There’s something magical about the early morning buzz of an agricultural show – especially after the early morning wake-up for a road trip to Perth when it involves Pygmy Goats!
A few weeks ago I had the pleasure of attending the very first NPGAA Pygmy Goat show in Western Australia, held at the vibrant Kalamunda Agricultural Show.
I didn’t take any of our goats this time as the girls would all be in the same age class and we hadn’t yet picked up our beautiful young buck Presley, so it was an honour to be able to help a long time friend Jodie from Woodene Park Pygmy Goats over in Bridgetown who entered several of her beautiful young babies, and of course to capture every precious moment of this inaugural show for fellow Pygmy Goat breeders through the lens of my camera.
From the moment we arrived, the excitement was palpable. Over 30 Pygmy Goats, all meticulously groomed, primped and prepared, were ready to strut their stuff in front of the judge.
For someone like me who has loved Pygmy Goats for years before they were even bought to Australia and has watched from afar as the breed has been developed here, it was amazing to see so many of these gorgeous goats that are finally getting close to the picture of the Pygmy Goat breed I have had in my head for years gathered in one place. The improvement of the breed just in the past few years has been incredible and I really can’t wait to contribute to the development of this breed here in Australia.
The Australian Breed Standard allows for colour variation on the traditional American colours, patterns and eye colours due to the breeding up in Pygmy Goat percentage using Australian Miniature Goats that come in all colours, so there was more variation in colour than would normally be seen at a Pygmy Goat show in the USA.
I found the variation in ear set particularly interesting. While there was a noticeable range in ear set, shape and size, they all technically fit within the Breed Standard, which is the same standard used by the NPGA in the USA. It’s amazing how these subtle differences can still meet the stringent criteria of the Breed Standard, so I am now interested in finding out the nuances of what is considered ‘ideal’ ear set in the USA.
The Kalamunda Pygmy Goat show was structured with classes for bucks, does, and wethers, as well as showmanship classes. Rather than grouping them by percentage, the goats were judged in classes by age. This meant that each Pygmy Goat was evaluated on how closely it matched the ideal characteristics outlined in the Pygmy Goat Breed Standard.
Watching the judge at work was a learning experience in itself—I’ve attended hundreds of shows for dogs, horses and other animals over the years but this was my first goat show. In many respects it was exactly the same as how other animal breeds are assessed. Each Pygmy Goat was scrutinized for its conformation, height, coat, overall health and breed faults and then placed according to how well the individual matched up to the ‘ideal’ Pygmy Goat defined in the Pygmy Goat Breed Standard.
The biggest difference in judging Pygmy Goats compared to other animals that I hadn’t considered was the challenge to the judge when checking mammary and reproductive systems.
Due to the short stature of Pygmy Goats (according to the first line of the Breed Standard are ‘genetically small, cobby and compact’) the judge has to bend over them and lift a hind leg to check for any faults…Pygmy Goats, no matter how well you train them to lead and be handled, don’t always appreciate this and will throw themselves on the ground or sit down in protest, which led to a few funny moments in the ring.
The most important part of the day was probably the people who even though competing against each other, all appeared so friendly, encouraging and helpful. It was wonderful to meet so many other Pygmy Goat breeders in Western Australia.
Living in the southwest, 3.5 hours south of Perth, it’s not often that we get the chance to meet and connect with fellow pygmy goat enthusiasts face-to-face. The sense of community was heart warming, and I came away from the show with new friends and a deeper appreciation for the dedication that goes into breeding and caring for Pygmy Goats.
As the day drew to a close and the Best of Show winners were announced, there was a real sense of achievement in the air. Not just for those who took home ribbons, but for everyone who had taken part in this inaugural event. The first Pygmy Goat show in Western Australia was a resounding success. I’m already looking forward to the next one and seeing how every generation of Western Australian Pygmy Goats get closer and closer to the ideal Pygmy Goat Breed Standard.
If you’re a Pygmy Goat breeder or just a fan of these charming little goats, I highly recommend getting involved in future shows. It’s a fantastic opportunity to learn, connect, and celebrate all things Pygmy Goat!
More photos from the first Pygmy Goat show in Western Australia can be viewed and available for exhibitors to be downloaded free online at https://threeredponies.pixieset.com/kalamundaagshow2024/ Please note these photographs are not to be used commercially without a linked credit to ©Three Red Ponies.
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