to the size of the animal with a disproportionately large circumference.

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.

REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM (25 points)

DOES

Udder should be moderately deep, proportionately wide and reasonably 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 strong, clearly defining udder halves, holding udder snugly against body and well above hocks. 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)

Correct from all angles, short heavy boned, set wide apart, straight, strong and squarely underneath. Short forearms clean knees, and short cannon bones in front and well-angled pasterns front and rear. Cleanly moulded hocks, nearly perpendicular from hock to pastern, well defined tendons. Feet short, neatly trimmed, compact, sloping hooves pointing directly ahead, heel as deep as toe.

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 (MGBA Breed Shows)

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.