American Pygmy Goat

The American Pygmy Goat, also known as the African Pygmy, started out by breeding African Dwarf goats in French Cameroon.

They should not be confused with Pygmy Goats of the United Kingdom, which have a much different appearance, though are similar in size. They are not a teacup breed, but they are very small. Most are about one to two feet in height and don’t get much more than a couple of feet long.

5 Incredible American Pygmy Goat Facts!

• These goats are horned on both males and females of the species, so they cannot be sexed using 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 up to 12 years.
• They are a dwarf breed of goat, rather than a teacup breed.

Scientific Name

The scientific name for these goats is Capra aegagrus hircus.

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 during the early 20th century 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.

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, if you don’t know, means that each hair has bands of at least two separate pigments on each strand, though it 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 also curious creatures. This curiosity is where they get their reputation for eating everything. While they eat a wide variety of plants and grains, they nibble things because of their investigation technique. They bite things to find out the nature of them.

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 two months of age. These animals have a gestation period of around five months or about 150 days. Unlike many other species, American pygmy goats can breed year-round. These goats have one to four baby goats or “kids” per live birth. Until the kids are weaned, the mother spends several weeks raising them. 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 population in the wild is unknown, but in the United States, they are found on many farms and in zoos all across the country.