Australian Miniature Goat Association Inc (AMGA) Official Breed Association of the Australian Miniature Goat

Heights - The Real Picture

The Australian Miniature Goat is a height breed, with the ideal height being between 43cm (17”) and 50.8cm (20”) at the wither (shoulder). As the breed is in development, there are very few truly small animals available and even fewer proven genetically small who throw genetically small. This is important, particularly for those intending to breed. In order to get small animals, you need to start with genetically small animals. It is important to ensure you are buying good quality, healthy stock and avoid animals that may be stunted due to nutritional reasons rather than genetics. New buyers should also be aware that there is a substantial difference between a 50.8cm (20”) goat and a 58.5cm (23") goat and a VERY substantial difference between a 50.8cm (20”) goat and a 63.5cm (25").

It is also important to understand that just because an animal may be small itself, it is no guarantee that the animal will produce equally small progeny. To understand this further you should look into phenotype and genotype genetics. The best indication into an animals genetics is often seen in the progeny it has produced, although obviously it is not visually possible to determine which parent is responsible for each half of a kids genes.

To help new buyers, we have compiled some visual indications of the difference between goats of different sizes. Using three shots of a 45cm (17.25”), a 50cm (19.75”) and a 58cm (23”) goats, we have superimposed them to show the difference.

On average, a 58.5cm goat weighs twice as much as a 46cm goat (e.g. approx 28-30kg as opposed to approx 15-16kg), is at least twice as strong, eats that much more, impacts substantially more on paddocks and fencing and requires larger housing. Think before you buy, check out what you are being sold.

The above photo shows a 45cm animal superimposed over a 58cm animal. Note the overall difference in body mass as well as height and length. The photos below are the original photos before being superimposed to create the above image.
The above photo shows a 50cm animal superimposed over a 58cm animal. Note the overall difference in body mass as well as height and length. The photos below are the original photos before being superimposed to create the above image.

(Note: Each photo was taken in the same spot using a tripod mounted camera so that the positions remain consistent for each photo. The milk crate was used to give context and is used in both the original and superimposed image to show the images are identical in context as it was the 'match' point when superimposing one photo over the other)

Our advice to all potential purchasers of miniature goats or miniature bred kids is to ‘be sceptical’. There are sellers who misrepresent the age and/or size of their animals and others who don’t accurately measure their animals. There are others who sell goats as 'miniatures' simply because they are breeders who happened to have a one-off kid who remained small/stunted. We strongly encourage purchasers to take charge and ensure they measure animals for themselves or have it measured in front of you. Buyers looking for breeding stock should be particularly careful and not simply rely on the seller's word for what the animal's height is. Breeders who are confident in their heights will be only too happy to help you measure an animal prior to buying it.

When buying a kid, don't rely on assurances that 'it should only grow to about this size'. If you cannot see parents, grandparents and other siblings, at best such assurances are merely guesses. Kids sold as bottle babies are far too often miniature goat lottery tickets with the seller having no legitimate basis to make any claim as to its eventual height. If you are looking for a pet and size is not critical to you, then this may be a viable option, if you are a breeder and your aim is to breed smaller animals, we strongly recommend looking at mature animals, ideally ones who are proven with progeny already on the ground.

We also recommend purchasers are wary of breeders claiming to have a 'height reducing buck'. Unless there are at least 3-4 generations of proven kids, such claims are merely wishful thinking. Genetically, there is no way of knowing what 'height' genes an animal has other than by testing its offspring and its offsprings offspring etc. The more generations one has documented evidence on, the more reliable such claims may prove to be.

Remember one important point - no matter what anyone 'tells' you about an animal, no matter what 'grade' it is, its genetics are all that matter. No matter what you 'wish' it to be, it is what it is.

All text and images contained herein are owned by and are copyright © 2005-9 Australian Miniature Goat Association Inc (AMGA). None of the contents of this site may be reproduced or republished except where written permission is given by the AMGA.