American Pygmy Goat

Quick Take

• Goats have a reputation for eating everything, though the real reason they bite objects has nothing to do with hunger. Discover their nibbling habit →
• These goats can reach sexual maturity at a shockingly early age, which is far sooner than most farmers ever breed them. See their early maturity →
• Their tiny size traces back to a single gene mutation, which reshapes their entire body in a very specific way. Explore the size mutation →
• Both males and females share a trait that makes telling them apart much harder than you'd expect. See the shared trait →

The American Pygmy Goat, also known as the African Pygmy, originated from the West African Dwarf landrace of Central and West Africa, with the breed most notably associated with the former French Cameroon region. They should not be confused with Pygmy Goats of the United Kingdom, which have a very different appearance, though they are similar in size. They are not a teacup breed, but they are very small. Most stand about one to two feet tall and are typically no more than a couple of feet long.

5 Incredible American Pygmy Goat Facts

• These goats are horned in both males and females of the species, so their sex cannot be determined by this method.
• A female goat is known as a doe, a castrated male is called a wether, an uncastrated male is a buck, and a baby goat is known as a kid. When raising goats, birthing is referred to as kidding. Once a doe has given birth to at least one baby or kid, she is considered “freshened.”
• These goats are not much bigger than the size of a medium dog.
• They have a moderate gestation period of 5 months, with a lifespan of 10 to 15 years.
• They are a dwarf breed of goat, rather than a teacup breed.

Evolution And History

The American pygmy goat evolved from the West African dwarf goats that are native to West Africa. It is believed that the dwarfism that is characteristic of these breeds was an evolutionary response to the environmental conditions in the area. The West African dwarf goat was sent to the U.S. from Europe between 1930 and 1960 for use in research and zoos but also went to private owners. By the mid-century, two very specific breeds had developed — the American pygmy and the Nigerian dwarf pygmy.

Scientific Name

The scientific name for these goats is Capra aegagrus hircus.

Appearance

These goats get their small size from achondroplasia, the gene mutation that causes dwarfism, characterized by a normal-sized torso with short limbs and a larger head. They come in three color classifications: Caramel, Agouti, and Black. Agouti means that each hair strand has bands of at least two separate pigments, though there can be more. This produces a somewhat speckled appearance to the fur.

In those three main color classifications, there are seven recognized color variations. The accepted breed standard colorings are brown agouti, grey agouti, black agouti, solid black, black with white markings, caramel with black markings, and caramel with brown markings.

Behavior

These goats love jumping and climbing. They are very playful, quite social, and are known for being friendly and curious creatures. This curiosity is the source of their reputation for eating everything. While they eat a wide variety of plants and grains, they nibble things because of their investigative technique. They bite things to find out their nature.

Habitat

Goats are very adaptable creatures, so they can easily live in many different habitats and climates. Though in the United States, they are often found on farmland, their native roaming grounds tend to be rocky hillsides and grassy plains. Any terrain with both rocks and edible grasses, which also has a nearby water source, is ideal for goats to thrive.

Diet

Their primary diet consists of green grasses and grains, but they also eat things like apples and carrots. They do well with hay, alfalfa, chaff, corn, and other grains, with some mint and fenugreek for variety.

Predators And Threats

The main animals from which pygmy goats, and baby pygmy goats, in particular, are at risk are coyotes and dogs. Due to a baby goat’s small size, and depending on where the goat lives, it may fall victim to bobcats, birds of prey, and foxes.

Reproduction And Life Cycle

Though most farmers don’t breed them until they reach about one year of age, an American Pygmy Goat can reach sexual maturity as early as four to five months of age. These animals have a gestation period of around five months or about 150 days. Unlike many other species, American pygmy goats are reported by some sources to breed year-round, though others suggest mating occurs primarily in late fall and early winter. These goats have one to three baby goats or “kids” per live birth. The mother spends several weeks raising the kids until they are weaned. The mothers care for their young without fatherly assistance. American Pygmy Goats have a lifespan of up to 12 years.

Population

Because these goats are often found in zoos and on farms, their population appears to be thriving and has not been assessed for risk. Their exact wild population is unknown, but in the United States they are found on many farms and in zoos across the country.