Pygora goat

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A Pygora at the Oregon Zoo

The Pygora goat is a cross between the Pygmy goat and the Angora goat that produces three distinct kinds of fleece and has the smaller size of the Pygmy.

[edit] History

The Pygora was a purposeful cross, bred by Katharine Jorgensen of Oregon City, Oregon. In 1987, the Pygora Breeders Association was formed in the United States, and has since then been registering and promoting Pygoras. Today, the registered Pygora goat may not be more than 75% AAGBA-registered Angora goat or 75% NPGA-registered Pygmy goat.

[edit] Characteristics

Pygoras live from 12-14 years, and are commonly used as pets, along with being show, breeding, and fibre-producing animals. Pygora fibre is frequently used by artists for spinning, spindling, knitting, crocheting, weaving, tapestries, and other fibre arts. It is also commonly used in clothing. Pygoras can also be milked, producing about one litre per day.

Registered Pygora goats will produce cashmere-like fleece (Classified as Type-C), a mohair-like fleece (Type-A), or a combination of the two fleeces (Type-B). Type-A fleece is composed of fibres averaging 6 or more inches in length that drape in ringlets. It may occur as a single coat, but a silky guard hair is usually present. The fibres are typically less than 28 micrometres in diameter. Type-B fleece fibres average between 3 to 6 inches (150 mm) in length with one, possibly two, guard hairs. The fibres are usually less than 24 µm in diameter. Type-C fleece is very fine, typically 1 to 3 inches (76 mm) in length and less than 18.5 µm in diameter.