American Pygmy

2025-10-05T12:25:44Z

2601:6C1:903:1AA0:A563:DB77:F44A:84EF: /* Characteristics */

{{Short description|American breed of goat}}
{{use dmy dates|date=December 2019}}
{{use list-defined references|date=December 2019}}
{{Infobox goat breed
| name = American Pygmy
| image = Pygmy Goat At Las Vegas Zoo.JPG
| image_size =
| image_alt =
| image_caption = At [[Las Vegas Zoo]]
| status = {{ubl|[[FAO]] (2007): endangered{{r|barb|page=142}}|[[DAD-IS]] (2023): at risk{{r|dad}}}}
| altname = {{ubl|Pygmy Goat|African Pygmy{{r|cabi|page=355}}}}
| country = United States
| distribution =
| standard = [https://www.npga-pygmy.com/resources/conformation/BREED%20STANDARD%20June%202015.pdf National Pygmy Goat Association]
| use =
| weight = 23–39 kg{{r|cabi|page=355}}
| maleweight =
| femaleweight =
| height = 40–50 cm{{r|cabi|page=355}}
| maleheight =
| femaleheight =
| skincolor =
| woolcolor =
| facecolor =
| horns = horned in both sexes
| beard = {{ubl|male: abundant|female: absent or sparse}}
| tassels =
| note =
}}

The '''American Pygmy''' is an American [[list of goat breeds|breed]] of [[achondroplastic]] (dwarf) [[goat]]. It is small, compact and stockily built. Like the [[Nigerian Dwarf]], it derives from the [[West African Dwarf (goat)|West African Dwarf]] group of breeds of West Africa.{{r|cabi|page=355|sandy|page2=35}} Between 1930 and 1960, animals of this type were imported to the United States for use either as zoo animals or for research; some were later kept and bred as [[companion animals]] and established as a breed in 1975.{{r|cabi|page=355|jan|page2=40}}

It may also be known as the '''Pygmy''' or '''African Pygmy'''. It is quite different and separate from the British [[Pygmy (UK goat breed)|Pygmy]] breed.

== History ==

Between about 1930 and 1960 a variety of small goats of the [[West African Dwarf (goat)|West African Dwarf]] group of breeds of West Africa were imported from zoos in Germany to the United States, to be exhibited in zoos or used as [[research animal]]s.{{r|cabi|page=355|jan|page2=40}} Some came into the hands of private breeders who kept and bred them as [[companion animal]]s.{{r|cabi|page=355}} By the 1970s, two distinct types had developed: one broad, compact and solid like the original African stock, the other more delicate, much like a dairy goat in miniature.{{r|jan|page=39}} The latter became the [[Nigerian Dwarf]], while the former became the American Pygmy, for which a [[breed society]] was established in 1975, and a [[herd book]] started in the same year.{{r|cabi|page=355|jan|page2=39}}

In 2007 the [[conservation status]] of the American Pygmy was listed by the [[Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations]] as "endangered".{{r|barb|page=142}} In 2023 its [[transboundary breed|transboundary]] risk level was listed in the [[DAD-IS]] breed database as "at risk";{{r|dad}} its risk level in the United States is unknown – no population data has ever been reported to DAD-IS by the [[United States Department of Agriculture]].{{r|dad}} In 2019 it was not on the [[heritage breed]] watchlist of the [[Livestock Conservancy]].{{r|tlc}}

Two modern American breeds derive in part from the American Pygmy: the [[Kinder (goat)|Kinder]] was created by [[cross-breeding]] with the [[Nubian (goat)|Nubian]], the [[Pygora goat|Pygora]] from crossing with [[Angora (goat)|Angora]] stock.{{r|cabi|page=355|jan|page2=40}}

== Characteristics ==

The American Pygmy is small and stocky, with heavy bone: height at the [[withers]] is usually in the range {{convert|40|to|50|cm|in|abbr=on|0}}, with weights of the order of {{convert|25|to|40|kg|lb|abbr=on|round=5}}.{{r|cabi|page=355}} Seven color variations are recognised in the [[breed standard]]: caramel with black markings, caramel with brown markings, brown [[Agouti (coloration)|agouti]], grey agouti, black agouti, black with white markings, and solid black.{{r|npga}}

It is [[polyestrous]], prolific and [[precocial|precocious]] – kids may become sexually mature at two months. [[Gestation]] normally lasts 145–153 days.{{r|npga2}}

== Use ==

The American Pygmy is reared for [[goat's meat|meat]] or as a [[companion animal]]; many are kept in zoos.{{r|dad|jan|page2=40}} Because of its small size and ease of handling it may be used for scientific research; it has been found to be a good producer of [[antibodies]] for [[immunological]] research.{{r|usda|page=1|ilar|page2=21}}

==References==
{{commonscat}}
{{reflist|45em|refs=

<ref name=barb>Barbara Rischkowsky, Dafydd Pilling (editors) (2007). [https://web.archive.org/web/20200623201209/http://www.fao.org/3/a1250e/annexes/List%20of%20breeds%20documented%20in%20the%20Global%20Databank%20for%20Animal%20Genetic%20Resources/List_breeds.pdf List of breeds documented in the Global Databank for Animal Genetic Resources], annex to [https://web.archive.org/web/20170110125634/http://www.fao.org/3/a-a1250e.pdf ''The State of the World's Animal Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture'']. Rome: Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. {{isbn|9789251057629}}. Archived 23 June 2020.</ref>

<ref name=cabi>Valerie Porter, Lawrence Alderson, Stephen J.G. Hall, D. Phillip Sponenberg (2016). [https://books.google.it/books?id=2UEJDAAAQBAJ&hl=en ''Mason's World Encyclopedia of Livestock Breeds and Breeding''] (sixth edition). Wallingford: CABI. {{ISBN|9781780647944}}.</ref>

<ref name=dad>[https://dadis-breed-datasheet-ext-ws.firebaseapp.com/?country=USA&specie=Goat&breed=American%20Pygmy&lang=en Breed data sheet: American Pygmy / United States of America (Goat)]. Domestic Animal Diversity Information System of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Accessed May 2023.</ref>

<ref name=ilar>Linda K. Fulton, Melody S. Clarke, Harold E. Farris (1994). [https://academic.oup.com/ilarjournal/article/36/2/21/736519 The Goat as a Model for Biomedical Research and Teaching]. ''ILAR Journal''. '''36''' (2): 21–29. {{doi|10.1093/ilar.36.2.21}}. {{issn|1084-2020}}. {{subscription required}}.</ref>

<<ref name=jan>Janet Vorwald Dohner (2001). ''The Encyclopedia of Historic and Endangered Livestock and Poultry Breeds''. New Haven: Yale University Press. {{isbn|9780300138139}}.</ref>

<ref name=npga>[https://www.npga-pygmy.com/resources/conformation/BREED%20STANDARD%20June%202015.pdf NPGA Breed Standard]. National Pygmy Goat Association. Accessed December 2019.</ref>

<ref name=npga2>[https://www.npga-pygmy.com/resources/health/normal_values.asp Normal Values]. National Pygmy Goat Association. Accessed December 2019.</ref>

<ref name=sandy>N.K. Gurung and S.G. Solaiman (2010). [https://books.google.it/books?id=NryKDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA277&hl=en Goat Breeds]. In: Sandra Golpashini Solaiman (editor) (2010). ''Goat Science and Production''. Ames, Iowa: Wiley-Blackwell. {{isbn|9780813820620}}, pages 21–38.</ref>

<ref name=tlc>[https://web.archive.org/web/20190824031510/https://livestockconservancy.org/index.php/heritage/internal/conservation-priority-list Conservation Priority List] The Livestock Conservancy. Archived 24 August 2019.</ref>

<ref name=usda>D.R. Lincicome, A.G. Hall (1984). [https://books.google.it/books?id=QtwOAQAAMAAJ&hl=en The Pygmy]. In: George Friedrich Wilhelm Haenlein, Donald L. Ace (editors) (1984). ''Extension Goat Handbook''. Washington, D.C.: Extension Service, United States Department of Agriculture. Section B-7: 1–4.</ref>

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{{Goat breeds of Canada and the United States}}

[[Category:Goat breeds]]
[[Category:Goat breeds originating in the United States]]

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American Pygmy