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Pygoras
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To start with we would like to add a personal note about Pygoras that you may find interesting. 
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There are only a few items to understand that are "specific" to the Pygora breed. We have listed below what we consider to be the most significant. 
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Official "PYGORA" information can be obtained by visiting the "PYGORA BREEDERS ASSOCIATION" web site. 
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Our Decision Makers:
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1. Not killed for profit
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A Pygora is a fiber and breeding animal. It is typically not used for meat or hide. |
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2. Has a personality
| A Pygora is a very friendly animal that loves human attention and can display a surprising series of emotions. It makes a good pet although goats also require other goats as company. |
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3. Pay for themselves
| Pygora fiber is in high demand. A pound or so of fleece is produced each year and a doe typically gives birth to two kids a year with rare difficulties. |
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4. Not a huge investment
| A typical Pygora kid can be purchased for less than $300. Feed and hay are not too much. You can start with only a covered area to protect them from the rain and add a barn later. Proper fencing can be your biggest cost. |
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5. Safe for small children
| Pygoras are quite small animals and are not aggressive like some goats. Our youngest grand daughter plays with the does and loves feeding the kids by hand. |
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6. Help when we need it
| The Pygora community is very helpful and any members we have met are willing to answer questions or provide advise. Owners of other type of goats are also helpful. We learned most of our daily requirements from local Boer goat breeders. |
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Our advise is to visit other goat farms and learn from them.
There are a lot of cost saving ideas, information on general
care and resources for local materials that can be gained by
talking with goat owners. If you can visit a Pygora owner
that is even better. We heard and read many of the negatives associated with goats. Subjects like worms, diseases, smell, physical dangers and too much hard work were mentioned. We have not found that to be the case. Proper care is the key. (Of course the bucs do smell some in the fall when they are trying to attract a girl friend.) We still thoroughly enjoy our decision and look forward to many more years with our furry friends. |
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You can read more "ABOUT US" in the section called "OTHER".
Read more "Lessons" in the section called "Learned".
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PYGORA BREED SPECIFIC
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A Pygora goat is a specific registered breed that combines
a registered Pygmy and a registered Angora. The result is a
small size goat
(65 to 95 lbs / 25" tall) with a fine fiber for spinning. |
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A first generation cross of a Pygmy and an Angora is designated
as an "F1" which is not a true Pygora. A Pygora can have up to
75% of either starting breed. Colors vary and are typically
some variance of the Pygmy with colored socks or even all
white like the Angora.
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The majority of Pygoras are located in the North Western US,
where the breed started. Availability is spreading across America
where more small farms are adding the Pygora breed as a pet and
additions to their other stock.
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General care of a Pygora is identical to raising any type of goat.
Trimming of hooves, worming, diet, veterinary
care when needed and smelly bucs in the fall are common to other goats.
Pygoras have horns at birth but most breeders remove (disbud) them.
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There are 3 types of fleece registered for a Pygora.
Type "A": A long, lustrous fiber up to 6 inches long, hanging in long,
curly locks. This fiber is very fine mohair. Type "B": A blend of cashmere and mohair. It is between 3 and 6 inches long, and it has a nice crimp (curl). This fleece type is the most common. Type "C ": A fine shorter fiber, with no luster, with length of 1 to 3 inches. |
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Type "A" fleece most be shorn and will not shed.
Type "B" and "C" fleece can be shorn, plucked or combed and will eventually
shed if not removed.
We have been told that there is no real difference in demand for the three different
types of fleece although a true "A" fleece Pygora is rarer and a preference for
colors is evident.
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Please note that there are specific breeding requirements to
register a goat as a Pygora. The official breed information
along with lots of other useful stuff can be obtained
at the "Pygora Breeders Association" website.
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