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Australian Miniature Goat Association
Inc Official Breed Association of the Australian Miniature Goat |
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Australian Miniature Goat Association
Inc Official Breed Association of the Australian Miniature Goat |
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As of 31st March, 2007 the AMGA accepts registrations for ALL Australian Miniature Goats and to enable members to register all animals with the one registry, we now accept the standards set by the Australian Miniature Goat Registry (AMGR) which will be classified as Type 2. The standards set for Type 2 will be equivalent to the current AMGR standards at 1st Jan, 2007 and as changed from time to time.
Note: The AMGA should have details on most registered animals prior to late 2004 and details for all animals registered by AMGA breeders to present. When registering any animal under Type 2 classification, if the AMGA does not have registration details for any sire/dam; grandsire/dam etc, the person registering the animal will be required to obtain certified details of those animals from either their current owner or the AMGR to enable the additional lineage to be recorded and the animals grade to be assessed accordingly.
*The standards information summarised below was adapted from the AMGR standards and was current at 1st January, 2007. For full detail of the standards current at any given time, please refer to the AMGR.
As at 1st January, 2007 the AMGR Australian Miniature Goat has
five different breed types with their own individual 'breed' characteristics
:
Elf
Pixie
Munchkin
Nuwby
Sheltie
Below is a general overview of each of these breed standards. As the
standards appear to change regularly, we will attempt to keep updated but current
specifics should be obtained from AMGR.
The general conformation standards are also detailed as they relate to the overall breed.
Conformation is similar to that of the larger breeds with all parts of the
body in balance proportion relative to its size. It should be slightly longer
in the body in comparison to its height. They are hardy, alert animals with
impeccable temperaments. There are two ear types:
Gopher ear with a maximum length of 2.5cm (1”) is accepted but preferably
nonexistent and with very little or no cartilage. The end of the ear should
be turned up or down.
Elf ear with a maximum length of 5cm (2”) is accepted, the end of
the ear should be turned up or turned down and cartilage shaping the small ear
is allowed.
Height must not exceed 60cm for Bucks, 57cm for Does at Purebred standard. Each
animal must conform to the ideal breed standard and have 2 registered minimum
Grade A parents of the same type.
Conformation is similar to that of the larger breeds with all parts of the
body in balance proportion relative to its size. Based predominantly on crosses
from Saanen, British Alpine & Toggenburg although can be of any breed type
as long as it has ears and face profile of the standard. They are hardy, alert
animals with impeccable temperaments. The Pixie may be crossed from any breed
type as long as the goat looks like a Pixie and has ears and facial profile
as described in the breed standard. Pixie ears are medium in length, rigid,
open, upright held even with or above the level of the eye, tubular in appearance
and are held out from the head.
Height must not exceed 60cm for Bucks, 57cm for Does at Purebred standard. Each
animal must conform to the ideal breed standard and have 2 registered minimum
Grade A parents of the same type.
Conformation similar to that of the larger breeds, with all parts of the body
relative to its size. Based predominantly on crosses from Kalahari & Boer
although can be of any breed type as long as it has ears and face profile of
the standard. Any ratio of miniature to Boer/Kalahari is acceptable as long
as the goat looks like a Munchkin and has ears and facial profile as described
in the breed standard. Munchkin ears are short and flat, folding downwards and
not extending past the point midway between the level of the eye and the top
of the nostril.
Height must not exceed 60cm for Bucks, 57cm for Does at Purebred standard. Each
animal must conform to the ideal breed standard and have 2 registered minimum
Grade A parents of the same type.
Conformation is similar to that of the larger breeds with all parts of the
body in balance proportion relative to its size. The Nuwby is ideally an exotic
animal with a high, proud head-carriage and upright stance. Based predominantly
on crosses from Anglo Nubian, Kalahari & Boer although can be of any breed
type as long as it has ears and face profile of the standard. They are hardy,
alert animals with impeccable temperaments. Any ratio of miniature to Anglo
Nubian, Kalahari and Boer is acceptable as long as the goat looks like a Nuwby
and has ears and facial profile as described in the breed standard. Nuwby ears
are pendulous and the ideal length should be longer than the tip of the muzzle.
Height must not exceed 62.2cm for Bucks, 57cm for Does at Purebred standard.
Each animal must conform to the ideal breed standard and have 2 registered minimum
Grade A parents of the same type.
Conformation is similar to that of the larger breeds with all parts of the
body in balance proportion relative to its size. They are hardy, alert animals
with impeccable temperaments. The Sheltie must have at least 25% and not more
than 75% Angora breeding in the lower grades. The Sheltie is usually created
by crossing Angora with miniature goats (usually ferals) in any ratio in the
higher grades as long as the goat looks like a Sheltie and has a non shedding
coat as described in the breed standard. The Sheltie should have a long, thick,
lustrous coat that is evenly distributed throughout. The coat may be straight
or wavy and must be to the knee. The face and legs (up to the knee) should be
free of fleece. A fringe between the ears is desirable. Animals should have
loose pliable skin. The ears should be medium in size and not overly short or
long.
Height must not exceed 60cm for Bucks, 57cm for Does at Purebred standard. Each
animal must conform to the ideal breed standard and have 2 registered minimum
Grade A parents of the same type.
Conformation and Type
The Australian Miniature Goat is a "Designer Breed" considered
to be an Australian bred animal predominantly based on ear structure and shape
and fleece type in the case of Shelties, not exceeding 53.3cm (21") in
height (ideally), that meet the breed standards and have at least five generations
of 'miniature' breeding. Such an animal would qualify for Herdbook Purebred
have two Purebred parents.
Although they are not scaled down versions of their larger counterparts, their conformation is similar to that of the larger breeds, with all parts of the body in balanced proportion relative to their size. They are hardy, alert animals with impeccable temperaments that come in all colours and colour combinations.
Appearance (style & quality): A genetically small sized, well-muscled, stylish and well proportioned animal that is hardy, alert and animated, good-natured and gregarious. It should be slightly longer in the body in comparison to its height, except for Shelties who should be almost as tall as it is long. The female should be graceful and feminine, the male should be powerful, majestic and masculine.
Temperament: good temperament is of the utmost importance, curious, alert, intelligent and friendly.
Head (skull, eyes, ears, mouth, nostrils): Head medium in length with large bright eyes set well apart. Any eye colour is accepted. Facial line dished or straight for Elf, Pixie & Sheltie, straight for Munchkin and straight to arched for Nuwby. Animals should be polled or neatly disbudded. Large open nostrils, on a relatively wide muzzle, with even bite and broad lips. Ears as described in the appropriate breed type standard.
Neck: moderately long, set high on the shoulder and relatively upright. The neck should be in proportion to the size of the animal, feminine in does and masculine in bucks, showing appropriate muscling.
Body: Long deep and wide with a level top line and slightly sloping long rump, well sprung open ribs with increasing width and angling towards the rear of barrel. Withers are sharply set above tightly assembled shoulders. Refinement of bone but not lacking in substance, especially in the chest, girth, shoulder and hip, high-set tail;
Back: Proportionately short, should be strong, broad and level along chine and loin.
Legs: Correct from all angles with long forearms and short cannon bones in front and medium length, well-angled pasterns front and rear and neatly trimmed, compact, sloping hooves pointing directly ahead.
Mammary System: should be deep, wide and capacious in relation to the size of the doe. Strongly attached, soft and pliable with proportionally shaped and evenly sized teats. Udder should be balanced and tightly attached as viewed from the side and the rear.
Bucks: must have two evenly placed teats and a full, well attached, relatively even scrotum.
Coat: All animals should have loose pliable skin and are accepted in all colours and patterns. The Elf, Pixie, Munchkin or Nuwby should have a short or cashmere coat.
Sheltie should have a long, non-shedding coat that is thick and evenly distributed. Coat may be straight or wavy and should reach the knees. Face and legs to the knee should be fleece free. Fringe between ears is desireable.
Differing from Ideal (found and recognised): Nose with slightly raised bridge except for Nuwby type who should have straight to slightly arched. . Horned, wry tail. Longer hair, fringe along backline, over hips under belly, usually more pronounced in bucks.
Accepted in Grade Stock:
Faults: Cow hocks, steeply sloping rump, dropped pasterns. Visible teeth. Roach back or sway back. Uneven gait. Poor feet, splayed feet. Weak or narrow chest. Shallow body. Fleshy pendulous or unduly divided udders. Pockets in udder. Teats: small; thin; large bulbous; ill defined or unbalanced, double teats, supernumerary teats, double orifices. Lack of masculinity in bucks. Divided, uneven or unduly pendulous scrotum.
Disqualifying Breed Faults: over 63.5cm (25”) or 66cm (26") for Nuwby bucks in Grade standard, or under 40.6cm (16") in height, ears not in accordance with the standard for the type classified, severely crooked face, undershot or overshot jaw (more than 5mm), bucks with obviously abnormal testicle, hermaphrodism, naval hernia. More than 25% Angora bloodlines. For Shelties less than 25% and not more than 75% in the lower grades. Nasty temperament.
Adult animals must have 2 height verified Purebred parents and be minimum 4th generation of the same type. Height must not exceed 57cm for Elf, Pixie, Munchkin, Sheltie does and 60cm for bucks at 3 years of age. Height must not exceed 57cm for Nuwby does and 62.2cm for bucks at 3 years of age.
Height - The height, measured at the wither is done with the animal standing squarely on firm flat ground, using a right angle measuring device set perpendicular to the floor.
Classification
All Grade and Purebred animals will be classified for type upon turning three
years of age. To enable all goats to be correctly classified by type a minimum
of three photos, one of each side and one front on, will be required when upgrading
or with application for registration for all animals. The animal should be standing
in a relaxed state showing the normal position of the ears (and in full coat
for Shelties) when being photographed. Breeders should work to breed animals
that meet the ideal breed standards using the grading up process.
Breed types can be crossed in the lower grades and it is allowed, though not recommended, in the higher grades. Purebred animals will only be recognised if they are produced from two Grade A goats of the same breed type and providing they meet the ideal breed conformation standards.
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.