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History
of the
Australian Miniature Goat
The
Idea
After several failed attempts to import miniature goats from
overseas, I decided that I was going to try to create a miniature
goat breed here in Australia, the Dwarf Goat was what I was
basing my ideas on, tiny goats with upright ears and very
similar to our Australian milking goats, only in miniature.
The
Club
I explained my plans to try to breed mini goats and
to set up a club for anyone interested in breeding them.
Information on heights and growth rates was collected
from various sources and a committee was formed so that
a Club could be started. The Australian Miniature Goat
Club (now AMGR) was officially launched (Feb 2000),
with 4 members and thus the "Australian Miniature
Goat" was born. |
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The
Register
By May 2000, with 4 more enthusiasts keen to join, I converted
records I had kept into a small register and opened it to
all. The group was set up to help unite breeders and keepers,
that wanted to become involved in the hobby. Over the years
that followed, standards were set and modified and a Grade
system was introduced to form guidelines for the development
of this new little breed.
The Breeds
The Australian Miniature Goat Breed was originally set up
as individual minis of each breed. We approached the Agricultural
Societies to look into getting our mini breeds recognised
and we were told that the Standard sized Dairy goat breeds
would not accept us (under their breed names). In addition
to this, the fact was that we could not produce full blood
mini Saanen, Toggenburg, British Alpine or Anglo Nubians.
These tall breeds had to be crossed several times with the
smaller Cashmere, feral or angora to get our heights down
(under 23").
Thus the "DESIGNER" goat was born.
Like many of the new dog/cat/cow breeds, it was up to the
Breeders to come up with "fitting" names for their
animals. At that stage the dozen or so Breeders involved in
the production of the Australian Miniature goat were breeding
for one of the three original types. Together we came up with
the name "NUWBY" for animals that had the characteristic
long pendulous ears and shorter coat. The name "SHELTIE",
was chosen for the angora crosses, as it was already the name
of a long haired dog and guinea pig breeds. "STANDARDS"
was the name given to what we now call "Pixies",
as many were bred from standard sized Saanen, British Alpine
or Toggenburg goats with upright ears. August 2000, heights
were set for Grades.
Toward the end of 2001, with 21 members, the committee slowly
dissolved due to family commitments and other associated problems.
I was left to manage the Club on my own. I struggled to keep
the group alive through 2002. With two children under two
and quite a large number of animals, I was forced to drastically
reduce my own herd (goats and horses) to balance family time
and club needs. Another 12 Breeders joined the program during
this time. Another "interim" committee was established,
only to dissolve prior to the first meeting being held.
The CWASR
Late in 2002, worried that the workload was becoming too much
and with family commitments of my own, I approached the "Countrywide
Whatsize All Species Registry" owned by Marlene Weis,
a privately owned registry, (open to all species including
dogs, horses, guinea pigs etc) and asked if they would maintain
the register for our goats. I was asked to handled/operate
the group's small number of goat registrations until a database
could be set up for them. Due to circumstances beyond their
control, the database could not be set up, so I continued
on processing applications for the goats. So although the
mini goat Certificates changed, they were still being done
"in-house".
I became editor for the CWASR and after negotiations, the
rear half of the CWASR Newsletter was allocated to Australian
Miniature Goats. I was able to increase Breed promotion spending
much of my free time handing out information at local shows
and farmers markets and leaving brochures at vets and produce
stores. 25 more Breeders signed up taking the number of registered
Enthusiasts to 58.
Re-forming the Australian Miniature Goat
Club
Midway through 2003, a "mini goat meeting" was held,
few came, but the ones who did were keen to see the registry
handled independently again. With the group growing quite
fast now, many Breeders were keen to branch back off from
the CWASR and re-form the Australian Miniature Goat Group
again, although very few wanted an active role in the running
of things due to their own family commitments. I discussed
the ideal with Marlene (CWASR) who was happy to offer lots
of helpful advice.
Then on the 19th October 2003 at an informal "get together"
after a fun day put on by us, at which Simone O'Brien (Bouncing
Hooves), Terry & Debbie Watson (Just Kiddin) and Jenny
Went (Kyeamba) attended, I asked some of the other enthusiasts
if they would be interested in helping out, to try to spread
the workload and to get some "Real" marketing and
breed promotion done. Some ideas were tossed around and Terry
Watson suggested that the group become an Association. Jenny,
Debbie & Terry offered to look into the requirements for
this.
Official Registration of the Australian
Miniature Goat Registry
Time passed. Other enthusiastic Breeders offered suggestions,
but unfortunately they were too busy to help out too. With
the backing and support of many of the original Breeders and
on friendly advise from Marlene, I sort legal advise with
regards to branching off from the CWASR and on having ownership
of the Australian Miniature Goat records that I had carefully
collected and maintained, transferred back to me. So, on the
3rd of November 2003, after successfully negotiating with
the CWASR for the return of the records, we officially registered
the Australian Miniature Goat Registry, with the Department
of Fair Trading as a privately owned business, ensuring that
ownership of records and information was clearly identified
as belonging to me, (Sue Ludwig). The Office was inundated
with positive, supportive feedback.
Forming the Australian Miniature Goat Association
In early 2004 starting an association was discussed again.
I explained that work was needed on Breed promotion, organising
shows, fun days etc and lots of help and support with the
newsletter was needed. On the 15th of April 2004, the AMGA
Inc was officially opened. I was elected for President, Jenny
Went nominated for Secretary, Debbie Watson accepted Treasurer,
Simone O'Brien was elected as the fourth Board Member. Over
the months that followed, the breed standards were changed,
heights were reduced and rules were modified.
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FOUNDING
BOARD MEMBERS of the Australian Miniature Goat Association
Inc.
Formed April 2004
PATONA PARK, A & S Ludwig, Boyland, QLD
4275 President, RESIGNED 2004
BOUNCING HOOVES, S. O'Brien, Canungra, QLD
4275, RESIGNED 2004
KYEAMBA, J. Went, SECRETARY
JUST KIDDIN, T & D. Watson, TREASURER /
REGISTRAR
SERENDIPITY, S. Groth & M. Collins, Blackbutt,
QLD 4306 RESIGNED 2004
YATTARNA, S. Junee, Stanwell Tops, NSW 2508,
RESIGNED 2004
AMGR Breeders that became AMGA Members (in addition
to those listed above)
MUNCHKINS, O & A Wheelaghan, Kallangur,
QLD 4503, out of goats 2006
KID LEA, J, K & N Van Ingen, Beachmere,
QLD 4510, LEFT 2004
BONVILLE, T. Wood, Bonville, NSW 2441
PICKWIL, W. Pickles, Regency Downs, Q4341
BIG BELL FARM B. Henke, Kangaroo Valley, NSW
2577
ELFIN, I & G Murray, Seaview, VIC 3821,
out of goats 2006
GOATSINBERRY, M & T Ziebell, Berry, NSW
2535, LEFT 2005
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Half way through 2004, Stephen resigned from the board, followed
closely by myself. I felt that the essence of the original
club had been lost and that the ideas and new objectives were
about business and not about the "hobbyist".
By the end of 2004, Simone O'Brien handed in her resignation
as a board member, followed by Sue Junee. After being approached
by another group of "hobbyist's", I informed the
Association that plans had been made to re-start the Registry.
I believed that the aims of the original group had been lost
and that two distinct groups had formed. They wished us all
the best.
AMGR Re-Started
In January 2005, the AMGR was officially re-started with the
support of many of the original Breeders. All of the rules
(prior to the AMGA) were put back in place and over the months
that followed, several of the AMGR Breeders helped to "fine
tune" the existing Breed Standards.
20 new Breeding Studs applied to register with the AMGR between
Jan & Dec 2005. The AMGR message board is inundated with
messages with general friendly goat chatter between a great
group of friends.
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