Other common names: Miniature Angora Goat; African Pygmy Goat x Angora Goat Cross
The Pygora Goat was created in the 1980's by Katharine Jorgensen of Oregon, who wanted to develop a small goat which could produce fine fiber for hand spinning. To do this, Ms. Jorgensen crossed an African Pygmy Goat and an Angora Goat.
The Pygora Breeders Association (PBA) was formed in 1987, and only allows for the registration of Pygoras which descend from American Angora Goat Breeders Association (AAGBA) pure white Angoras. According to the PBA, "This first cross is considered a first generation (F1) cross and is so marked as an F1 on its registration papers. The second generation is considered the true Pygora. The Pygora can be bred to other Pygoras or back to an NPGA or AAGBA animal but the ratio is not to exceed 75% of either parent breed (pygmy or angora)."
A second Pygora registry, the PCA Goat Registry also allows for the registration of Pygoras who have a parent which is a colored Angora Goat which is registered with the Colored Angora Goat Breeders Association (CAGBA).
Appearance / health:
The Pygora Goat is a small to medium-sized goat which is less than 2 ft. tall and less than 100 lbs. in weight. Both sexes are born with horned but owners choose to disbud the animal at a young age to prevent then from getting caught in fences. Body colors and patterns vary, all of which are derived from the Pygmy Goat; white is also common. An adult Pygora can provide 1 quart of milk daily.
According to the Pygora Breeders Association (PBA), Pygoras produce three different types of fleece:
"Type "A": (Angora type)---A long, lustrous fiber up to 6 inches long, hanging in long, curly locks. The hair coat is not obvious on a type "A" animal. This fiber is very fine mohair. Some type "A", "F1" Pygoras are single coated. These animals must be shorn.
Type "B": (Blend type)---A blend of the Pygmy goat undercoat which is cashmere and the Angora mohair. It is between 3 and 6 inches long, and it has a nice crimp (curl). The second coat is usually obscured by the type "B" fleeces that is 3 to 6 inches long. Type "B" can either be lustrous (shiny), or have a matte (dull) finish. This fleece type is the most common, and these goats may be shorn, combed, or plucked.
Type "C ": (Cashmere type)---A very fine fiber, with no luster, and length of 1 to 3 inches. The hair coat looks very coarse in comparison to the two types above. Type "C" can be acceptable commercial cashmere. These goats may be shorn or combed."
Goats are sensitive animals that can suffer from various infectious and chronic diseases that are sometimes undetected until too late. Vaccinations, as well as de-worming and de-lousing applications must be conducted as needed. Milking goats should be checked regularly using prescribed mastitis tests for udder health. Milking areas should always be clean and the goat’s teats treated with teat dip after milking to prevent mastitis.
Goats must be inspected frequently to detect any signs of poor health, infections, or other ailments. Signs include cloudy or teary eyes, dull or fluffed up coat, droopy tail, hunched back, or poor appetite. A veterinarian should always be on call to address health concerns.
Behavior / temperament:
Goats are inherently curious, active, intelligent, and social. They are known to have the ability to overcome enclosures by unraveling the gate, climbing over the mesh, or pushing and ramming the fence down. Goats have good coordination and balance and can manage to climb low trees, ledges, and overhangs. Their curiosity leads them to constantly investigate items with their mouths; most items get chewed and swallowed. With a little patience, goats can be taught to carry or pull loads, respond to calls, and lead a herd. As social animals, they easily get along with other farm animals.
Pygoras are a desirable hybrid of the Angora and Pygmy because they are tame like the Angora, but curious, playful, and energetic like the Pygmy. Because of this, and the small size, Pygoras are ideal as pets and 4-H projects.
Housing / diet:
As herd animals, goats are best kept in pairs or groups. As grazers, they require an outdoor habitat that is securely fenced to prevent escape or foraging in restricted areas. The area should be large enough to allow the goat to roam. The recommended habitat per goat is 200 sq. ft. of yard or pasture plus a sheltered or indoor area of about 15 sq. ft. In the case of the small Pygora, habitat requirements are reduced. The sheltered area should be adequately built to keep the goats safe from rain and strong winds.
Keeping goats inside the house is not recommended because of the pet’s tendency to gnaw and chew on furniture and furnishings. Goats are also not known to adhere to toilet training.
The ideal food for domesticated goats is alfalfa hay and grass hay. This should be available daily in quantities of at least 3% of the goat’s body weight. Small quantities of feed grain and concentrates (often protein-enriched) like goat show or goat grain can also be given to add nutrition. Supplements are often used to address deficiencies inherent to local habitats.
Clean water is essential to a goat’s daily diet. It should always be available and provided where it cannot be soiled. Dirty and moldy water is hazardous to the goat’s health. Milking goats should be kept away from aromatic or strong-tasting foliage like garlic, onions, mint, and cabbage, which could taint the flavor of the milk.
soft wool, Pygora fiber, fiber arts, beautiful fleeces, mohair cashmere mix, friendly animals
experienced shearer, hot climate
manageable size, curly pet, cute weedeating pet, fiber guild
Snickers the Pygora
this guy was a total experiment by my mother. Snickers is a Pygora
Goat, a cross between a Pygmy and an Angora goat. They are known for
producing three kinds of fleece, most notably cashmere, and can also
be milked for cheese. He is 11 years old, which makes him a bit
long-in-the tooth for a goat. But mom had taken to spinning her own
yarn to make afghans for her friends and family, and wanted to
completely control the final outcome by producing her own yarn. With
the help of snickers, she eventually learned her craft. Snickers is
basically just a very expensive pet now, I his later years. He
eats well and follows mom around the farm like a dog when she comes
to visit. They are quite bonded, oddly as you might think.
From Oscarthedog Aug 3 2012 6:12AM
Productive Alternative to Pygmy Goats
I’ve wanted goats for years and had planned on getting Pygmy goats for their playful personality and manageable size. They seemed like the perfect pet goat until I met some Pygoras at a fair.
Pygoras are a newer breed developed in Oregon from crossing Pygmy and Angora goats. There is a wide variety in the appearance of the breed, but all are around the size of a large dog, only much stronger.
You want to tame them young to avoid wrestling matches over hoof trimming and shearing when they’re full-sized. Socialized Pygoras are also more fun. They’re serious beggars and can be rather cuddly for goats, which is lovely with their soft fleece.
The Pygora fleece comes in three types - A (mohair), B (mohair / cashmere mix) and C (cashmere). Depending on the type, they can be sheared, combed or plucked. shearing a Pygora is easy and can be done with only a pair of scissors.
The A type has to be sheared, but the C, and usually the B, will shed on their own if you don’t want the fiber. However, the fleece can be prone to matting and adds an extra element to their care. If you don’t want fiber, you’d be better off with those adorable Pygmy goats.
Pygoras don’t provide a large quantity of fleece, but it’s high quality and a nice amount for hobby spinners. If it is sheared rather than plucked, you do have to pick out guard hairs, which you can do while watching television or, better yet, while watching the hilarious antics of your goats.
Goats are possibly the most entertaining animal. Mine love to climb everything, run up ramps and chase each other around the barn. They rear up as if they’re going to ram each other, but normally conclude with only tapping each other’s heads.
Pygoras are relatively inexpensive to purchase, but have a tendency to waste hay and require a fair bit of infrastructure to keep happy. They are escape artists that can jump surprisingly high so a tall, strong fence is a must. They love toys to climb on and, at the very least, need a dry covered area because they hate the rain.
Ideally, they’d also have a place to go inside at night. I read some books that said goats don’t like sleeping in enclosed areas, but mine cry at the gate if they think it’s getting too dark and I haven’t let them into their barn yet.
They eat primarily browse and mine don’t like things once they’ve touched the ground. Their favorite foods are fir limbs, blackberry vines and rose cuttings. They’ll also help themselves to ornamental trees and your favorite shrubs. My boys managed to get at two of my fruit trees that were behind fencing in their enclosure.
As miniature goats, Pygoras can technically be kept in small areas, but provide the largest, secure enclosure you can. They are extremely intelligent, curious animals. If you don’t provide them with enough room and things to do, they’ll make up their own games that you probably won’t like.
With proper space and grooming, Pygoras are one of the most entertaining and endearing pet livestock you can keep..
From gardenfairy Aug 23 2014 8:55PM