Keeping Pygmy Goats

Best Pygmy Goat Breeds

• American Pygmy Goat
  Stocky, hardy, easy to handle
  Good for companionship, meat yield, and research and commonly used as research animals due to their manageable size.
• British (UK) Pygmy Goat
  Compact, broad, friendly
  Ideal for pets and showing and conforms to strict breed standards outlined by UK goat breeders associations.
• West African Dwarf / Cameroon Dwarf
  Small, disease-resistant
  Prolific breeders with frequent twins/triplets, recognized by the Food and Agriculture Organization as an important African dairy goat breed for subsistence farmers.
• Nigerian Dwarf Goat
  Excellent milk production with high butterfat
  Friendly and easy to handle for small farms making them valuable additions to diverse livestock operations.
• Kinder Goat
  Dual-purpose (milk and meat)
  Good milk yield with high butterfat and solid meat production, popular among goat breeders looking for efficient feed-to-yield ratios.
• Pygora Goat
  Produces premium fiber (cashmere/mohair-like)
  Also suitable for milking and as pets with breed standards maintained by dedicated Pygora goat breeders.

Housing

Some people get pygmy goats with the idea that they would make good house pets(often first time owners). Pygmy goats, although smaller than normal goat breeds, are still pretty big. The average pygmy goat can weigh about 70-80 pounds. Goats of all breeds, including pygmies, love to climb and will climb on furniture and counters. I’m not convinced that pygmy goats can work well inside of the home. They remain classified as livestock by the Food and Agriculture Organization despite their pet appeal.

With that being said, they can be raised in your backyard. Pygmies don’t require much room to be happy so they can be kept in a small fenced backyard. If you plan on keeping a pygmy goat (or two) in your backyard, check with your local authorities or HOA to make sure that goats are legal. Some cities specify that you cannot keep livestock, including goats, within the limits. Other cities simply have regulations in place (size, housing needs, sex, etc.).

Goats do need shelter to escape from bad weather. Make sure that the shelter provides them a dry places to escape from rain or snow. Goats can develop hoof infections from standing in wet ground, so a dry place to get out of the rain is important for their health. Housing design should also consider breed characteristics like climbing behavior.

Goats will also need help keeping warm when it’s cold outside. A heat lamp and bedding will be enough to keep them warm. If you have more than one goat, make sure that there is enough heated space for all of them to be comfortable.

Feeding

Feeding pygmy goats is just like feeding other goats, just in smaller amounts. Goats are browsers naturally and if given the choice, will eat leaves of trees and shrubs and grasses. Pygmy goats are prone to obesity and can gain weight fast if given the chance. A fat pygmy goat usually looks pot-bellied in appearance. If you notice a fat goat, check them for worms by doing a FAMACHA score. If they aren’t wormy, chances are that their feed needs to be cut back.

Don’t overfeed goats grain. A goat on good pasture shouldn’t need grain. An exception to this is a pregnant mother or a doe that is nursing kids. Generally, good quality pasture or hay is enough to keep your pygmy goats healthy. If you do supplement their diet with feed, make sure to purchase feed that is formulated specifically for goats.

Don’t buy livestock feed that is intended for multiple species. Goats have unique mineral needs from other livestock species. If you feed them grain intended for sheep, horses or cattle, they can develop nutrient deficiencies and become ill.

Health

Pygmy goats are hardy and adapt easily to many climates. If you feed and house them properly, you won’t have many health issues from them. However, goat breeders may need routine veterinary checks (or home diy checking) to ensure compliance with breed standards and disease prevention.

Goats of all breeds are susceptible to infestations from the barber pole worm. Barber pole worms are internal parasites that chew the lining of the digestive tract. Once they’ve created a wound, they consume the blood that comes from the wound. These blood-eating parasites can cause anemia in goats.

You should check your goats routinely for signs of anemia with a quick FAMACHA score test. You can perform this easily at home in less than a minute with no cost. If your goats show signs of anemia, worm them. Only worm them if they show signs of anemia to prevent creating worms that are resistant to wormer. Monitoring worm load is essential for all domestic goat herds to maintain productivity and longevity.

Hoof issues are the most common issue with goats, including pygmies. Goats should have their hooves trimmed every 6-8 weeks. Do this quickly with a pair of hoof trimmers designed for goats. While trimming the hooves, check for moisture between the toes. The skin between the toes should be dry.

If you notice that it is wet or there is an odor, your goat may have hoof rot. Treat it easily with a product like Hoof n’ Heel to kill the pathogen causing the infection. Many livestock operations schedule hoof trimming alongside breeding season health checks to ensure goats remain sound and productive.

Pygmy goats are easy to raise, especially if you have a small space to keep them in. With good care, pygmy goats are hardy and healthy and will require little additional care form you. If you have children, they will fall in love with pygmies. (There is a reason that pygmy goats are so popular at petting zoos) Pygmies are curious and friendly. They love attention and will enjoy spending time with you.

Shelby DeVore is an agricultural enthusiast that enjoys writing about gardening, raising livestock and simple living.

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