Pygora goats are a breed of
fiber goat that originated from crossing Pygmy Goats and Angora Goats.
The Pygora was a purposeful
cross, bred by Katharine Jorgensen of Oregon City, Oregon. In 1987, the Pygora
Breeders Association was formed in the United States, and has since then been
registering and promoting Pygoras. Today, the registered Pygora goat may not be
more than 75% AAGBA-registered Angora goat or 75% NPGA-registered Pygmy goat.
Pygora are mainly for producing
fiber, but some people also show them as a hobby, in fairs, fiber shows, and in
4H. Some pygora breeders and 4-H clubs show goats at the Oregon Flock and Fiber
Festival (OFFF).
Pygora Goats produce three
distinct kinds of fleece. Pygora goats will produce cashmere-like fleece
(Classified as Type-C), a mohair-like fleece (Type-A), or a combination of the
two fleeces (Type-B). Type-A fleece is composed of fibers averaging 6 or more
inches in length that drape in ringlets. It may occur as a single coat, but a
silky guard hair is usually present. The fibers are typically less than 28
micrometers in diameter. Type-B fleece fibers average between 3 to 6 inches
(150 mm) in length with one, possibly two, guard hairs. The fibers are usually
less than 24 µm in diameter. Type-C fleece is very fine, typically 1 to 3
inches (76 mm) in length and less than 18.5 µm in diameter. Pygoras come in a
handful of colors: White, red, brown, black, gray or a mix of the colors.
About Pygora Goats
