Posts by chrismorda
Playground for Pygmies
by Maggie Leman One reward of raising Pygmies is the entertainment they provide when they play. From a large window in the house, I enjoy my kids’ playground antics. Provide a playground, and that is where kids will meet! Most of the toys and equipment they enjoy is simple to install or build. Old tires,…
Read MoreHow Come it Costs so Much to Show a Goat?
[Webmasters note: As a comparison, AKC dog shows typically charge $15-30 per class. Horse shows vary greatly but a typical show would charge $30-$150 per class with stall fees of $20-75.] Most people are unaware of the expenses involved in putting on a show. All you know is that it costs from $5 to $7…
Read MoreColor Choices for Registration
Revised 6/2013 In an effort to make registering a goat easier there are now just 7 color choices: caramel with black markings, caramel with brown markings, grey agouti, brown agouti, black agouti, black, and solid black. It is no longer necessary to assign a shade such as light, medium or dark. Caramel Pattern The caramel…
Read MoreExamples of Colors in Pygmy Goats
Caramel Pattern The caramel color pattern can range FROM white to caramel hairs, intermingled with white in the top coat making the top coat appears to be a shade of white/cream to tan. The undercoat has the same base color (black or brown) as the dorsal stripes, socks, and face accents. Caramel are required to…
Read MoreThe Ruminant Stomach
by Lorrie Blackburn, DVM Pygmy goats are ruminants like sheep, cattle, deer, llamas, etc. Their digestive tract looks and functions quite differently from simple-stomached animals such as man, swine, dogs, and cats. Knowing some of these differences can be very important to achieving the best herd management. The ruminant animal has a rumen, reticulum, omasum,…
Read MoreAnatomy of the Pygmy Goat
Excerpts from: Carpenter, Linda, ed. Judges Training Handbook 5th Edition National Pygmy Goat Association: pp 12-14 This document is for informational purposes only and is in no way intended to be a substitute for medical consultation with a qualified veterinary professional. The information provided through this document is not meant to be used in the…
Read MoreCoccidiosis: Understanding the Drugs Available for Control
by N. Galen Walters, DVM Most Pygmy goat owners are aware that coccidiosis is a lurking condition always awaiting the opportunity to become a full-blown disease in their herds. Many understand that “treatment” is a matter of controlling rather than eradicating the condition, but few realize that several treatment choices are available, each appropriate to…
Read MoreFirst Aid
by Kay Orlando, DVM Once you have more than a few goats, it becomes evident that it is physically and financially impossible to take them to your veterinarian for every minor injury. It is important to have a first aid kit and to be able to evaluate injury or illness. Ask yourself, “Can I treat…
Read MoreInformation on the NPGA Johne’s Health Alert
Johne’s Disease in Pygmy Goats (Part 1) By Elaine Krieg, DVM and Nic Everett, Ph.D. This article is a summary of a more detailed technical review and update on Johne’s Disease (JD) in goats that is available at Johnes Disease in Pygmy Goats NPGA final.pdf. This update was prompted by an increase in requests for…
Read MorePygmies for all Reasons
It’s very clear to you why you have your wonderful little goats, but many times people ask, “What are they good for – why do you have them?” Maybe there are as many answers as there are Pygmy goat owners. To begin with, they’re great pets; very friendly, sociable, endearing and eminently lovable. Watching their…
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