Pygora Goat

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.

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.

Pygoras live from 12-14 years and are commonly used as pets along with being show, breeding, and fiber-producing animals. Pygoras can also be milked, producing about one liter per day.

Fleece

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 fibers 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 fibers are typically less than 28 microns in diameter.

Type-B fleece fibers average between 3 to 6 inches in length with one, possibly two, guard hairs. The fibers are usually less than 24 µm in diameter.

Type-C fleece is very fine, typically 1 to 3 inches in length and less than 18.5 µm in diameter.

Primary uses

Pygora fiber is frequently used by fiber artists for spinning, spindling, knitting, crocheting, weaving, tapestries, and other fiber arts. It is also commonly used in clothing.

External links

* [http://www.pba-pygora.com/ Pygora Breeders Association]

References

* [http://www.pygoragoats.org/AboutPBA.html About Pygora goats]