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Australian
Miniature Goats
General Information
It
is important to understand that even though we advertise our
animals under the name of "Australian Miniature Goats",
our animals are only "Grade Stock" (crossbreds)
and we are still in the developmental stage of producing the
"Purebred" Miniature animal.
We select smaller animals that have good conformation, preferably
from lines that are known to be small (and do not use animals
that have been nutritionally challenged- stunted). We pair
them with other small animals that "compliment"
each other to produce offspring that are closer to our ideal.
We are still in the "experimental" stages of breed
development, but are pleased to see most of our young Does
from earlier pairings are now being 3 & 4 year height
verified, with most of them now coming in under height and
qualifying for Grading under Australian Miniature Goat Rules.
Our lower Grade bucks (& wethers) are still very close
to the line, with many just an inch or two, over height. Many
of these "Overheight" bucks have been used in the
past, to produce some really outstanding does that are now
producing small youngstock of their own.
We recommend that anyone serious about wanting to breed
their own miniature goats, join the
Miniature
Goat Breeders Association of Australia Inc they
have a wealth of information collected and supplied by their
breeders and have an interactive messageboard that members
Australia wide can link up on.
Temperament:
Intelligent hardy, gentle and friendly
Cost: the cost will depend on the size, type, temperament,
sex and grade of the animal.
Wethers are usually from $75 - $150 and are highly sort
after when on the bottle. Older "show" wethers
may cost a little more and "grass eaters"
a little less.
Does usually start at $250 (on the bottle) and may fetch
as much as $650, depending on their potential Grade
and the height of her parents (at 3yrs).
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Bucks,
especially good quality ones, are often hard to get hold of
and prices often start at about $450. Ideally, his parents
should BOTH be 3yr height verified (and be as small
as possible).
Lifespan: can live well into their 20's
and some have been known to live into their thirties.
Maintenance: most mini goats are low maintenance.
They need to have their little feet trimmed every 6-8 weeks
depending on the ground that they run around on.
They love to be brushed and can be bathed every now and again
if they get grubby. They will need to be de-wormed every 3-6
months and we vaccinate ours every 12 months.
Ideal Owner: Their small size makes them very easy to
manage, very easy to keep and they require much less space
in comparison to their larger counterparts. They are great
for people living in alternative lifestyles, subsistence farmers
and small families wanting a smaller amount of milk. They
are cheaper to keep than a dog and are quite happy to be left
"out the back" provided they have fresh water and
access to grass/weeds.
Recommended for: miniature goats are great for the alternative
pet seekers, they are wonderful with children as their smaller
size makes them much easier to handle and they blend well
into family life. They are great alternative pets for the
"backyard" hobbyist.
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History:
The Australian Miniature Goat
Club was launched in February of 2000 by Sue Ludwig,
after many years of breeding these tiny animals.
A group of enthusiast that had been introduced to the
breed, worked together to promote and develop the breed.
Together these people collected information, set "Breed
Standards" and formed a "Breeders Network"
to market their stock. |
Appearance: The Australian Miniature Goat is a genetically
small animal.
Its conformation is similar to that of the larger breeds,
with all parts of the body in balanced proportion relative
to its size. They are hardy, alert animals with impeccable
temperaments that come in all colours and colour combinations.
Their recommended height range is from 18" to 21".
The Australian Miniature Goat is recognised in four breed
types, Elf, Pixie, Munchkin and Nuwby.
Acquiring Animals: Goats are very affectionate animals
and do not like being alone so it is recommended that two
or more be kept. It is important that you tell the Breeder/
Seller how you intend to keep the goat, as animals need to
be matched to their owners and to their living conditions.
They do like companionship so if you decide that you only
want one, they do make great little mates for the lonely old
horse or cow and often form strong bonds with the other family
pets.
DON'T RUSH IN!
Most
"Genuine Breeders" will encourage you to think about
your prospective purchase, some will even recommend other
Studs that you should visit, and most will encourage you to
look up information so you have an idea of what your looking
for and the requirements for keeping them.
On finding the animal you have been looking for, check the
general appearance and health of the animal, they should appear
healthy, friendly and alert and have kind and docile temperaments.
You will need to contact your local DPI and ask for a Property
Identification Code if you intend on keeping goats.
All
animals sold as PETS should be disbudded and regardless
of what some people will tell you, most will agree that
horns on pet goats or on animals kept and / or fed in
confined areas are dangerous. Horns are often troublesome
even though they often make it easier to handle goats.
A simple cuddle could end up being a nasty bruise and
many little friends have caught their horns in their
mate's collar while having a friendly rub, with disastrous
results. But I suppose that is the difference between
keeping these little guys as "huggable family
pets" or just keeping a handful of "grass-eaters"
in the paddock down the back.
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Animals
can be purchased as "bottle
babies" from a few days of
age or from weaner age onwards.
Heights: It is possible to get "caught" with
young goats being "passed off" as Miniatures. Unfortunately,
you really cannot tell the difference between young goats
that will grow big and young goats that will stay small and
neither can many Breeders. It is always best to deal with
a registered breeder and make sure that you can see the animals
that they are breeding with, the parents of the animal you
are considering and any other brothers and sisters if possible.
Temperament and Training: Goats, in general, are one
of the most intelligent breeds of livestock. These animals
love human companionship and will often form close bonds with
their family, including other pets. Food rewards work well
in teaching them and early education is by far the best. Miniature
goats can be taught to lead, stand up, jump up, and can be
taught a lot of things that a dog can, including toilet training.
Handlers should strive towards maintaining a reasonable level
of discipline and use common sense when "trick"
training. Miniature goats should not be encouraged to play
rough games and it is not recommended that they be left with
young "children" unsupervised.
At the end of the day, miniature goats are animals and as
such we would highly recommend that they be raised out of
the house, be allowed to run around outside and if not kept
with another goat (or goats), have access to other safe and
friendly companions (other than humans).
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