Heights
At 3yrs of age all adult reg. Miniature Goats must be measured and upgraded to adult status. The earlier years can also be reg. from kids onwards. When the goat gets to 4yrs of age they must be measured again as some goats can continue growing between 3 & 4yrs.
Heights for Miniatures are to be no more than 63.5cm ( just under 25")for does and bucks, with 1" allowance for Newby Bucks. For more in-depth details go to the AABMGS site.
Grades
Grade stock is what most people start with and prices may be determined by the grade of stock. It takes 5 crosses to get to Pure Bred status but in many cases longer, if one of the parents out grow the desired height. This is not unusual at the stage the Miniature Goat industry is at. When buying a Miniature Goat it is probably more important to check their background and genetics. You will probably find you can pick up a grade goat with great genes way cheaper than great grades.
When buying a Miniature Goat please make sure that the breeder has evidence of the goat you are buying and their parents, as some people sell small goats (small goats can grow) as miniatures, but without papers you don't know what you'll get! For this reason it is a good idea to buy from a stud. You will probably find we don't charge you much different to the people that don't have registered goats so make sure you are buying what you think you are. As studs we have our name to protect so you know we will be completely honest. All the stud breeders I know love their animals and will match the right one with the right family not just to make a sale.
Wether Goats
Wethers (desexed male) can be registered, but it is not necessary for a stud to register them as they are not used in breeding. You can trace a wether’s background through his parents registration which the stud would have recorded.
The idea of breeding miniature goats is to get the heights and length down to eventually get the breed true to type. This takes many years of breeding.
Mini Milkers & Fibre Goats
Here at Samittar, we are concentrating on Mini Milkers and Fibre goats.
I have collected a small herd of Anglo Nubians, which are the largest breed of goats. It has taken me many years to cross these down to miniature sizes but who doesn't just loves these goats? We have now gone down more than five generations and you can hardly tell the difference between the goats.
Cashgora
I have Mini Milkers that have British Apline backgrounds.
In the fibre goat, I have PB Angoras which don't loose their coat and need to be shorn about twice a year.
I also breed Cashmere, these are easy as they shed their coats in summer and grow a longer soft hair in winter. If collecting cashmere, it is combed out not cut which makes them so simple to have.
I love the cross of Angora with Cashmere which is called Cashgora. This picture is of Samittar Nikki, another Cashgora Shedding her winter coat.
(bird nests in our area are lined with cashmere)
Nubian cross and Angora
The picture below shows you how I am going with some of my 'true to type' goats. In this picture is Samittar Lollie, a dear little PB Angora that is 1 yr old, standing next to my not miniature Nubian cross Doe. about the same age. What a difference!!!!!!!!! This is why breeding Miniature Goats is so exciting.
In the picture is; my daughter Sharee and Grandson William with Dimity and Lollie.