The Breeds
Information to note
Goats of all breeds are herd animals so will be lonely on their own. Whilst they also seek out human interaction and love a scratch, brush, hug or walk they do best with another of their own kind.
Goats excrete small poo berries that can be used as a natural slow release fertilizer; some can be milked giving up to and above a litre a day and as they are sure footed they can reach those rocky outcrops or browse hilly terrain.
Miniature goats are very dog-like, and smart so can be taught manners and tricks and become part of the family. They are a fun, friendly, delightful, little animal for the whole family to enjoy.
Promoted predominantly as multi purpose animals and pets they are generally kept in smaller acreage areas than “commercial” goats; as such, it is highly preferred that animals do not have horns. Small children and the elderly find these relaxed, cute and intelligent little animals a pleasure to handle and husbandry skills are easily learned.
The kindergartens, schools and nursing homes of Australia just love it when the little goats pay them a visit. The displays we put on and the shows we run and attend are well visited by the public who love to engage with the goats. Keep an eye on our events to see when we are visiting your area.
MGA discourages Bucks (Entire Males) being sold as pets whereas Wethers (castrated males) are highly recommended.
Goats are not grazers, instead they prefer to browse on blackberry bushes, young gorse, a variety of thistles, trees and weeds. They will eat grass but are not grazers like sheep and cows so grass should not be their only diet. Miniature goat breeders and owners being hands on with their animals feed chaff, small amounts of grain and hay with mineral licks and supplement vitamins.
MGA breed standards have been endorsed by respected Australian Panel Judge, Mr Murray Grills with the assistance of our Committee and reputable MGA breeders. MGA believe the standards are simple and easy to follow and will assist in the continued promotion and consistent breeding of quality, hardy little goats.
Australian Miniature Goats
'Australian Miniature Goats are small in stature, big in personality'
Australian Miniature Goats have been around for over 20 years and gained their popularity through dedicated breeders promotion and their responsive and irresistible personalities.
Their conformation is similar to that of the larger breeds, with all parts of the body in balanced proportion and relative to their size. Each animal has it's own unique characteristics which differentiates them from each other. Ears, coat, colour and facial features are individual and animals may differ in length of leg, size and body shape. All coat types, colour combinations and all eye colours
are accepted.
Pygmy Goats
Pygmy goats are sturdy little nuggets with funny, aloof personalities.
They should be stout with thick little legs and exude strength throughout.
Pygmys are often referred to as ‘kegs’ on legs.
They are relatively new to Australia and semen was the first importation of the breed.
Semen was used to produce cross bred animals, mainly crossed with Australian Miniatures but also with Diary Goats.
With careful breeding practices these animals can and will be graded up over 5 generations to their true breed.
Purebred animals are also now in Australia and these too will be used to assist cross breeds to grade up to their true breed.
Health & Testing
CAE & Johnes Testing
In August 2014, Miniature Goats Australia took the unprecedented step within miniature goat circles to strongly recommend and encourage our members to test their herds for CAE & Johnes diseases. CAE & Johnes have been around for a long time and as a responsible breed association we feel this proactive step will help towards stamping out the spread of these diseases among miniature goats in Australia. MGA are pleased that other Miniature Goat Associations are following our lead.
We are proud to be promoting transparency in reporting cases, and to be seeking and making available as much information as possible. This way our members, and the wider community can make informed decisions. Ultimately, this testing gives purchasers peace of mind that their cherished animals will not one day be afflicted by these cruel diseases.