Pygmy Goat

Capra aegagrus hircus

DIET: HERBIVOREHay, grain, grasses, shrubs

ACTIVE:diurnal

LIFESPAN:Captive: 15 yrs on average

OFFSPRING:1-3 per birth (average 2)

LENGTH:45-46 in (115-170 cm)

WEIGHT:24-249 lb (9-113 kg)

Worldwide, more people drink goat milk than any other kind of milk.

Physical Description

Pygmy goats are small and stout, and have a full coat of straight, medium-length hair. Male Pygmy goats have full, long beards.

Origins

The Pygmy Goat was originally called the Cameroon Dwarf Goat and came – as the name implies – from Cameroon in west Africa. Today, this breed of goat still has a large presence in West African countries. Some Cameroon goats were exported from Africa to zoos in Sweden and Germany where they were on display as exotic animals. From there they made their way to England, Canada, and the United States.

Introduction to North America

The first record of Pygymy goats in the United States dates to 1959, although some may have come into the country earlier and been undocumented. In 1959, the Rhue family of California and the Catskill Game Farm in New York both received shipments of Pygmy goats from Sweden.

Uses

In the United States and elsewhere, Pygmy goats are raised mainly as companion animals. They are popular as pets and as exhibition animals, and are widely seen in petting zoos. They can also be relied upon to produce milk and to keep land cleared.