HEIGHTS IN DEPTH

The AMGR was the original Miniature Goat Group and Registry in Australia. This Group was headed by the founder of the Breed Sue Ludwig.
Sue Ludwig Proposed the formation of the Miniature Goat Breeders Association of Australia and the Association adopted AMGR heights.

The following information was supplied from the Australian Miniature Goat Registry. (AMGR) regarding breed heights in Australia and to show MGBA members how current heights were set for the breed.

In February 2000, the Australian Miniature Goat Breed was launched with animal heights recommended to be no more than 58.5cm for Does and no more than 63.5cm for Bucks. Maximum heights, according to information obtained from the Dairy Goat Society at that time, were believed to be reached by 2yrs of age. AMGR maximum heights were later set at 58.5cm for Bucks and 53.3cm for Does, with maturity at 3yrs.

A proposal was made to increase AMGR heights to bring them in line with overseas miniature goat associations, adjusting Buck heights to 60 cm and doe heights to 57 cm and to allow an extra 2.5cm for Nuwby bucks.

On the 5th November 2006 with the majority in favour, the AMGR adjusted maximum heights to 60cm for bucks, 57cm for does and 2.5cm would be allowed on Nuwby Buck heights.

Some Breeders have asked why maximum heights are set so high when ideal heights are 50.8cm - 55.9cm for bucks and 45.7cm - 50.8cm for does...

Breeders are still in the "creation" stage of producing Australian miniature goats. Rather than set heights that are only achievable if we pair very "ordinary" little animals that have poor conformation and are of no real type, heights are set a little higher to allow Breeders to introduce beautiful conformation, type, fertility and temperament using slightly taller animals while still climbing the Grades with each new generation.
Breeders are encouraged to use the smallest animals they have available to them and to aim for a herd average a couple of inches below the maximum heights allowable. This also give Breeders a "safety net" in case their young stock do grow slightly taller than expected, hopefully it wont be any more than an inch or two, in which case they will still be under the maximum height for their expected Grade.

The AMGR believes that our heights, set in accordance with overseas miniature goat associations, make creation of the Australian miniature goat achievable, (considering we don't have access to overseas miniature goat bloodlines).

Further selective breeding should reduce heights a little more, however it will take many generations which may take decades to actually genetically reduce mature buck heights down to 53.3cm . Height updates for many of our older animals indicate that our animals are still growing up to 4 and 5 years of age in some cases. The good news is that the number of mature, genetically small breeding animals is slowly increasing and many breeders dedicated to the development and production of true quality Australian miniature goats are now able to offer fellow breeders access to them reducing the need for many breeders to take a gamble on using younger stock.

Demand still far outweighs supply but access to small mature breeding stock is becoming more available. We have adult animals that are within the maximum heights (60cm bucks, 57cm does) and have a wonderful, growing group of dedicated breeders to work with. "Breeding Australian Miniature Goats is not simply breeding small goats to small goats, its about carefully selecting conformationally correct animals and pairing animals of a similar type to produce truly small, top quality animals and not simply small mongrels". It is also about making friends and having fun with what you have chosen to do.

Statistics from the AMGR (Studbook 1, 2000-2004, using heights 3yr+)

Most of the small cashmere, angora and feral base stock registered in Grade C & D (3yrs+Does) averaged around 53.3cm-58.5cm .

Only 3 does all in Grade D, were recorded under 48.3cm, 2 feral does, 47cm at 5yrs and the smallest adult doe recorded is a tiny feral, 45.7cm at 5yr.

Most crossbred does averaged between 58.5cm and 61cm with only a small number up to 63.5cm.

42 cashmere/feral does between 48.3cm-52cm, 3yrs+ does were recorded.

The smallest Grade C does (over 3yrs) were 50cm-51cm These three tiny does are yet to produce offspring that mature even slightly close to their mother's height…. At this stage, all D and C Grade adult bucks are averaging around 61cm-63cm, with only 1 Grade B buck under 58.5cm . Most of the animals coming up for their 3yr/4yr height measurement will fit into the 53.3cm-58.5cm average for does or 58.5cm-63.5cm average for bucks with very few actually being smaller than this.