Pygmy goat arrives at Wildwood

Wildwood has had another pygmy goat arrive at the park.

This will bring up the number of pygmy goats to three, they are part of the animal encounters section close to the childrens play area. Close encounters allows young visitors to the park, a chance to see pygmy goats, geese, unusual chickens, rabbits and guinea pigs. As well as providing hand reared animals for education and outreach work.

The new goat is pregnant and will give birth sometime during March.

"The pygmy goats have been very popular with our visitors" commented Alan Keeling, Deputy Head Keeper at Wildwood "they are very entertaining especially when they have mock fights and jump around the enclosure"

Pygmy goats are just one of the huge range of British animals that can be seen at the Wildwood Discovery Park, for more information visit the website at www.wildwoodtrust.org or telephone 0871 7820087.

Wildwood is an ideal day out for all the family where you can come 'nose to nose' with British Wildlife. Wildwood offers its members and visitors a truly inspirational way to learn about the natural history of Britain by actually seeing the wildlife that once lived here, like the wolf, beaver, red squirrel, wild boar and many more.

Wildwood is situated close to Canterbury, just off the A291 between Herne Bay and Canterbury. For more information visit our website at www.wildwoodtrust.org or telephone 0871 782008.

Pygmy Goat Facts

A pygmy goat is a small breed of domestic goat. Although they produce a very large amount of milk for their size, and can be eaten, pygmy goats are not typically used for milk or meat, unlike larger dairy and meat goat breeds. Pygmy goats tend to be more robust and breed more continually throughout the year than either dairy or meat goats. They are also sometimes kept as pets in urban or suburban backyards, depending on local regulation of livestock ownership.

Like all goats, pygmy goats have stomachs with four compartments: the rumen, the reticulum, the omasum, and the abomasum. As browsers, goats are similar to deer and enjoy variety in their diet, including woody plants. The pygmy goat is quite hardy, an asset in a wide variety of settings, and can adapt to virtually all climates.

Females, called does or nannies, weigh about 23 to 34 kg (35 to 60lbs) and males, called bucks or billies, stand about 27 to 39 kg (40 to 80 lbs). Wither height ranges from 16 to 23 inches. Their colour can range from white carmel, medium carmel, dark carmel, dark (red) carmel, silver-light grey agouti, silly medium grey agouti, dark grey agouti, black with frosted points, solid black, and brown agouti. Also, the males are usually darker than the females.

Pygmy goats are precocious breeders, bearing one to four young every nine to twelve months after a five month gestation period. Does are usually bred for the first time at about twelve to eighteen months, although they may conceive as early as two months if care is not taken to separate them early from bucklings. Newborn kids will nurse almost immediately, begin eating grain and roughage within a week, and are weaned by three months of age.

Polyestrous sexual behaviour means they can cycle year-round as opposed to dairy breeds. If milking is a priority, a continuous supply of milk can be obtained by breeding two does alternately. Dairy breeds usually have problems maintaining a year-round milk supply due to their seasonal breeding nature.

Pygmy goats originated in the Cameroon Valley of West Africa. They were imported into the United States from European zoos in the 1950s for use in zoos as well as research animals. They were eventually acquired by private breeders and quickly gained popularity as pets and exhibition animals due to their good-natured personalities, friendliness and hardy constitution. Today you can find them as house pets and at petting zoos.

Pygmy goats are adaptable to virtually any climate so they do not need the comfort of warmth or coldness. They enjoy having items to jump on, for they are able to leap onto vehicles. They are also in need of a shed and open area accessible at all times. They also need a companion that doesn't necessarily have to be its own species. Pygmy goats should not be introduced to another species or they can be harmed by the other animal. Goats require fresh water at all times or they won't drink it. Pygmy goats are often affectionate if they are treated with respect, and they are still some of the most needy pets.