Pygora Goat Breed Standard

General Description - The Pygora is a medium sized fleece goat The animal is well muscled and the overall look should be stylish and balanced, being neither rangy nor cobby. The Pygora goat will be the same length, from the top of the withers to the base of the tail and the top of the withers to the ground. The underlying skeletal structure should be apparent, well angulated and clearly defined. Females should be graceful and well balanced with athletic movements. Females average size is 22 inches at the withers, with a minimum size of 18 inches at 2 years. Males should be powerful, majestic and should move smoothly. Males average size is 27 inches at the withers, with a minimum size of 23 inches at 2 ½ years. There is no maximum size limit.

Breed Characteristics - The Pygora produces one of 3 distinct fleece types referred to as Type-A, Type-B and Type-C. When in fleece, the Pygora is well covered except for the legs from the knee down which have no fleece. There may be fleece on the face but the eye area should be clear and there is usually little fleece on the underbelly or inside the legs. Pygoras have two different recorded colors, an out-of-fleece color and an in-fleece color. The coat colors are described as caramels, agoutis and solid black or solid white. Breed specific markings include a contrasting dorsal stripe, socks to the knees which may be incomplete or diluted, a facial mask and on dark animals there is often a white crown. Color marking faults are white socks from the hoof past the knee and specific markings or color patterns other than those found on a Pygmy goat. Characteristics of any other recognized breed will not be accepted for registry.

A. Color: The first coat is the out-of-fleece coat and the second is the in-fleece coat.

1. Caramel Pattern - All have light vertical stripes on front side of darker stockings. Muzzle, forehead, eyes and ears are accented in tones lighter than the dark portions of the body.

a) Light caramel - white or caramel hairs, intermingled with white in the coat making the coat ap-pear to be a shade of pure white to cream.

b) Medium caramel - Caramel and white hairs intermingled in the coat making the coat appear to be a shade of apricot to orange.

c) Dark caramel - White hairs intermingled with darker caramel/buff or brown hairs in the coat making the coat appear to be a shade close to a grocery shopping bag.

d) Brown Caramel - Brown mainly with only occasional intermingled white hairs in the coat making the coat a pronounced darker brown.

2. Agouti Pattern - All agoutis have solid stockings darker than the main body color. Muzzle, forehead, eyes and ears accented in tones lighter than the dark portions of the body.a) Light Grey Agouti- Black and white hairs intermingled with slightly more white hairs to give a light grey color making the coat appear to be silver/pewter in shade.

b) Medium Grey Agouti- Black and white hairs intermingled in equal amounts giving the coat a blacker appearance close to an equal amount of salt and pepper.

c) Dark Grey Agouti- Darker grey appearance fewer white hairs, but still a salt and pepper appearance that is pronounced.

d) Black Agouti- Black mainly with only occasional intermingled white hairs.

e) Light Brown Agouti- Light/Silver grey hairs intermingled with white with brownish tips on main body hairs, making the coat a burnt silver/pewter shade.

f) Medium Brown Agouti- Brown and white hairs intermingled in equal amounts giving the coat a browner salt and pepper appearance.

g) Dark Brown Agouti- Brown hairs intermingled with fewer white hairs. but still a salt and pepper appearance that is a pronounced darker brown.

h) Brown Agouti- Brown mainly with only occasional intermingled white hairs. 

3. Black Pattern - All blacks have solid black stockings

a) Black- Solid black except for muzzle, forehead, eyes and ears accented in tones lighter than the dark portion of the body.

b) Solid Black- All black with no white seen anywhere.

4. White Pattern - All white have no other color anywhere.

B. Fleece: The second coat is the fleece coat. There are three different fleece types. 

1. Type-A: a long fiber averaging 6+ inches in length. It drapes in long lustrous ringlets. It may be a single coat. but a silky guard hair is usually present. The fiber is very fine mohair-like, usually less than 28 microns. The handle should be silky, smooth and cool to the touch.

2. Type-B: a blend of fibers with characteristics of both mohair type and cashmere type fleece. It's usually curly and should average 3 to 6 inches in length. There is an obvious guard hair. A second silky guard hair is also usually present. Fiber should have luster, with a soft and airy handle, and should test, on average, below 24 microns. The fleece color is usually lighter than the guard hair color.

3. Type-C: a very fine fiber, usually below 18.5 microns, and can be acceptable as commercial cashmere. It must be at least 1 inch long, and is usually between 1 to 3 inches. It has a matte finish and a warm, creamy handle. It must show crimp. There is good separation between a coarse guard hair and fleece. The fleece color is usually lighter than the guard hair color.

C. 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, resembling the Pygmy or Angora ear set. The nose should be wide and flat. The bite should be even. The side view of the jaw is almost straight and slightly rounded. Pygoras are genetically horned but disbudding is acceptable.

D. Neck: Long and graceful, well-muscled and flexible on does. Medium thick and arching on mature bucks.

E. Shoulder: Closely attached to the withers. 

F. Back: Sloping slightly down from the withers. Withers should be sharp, obvious and slightly higher than thespine. The back should be level along the chine and loin, rising slightly at the iliac crest (hip).

G. Chine and Loin: Broad and level, wide and pronounced, strong.

H. Rump: Long and sloping about 30 degrees.

L. Hips: Wide but in proportion, rear view generally rectangular. The hip joint itself is buried in muscle and cannot be felt Wide apart on does, narrower on bucks.

J. Pin Bones and Thurls: Wide set on does, narrower on bucks. The thurls are nearly level when viewed from the rear. Unlike the hip joint, the pin bones and thurls can be easily felt 

K. Tail: Straight, held erect, not broken or wry. 

L. Skin: Pliable, clean and smooth.

M. Forelegs: Set straight under shoulders, smooth, and muscular without being cobby. The legs should be long enough to keep the proportion of height at the withers to body length equal to show a goat of balance appearing square. The legs should be set wide apart. They should be straight down from the elbow when viewed from the side.

N. Hindlegs: 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, without being cobby, allowing for smoothness while on the move.

O. Hocks: Well angulated, straight when viewed from the rear, not rotated either in or out.

P. Pasterns: Medium to long, flexible and strong, angulated slightly forward to the hoof.

Q. Feet: Strong, symmetrical, hooves together, level sole.

R. Barrel: Large and full, increasing toward the flank. The body is pear shaped when viewed from above and from the side.

S. Ribs: Should be well sprung both from the spine and with increasing space between the ribs from head to tail.

T. Crop: Or foreribs, should be very full. The chest floor should be level, wide and well-muscled.

U. Forechest: Or sternum, should be ahead of the shoulders, full and obvious.

V. Heart Girth: The measurement around the body at the point of elbows should be generous, reflecting the full barrel and well sprung ribs. 

W. Mammary System:

1. 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.

2. Bucks: Two normal teats are required.

X. Reproductive System:

1. Does: Gestation is 145-150 days, capable of producing and feeding one to four kids, with twins being the most common. Normal vaginal deliveries are desirable. 

2. Bucks: Two descended testicles that are large, symmetrical and firm. The mature buck must be fertile.

Y. Personality: Pygoras should be alert, curious, friendly, cooperative and easy to handle.

Revised December 2021