GENERAL DESCRIPTION The Pygora is a medium size goat. The animals is well-muscled and the over-all look should be stylish and balanced. The Pygora Goat is as long as it is tall, the underlying skeletal structure should should be apparent, well angulated and clearly defined. The female should be graceful on the move and have an athletic, dancer-like quality. The male should move smoothly. The females average size is about 22 inches at the withers, the minimum size will be 18 inches at 24 months. The male averages 27 inches at the withers, the minimum size will be 23 inches at 30 months. BREED CHARACTERISTICS The Pygora is a fleece producing goat with two distinct coats, the hair and the fleece. The Pygora is well covered with fleece. The legs from the knee down are clean (without fleece) as is the face, and there is usually little fleece on the underbelly or inside the legs. The hair coat is usually short, straight to wavy. The color of the goat is usually determined by the coat color. The coat can be described as grizzle, which is the mingling of many different color hairs, or agouti, which is a coat whose color comes from the color bands on individual hairs. The outermost tip color appears to be the color of the goat. All colors from the Pygmy goat are acceptable, including dilutions of the colors pure white and pure black. Breed specific markings include a contrasting dorsal stripe, sox to the knees which may be incomplete or diluted, a facial mask, and on dark animals there often is a white crown. Any Pygora goat that has breed specific markings or color patterns, other than those found on Pygmy goats, that are characteristics of another recognized breed, will not be accepted for registry. The second coat is the fleece coat. THERE ARE THREE DIFFERENT FLEECE TYPES: Type "A" is a long lustrous fiber up to 6 inches long, and it hangs in long curly locks. The hair coat is not obvious on a type "A" animal. This fiber is a very fine mohair. Some Type "A" F1 Pygoras are single coated. Type "B" is the 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" fleece which is 3 to 6 inches long. Type "B" can either be lustrous (shiny) or have a matte (dull) finish. Type "C" is very fine, about 14 to 19 microns, has no lustre and is from 1 to 3 inches long. The hair coat looks very coarse in comparison. Type "C" can be acceptable commercial cashmere. HEAD: Medium size with a dished profile preferred. The eyes should be set apart, the irises pigmented any color, and not protruding. The ears are medium long, either slightly drooping or erect. The nose should be wide and flat. The bite should be even. Pygoras are genetically horned but disbudding is acceptable. The side view of the jaw is almost straight, slightly rounded. NECK: Long and graceful on does, well—muscled and flexible. Medium thick and arching on mature bucks. SHOULDER: Closely attached to withers. WITHERS: Sharp and obvious, slightly higher than the spine. BACK: Sloping slightly down from the withers, level along the chine and loin, rising slightly at the illiac crest. CHINE AND LOIN: Broad and level, wide and pronounced, strong. RUMP: Long and sloping about 30 degrees. HIPS: Wide but in proportion, rear view generally rectangular. Bucks will not be as wide as does. PIN BONES: Wide apart on does, narrower on bucks. The thurl is the knob on the end of the femur; this protrusion can be felt. The hip joint itself is buried in muscle and cannot be felt. The thurls are wide set and nearly level, as seen from the rear. TAIL: Straight, held erect, not broken or wry. SKIN: Pliable, clean and smooth. FORELEGS: Set straight under shoulders, smooth and muscular. The legs should be long enough to keep the proportion of height at the withers to body length equal. The legs should be set wide apart. They should be straight down from the elbow when viewed from the side. HIND LEGS: Set wide apart, straight down from the hips through to the canon bone and hoof when viewed from the rear. When viewed from the side the leg should be well angulated at the stifle joint. Thighs should be muscular, allowing for smoothness on the move. HOCKS: Well angulated, straight when viewed from the rear, not rotated either in or out. PASTERNS: Medium to long, flexible and strong, angled slightly forward to the hoof. FEET: Strong, symmetrical, hooves together, level sole. BARREL: Large and full increasing toward the flank. The body is pear shaped when viewed from above and from the side. RIBS: Should be well sprung both from the spine and with increasing space between the ribs. CROPS: Or foreribs, should be very full. The chest floor should be level, wide and well muscled. FORECHEST: Or prosternum, should be ahead of the shoulders, full and obvious. HEART GIRTH: The measurement around the body at the point of elbows should be generous, reflecting the full barrel and well sprung ribs. MAMMARY SYSTEM: DOES... Medium udder with 2 normal teats being desirable, long enough for milking. Both front and rear attachments should be smooth and close to the body. The udder should not interfere with the locomotion of the doe. BUCKS... Two normal teats are required. REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM BUCKS: Two descended testicles that are large, symmetrical and firm. The buck should be fertile. REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM DOES: Usually seasonally fertile, gestation 145-150 days, capable of producing and feeding one to four kids, with twins being the most common. Proven fertility by age three years and normal vaginal deliveries is most desirable. PERSONALITY and MANAGEMENT: Pygoras should be alert, curious, friendly, co—operative and easy to handle. They are easy keepers, they produce kids, milk and fibre on a diet of hay, grain, browse, clean water and minerals. The Pygora seems to be able to thrive in many different climates, their housing needs are simple. A dry place to eat and sleep, with adequate pasture for each goat is all that is necessary. Of course tender loving care makes any creature thrive. Pygoras are easy to love. ---------------------------------------------------------------- Also contributing significantly to the Pygora Breed Standard were members, Beth James, Jill Gallagher, Janet Mattheis, Sarah Struble and Mary Jane Ontiveros.
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