Australian Miniature Goat

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Breed: Australian Miniature Goat
Temperament: intelligent, hardy, gentle and friendly
Cost: from $400
Lifespan: can live well into their 20’s
Maintenance: low maintenance
Recommended for: alternative pet seekers, children, families

History

The Australian Miniature Goat officially became recognised as a breed in February 2000 when Sue Ludwig, after many years of breeding these tiny animals, decided to form The Australian Miniature Goat Club. The miniature goat has been bred as a pet, a companion animal, rather than for livestock production. There are now over 350 miniature goats registered in Australia.

Appearance

A seven year breeding program, using breeding stock selected for height and temperament, has resulted in this miniature version.The Australian Miniature Goat is bred mainly from Angora, Cashmere and Nubian breeds, combined with feral goats know as Australian Field Goats. It is not uncommon for feral goats to be much smaller in size than pedigreed stock, hence their suitability for developing a miniature strain.

Conformation is similar to that of the larger breeds, with all parts of the body supposed to be in proportion relative to its size. They are hardy, alert animals and come in all colours and colour combinations. Their recommended height range is from 43cm (17″) to 58cm (23″) for miniatures and up to 63cm (25″) for breeding stock. The Australian Miniature Goat is now recognised in all breed types and combinations. All types have horns.

Temperament and training

The miniatures are said to have a good temperament and are very ‘kind’ animals, provided they are reared correctly. Young goats (kids) must be handled whilst on the mum (a doe) and should ideally be bottle fed. Otherwise they will grow to be shy and unmanageable. Feral goats are not known to be easily handled, however Sue says that any kids born to feral goats are taken from their mum at an early age and bottle reared. This early exposure helps tame them.

These animals love human companionship and will often form close bonds with their family, including other pets. Sue says a miniature goat can be toilet trained and taught to lead, much the same as a dog. Food rewards work well and it is recommended to start their education early. Miniature goats should not be encouraged to play rough games and it is not recommended that they be left with children unsupervised.

Sue says there is no real variation in temperament across the breeds. However don’t let them into the garden, as all goats will eat almost any plants they get near. Goats can be nervous around other animals but will get used to them over time. Dogs must be well trained if permitted to run loose near any livestock.

Housing

These little animals rarely jump over fences but will squeeze through small gaps. Although a hardy animal, goats must have some form of weatherproof shelter and must also have access to fresh clean water.

Maintenance

Miniature goats require little additional feeding when grass and bush is readily available. Fresh hay should be supplied where grazing and browsing is unavailable. One biscuit of hay will feed three miniature goats for one day. Small amounts of grain may be given and fruit and vegetables are also enthusiastically accepted.

Health and lifespan

With such a varied mix of feral and pedigreed breeding, the miniature goat is a fairly robust animal. So much so that a healthy goat will live into it’s twenties. Regular worm treatment for internal parasites, an annual six-in-one vaccination and hoof trimming are generally the only health requirements needed. Leg and face deformities or pronounced over-or-underbite does occasionally occur in new-borns. These animals are assessed to determine their quality of life and are not used for breeding.

Breeding

Miniature goats are generally seasonal breeders. Pairing often occurs in late summer through early winter and the doe (female) will often come into season when the male (buck) is introduced. The female has an 18-21 day oestrus cycle or “season.” The doe’s ‘heat’ usually lasts from a few hours to a day or so. Pregnancy lasts five months. Twins are common, single or triplet births are not rare.

Ideal Owner

Goats are very affectionate animals and do not like being alone. It is recommended to keep two or more. When selecting a miniature goat, its healthy appearance should be obvious. They should be friendly and alert and have kind and docile temperaments. Horns are often troublesome but do make it easier to handle them. Teeth are only found on the bottom jaw and should be in good condition, lining up with the upper jaw’s pad. Animals can be purchased as “bottle babies”, from a few days of age, or from weaner age onwards.

Wethers (desexed males) make the best pets, as they do not come into season like females and they do not stink like the males. If you would prefer females so you can breed, keep two females or one female and a companion wether.

Their small size makes them very easy to manage, very easy to keep and they require much less space in comparison to their larger cousins. They are ideal for people living in alternative lifestyles, subsistence farmers and small families wanting a reasonable quantity of milk. They produce far less milk than their larger cousins, only 1-2 litres compared to 5-7 litres.
Further information

We filmed this segment in Queensland with Sue Ludwig, Australian Miniature Goat breeder and founder of the Australian Miniature Goat Club. Sue can be contacted on (07) 5543 0294.

Web: http://groups.msn.com/CWASR/australianminiaturegoats.msnw