Guest Author - Joy Rogerson

Article contributed by guest author:
Joy Rogerson, BS, Animal Science, Texas A&M

Pygmy goats are one of the easiest and best animals to have and own. Goats are herd animals that do well with kids, dogs, and other animals. They are very curious and playful; climbing, jumping and investigating keeps them quite busy. Pygmy goats also make wonderful lap pets. Some will even let you dress them up like dolls, learn tricks or be trained to walk on a leash.

If you are looking to purchase a pygmy goat for you or your children the first few questions to ask yourself are:

• Do you have the yard space, shelter and fence needed?
• Can you supply him with goat feed, hay and grass ALL year long?
• Can you give the vaccinations & worming medications yourself or do you have a veterinarian that is in your area that will see goats or other ruminants?

One half to a full acre with good forage can be suitable for 2-4 pygmy goats. Goats also need a nutritionally complete feed just for goats; other animal feeds can contain too much or too little essential amino acids, vitamins, minerals, proteins, fats and other nutrients that can harm your goat over a period of time. Pygmy goats also do well with igloo type doghouses for shelter. All goats should be vaccinated, wormed and have preventive health care procedures such as regular fecal exams and lice preventions. These regular scheduled vaccinations and treatments are time consuming, but worth it to keep your goats and your family healthy. Many people have been told “they (goats) don’t need any shots or worming! Just put them (goats) in your yard and they will eat all your weeds….they don’t need extra feed or shelter!” Several had their new goats die and were heart broken because they had already become attached to their new friend.

Selecting a goat breeder:
• Ask the breeder about their vaccination, worming and lice prevention schedules.
• Ask if they have a written health record of the animal.
• Ask what products they use for worming, what type of vaccinations and where to get the products.
• Ask about hoof trimming and other grooming needs and how to do them yourself.
• Ask the breeder about feeds, hays and grasses in your area and mineral supplements.
Think twice about purchasing from someone who cannot provide you with the documentation and answers. A good, reliable breeder will also help you select the type of goat that is right for you and your family, not just try to sell you what they have available. Most people do not realize that bucks start maturing around 4 months old. If they have horns they can start doing damage to property or butting and hitting people (which could be especially dangerous for the young or elderly). Most Bucks are not even butting with their horns to be aggressive, they are just playing very hard, but they can still do harm or damage. They can also start “rutting” which is when a male goat urinates on his face, chest and legs. They start smelling very bad (to attract Does) along with their hair becoming sticky to the touch. This smell usually does not come off with a bath. After a few weeks the children, that had an adorable pet, do not want to play or touch him any longer… the animal is usually given away or sold because the parents did not know about owning a young buck and the breeder did not inform them. Wethers (castrated males) or does (females) should always be sold to a family looking for a wonderful pet, never a young Buck!

Wolf Ridge Ranch - Home of Joy Rogerson's "kids"