I saw an ad in the paper for Miniature Pygmy Goats for sale. $75.00 for female/ $50.00 for male. The full grown female measures only 15 inches tall....I have a cat that is almost that big...Is there a market for such a breed? I'd like to raise Pygmies, but do I want a goat that will produce offspring that will fit in my pocket?

-- Harmony (harmonyfarm57@hotmail.com), February 04, 2002

Answers

freeze em,, and sell as matching book ends,, stick a toothpick in it,, sell it as hourderves for cats/dogs ,, can train them to beat up on squirrels,, keep a doe on the counter for adding milk to a cup of coffee,,use it to eat weeds from a window flower box,,,

-- Stan (sopal@net-port.com), February 04, 2002.

Harmony you can be pretty much assured that if the females are selling for 75$ that this is the amount her doe kids will make for you. Can you feed, house, hay, water and medicate a goat for a year and sell a kid for 50 to 75 dollars and make a profit? That's the market. Vicki

-- Vicki McGaugh TX (vickilonesomedoe@hotmail.com), February 04, 2002.

the NPGA (National Pygmy Goat Assn) has a minimum height requirement - 16", anything under that is considered a faulted animal. (the maximum height is 22 3/8 ") Most (registered) pygmies average between 18-20 inches at the withers..but with a breed already having a propensity toward dystocia (kidding problems), the short, shorter- bodied goats will be the ones with the most production and longevity problems. The correct pygmy is not overweight, is well-balanced with the length of body and correct pelvic structure to be able to reproduce herself - definately not a 15" or under animal. And BTW, those typically sell for $250-$400 across the country. Bottom line...you get what you pay for as the old saying goes :)) patty Prairie oak Miniatures http://www.minifarm.com/prairie_oak http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Littlegoats

-- Patty Putnam (WI) (littlegoats@wi.rr.com), February 04, 2002.

No way! There's not really a pocket-sized goat breed, is there?

-- Shannon at Grateful Acres Animal Sanctuary (gratacres@aol.com), February 04, 2002.

Stan, you are sooooo baaaad! LOL I want to mention to Harmony that just because you get something different in size(bigger than normal, smaller than normal)doesn't make it desireable. They are still goats, just like a pot bellied pig is still a pig. You are not going to get a chihuahua sized goat that you can treat like a dog or cat. You still must study about them and care for them properly, as mentioned above. Lots of special, knowledgeable people work on keeping "miniature" critters miniature. They don't just happen. In a breeding programI there are lots of "culls", those that are not up to standard. You have to be prepared for this to.It takes years of breeding and good care. Also, they might be quite small when first born and then they grow. Perhaps you might look into kangaroos? Just kidding, but lots of study is good before you decide what you want to raise. LQ

-- Little Quacker (carouselxing@juno.com), February 04, 2002.

Ummmmmm...... hmmmmmmm.... Ok, I'll be good here. No way, that small? I couldn't imagine. Gosh, hope they are fiesty being that small. Very interesting, and now I am looking into my crystal ball and seeing another issue down the road with ADGA and getting them recognized. Oh my.

As for Stan, Little Q'.... he just has a strange sense of humor, he didn't mean harm I think.

-- Bernice (geminigoats@yahoo.com), February 04, 2002.

Pygmies were really popular as a pet a few years ago. They sold really well then but I don't think they are as much in demand as they used to be. Nigerian Dwarf on the other hand come in a variaty of colors and can be milked.

-- Dee (gdgtur@goes.com), February 04, 2002.

I heard some folks say that they had miniature pygmy goats, but I think they had a goat that was too small & wanted big bucks for something that doesn't exist. I have raised pygmies for seven years & they are my babies. I chose my breeders & billy for their size & color so that I could avoid breeding problems. Their babies will fit in your large pocket & they are within the standards of the NPGA. If you want small goats, raise pygmies, but stay with the smallest & still be in the guidelines of the NPGA. You will have a nice herd.

-- Susan Dunn (sld5825@comteck.com), February 04, 2002.

Bernice, yep they will be next breed for ADGA. Afterall you can take them with you in your lunch kit and have fresh milk with your lunch :) That should be enough to be DIARY! Could you even imagine helping with a bad delivery? Eeek. Vicki

-- Vicki McGaugh TX (vickilonesomedoe@hotmail.com), February 05, 2002.

Little Quacker, that was BAD advice. Don't nobody look into kangaroos! They're argumentative, disputatious, easily offended, muscular, they kick HARD, and their toenails are about like blunt gutting knives - in the large economy size. If someone tried to look into a kangaroo, they'd get about the same treatment they would if they tried to look into ME, but without the opportunity to grovel and plead and make excuses. Of course, "settle out of court" would be mandatory, not even an option.

-- Don Armstrong (from Australia) (darmst@yahoo.com.au), February 05, 2002.

Stan you crack me up you bad boy

-- Susan (dsowen@tds.net), February 05, 2002.

Now you guys, I know Stan knows I'm only kidding, just as he is. Don, you know I was only joking too. Are you going to bust our bubble and tell us that Skippy wasn't as smart as a whip, with perfect manners and had ESP? LOL LQ

-- Little Quacker (carouselxing@juno.com), February 06, 2002.

Stan you have one terrific sense of humor. Keep it up.

-- Buddy (Buddybud@csranet.com), February 06, 2002.