When I first started looking into goats I noticed there were many different goat soceities. I had no idea which one I should join or what sort of breed would suit my plan. It was all a bit overwhelming. In the end my focus was to purchase a pair close to home and get started with understanding good goat husbandry skills.
I purchased two sisters Tess & Claire from a local breeder, they were 3 months old. This is where the fun began. I spent lots of time reading and chatting to goat people. Learning lots along the way and yes making some minor mistakes, nothing major thank goodness. Before I knew it I had gathered myself 10 ladies all different types. Some miniature and some pygmy cross. Over time I realised that my eye enjoyed seeing the pygmy type of goat, a smaller thicker type than the miniature. There are many different goat societies out there – which one/s were for me?
Did you know they all have different rules and regulations. It is best to research which ones would suit your needs. Just to break it down here are some within Australia the MGA – MGBA – AABMGS – NPGAA.
Lals Haven Stud decided to join MGA – MGBA -AAMGS & NPGAA lol, yes I started with being apart of them all and deciding along the way what suited my needs. Nowdays I am with MGBA & NGPAA. What do all these letters mean? Well ‘ MGBA = Miniature Goat Breeders Association of Australia Inc & NPGAA = National Pygmy Goat Association of Australia.
Both societies have very dedicated goat experts and are different in terms of what you need to fulfill when doing certain things with your goats. MGBA have a few stipulations regading pygmy goats and you can find all the details here . I am very keen on the DNA side of things regarding animal breeding. I like to know 100% that the animals are by the dams and sires we say. There is no guessing or human error. NPGAA do not have the same stipulations – they have other requirements and guidlines which you can find here.
It is a personal preference as to what you do as a goat wonder-breeder.. I say ,“do what suits you”.
In a nutshell do you know what fully DNA verified – approved means?
In my opinion it is a personal choice as a breeder whether you want to have the 100% knowing that the pygmy goat you purchase is in fact by the progeny stipulated on the registration papers.
At Lals Haven Goat Stud we pride ourselves in having all our goats DNA approved-verified. If you buy a pygmy goat from our farm it will possess registration and DNA papers.
Your prized pygmy’s % ( percentage) stipulated on the certificate will be 100% true.
Approved means the DNA certification has been completed for this single animal alone-a hair sample has been sent to the lab and tested. Now having its own DNA number. Therefore all its progeny moving forwards can be checked off by this DNA hair sample on file.
Not all of this particular animals parentage-family tree ( breeding ) has been be found or sourced – to have a DNA hair sample number therefore it cannot be fully verified. Sometimes you can be fortunate to find some DNA hair record sampling on pygmy goats within the family line and you are able to receive percentages % that way.
EG- Lorcourt Freddy Mercury pictured below – he is 62.5% pygmy approved with NPGAA and 28.12% DNA verified with MGBA
Some of his family tree on his registration papers do not have DNA hair samples on file , therefore we do not know 100% that they are in fact his breeding. We can only confirm – guarantee 28.12% of the 62.5% on his registration papers.
Fully verified- or verified means this animal has full DNA certification of its lineage-parentage on the family tree-registration papers. We can confirm this goat is by the parentage stipulated on the registration certificate. This pygmy goat and his lineage-breeding all have a DNA number on file.
Bucks and does are relative to DNA hair sampling. To work out how much % percentage your kid will have when it is born. You simply add the two % together and half it.
eg- Buck 50% – doe 50% = 100% therefore the kid will be 50%
The question is will it be 50% verified or approved ?
At Lals Haven Goat Stud we choose our stock by what we like to see – colour & type. Sure percentages are important to us. We are striving for our all our herd to be fully DNA verified. For now we have a mixture of both so make sure you enjoy the journey and make the most of loving your gorgeous goats-we sure do !
