Information

Wandering Moose Fiber Farm
Nancy Ruggeri

The Pygora

So what is a Pygora goat?

The Pygora goat is a fiber animal that was developed by Katherine Jorgenson in Oregon by crossing a registered Angora to a registered Pygmy goat to create a fine fibered animal for hand spinning. The Pygora has been bred and shown for about 30 years on the West coast but has not been as available on the East coast.

The Pygora goat produces one of 3 distinct types of fleece. Type A has long lustrous ringlets that are fine mohair like and average 6 or more inches. They have a silky handle to them and may have a silky guard hair present. Type B fleece is a blend of mohair and cashmere like fiber averaging 3-6 inches. It has an obvious guard hair, has luster but less than that of a type A and is not as fine a fiber as type C. Type B fiber has its curl at the end of the fiber rather than throughout it's length. Type C is a very fine fiber similar to commercial mohair. It has a matt finish with a length of 1-3 inches. There is a good separation between the coarse guard hair and the soft fleece. The adult Pygora produces between 3/4 to 1 1/2 pounds of fleece.

PBA or Pygora Breeders Association was formed in 1978 in order to regulate and promote the Pygora goat. A Pygora goat must have both its parents registered and may contain up to but no more than 75% Angora or Pygmy. Both its parents must be registered as Pygora under PBA, as Angora under AAGBA or Pygmy under NPGA. Pygoras are first pre-registered with a photo included of their out of coat color, preferably within their first couple of weeks. They are then registered after their full fleece comes in with a photo included of them in full fleece and a 2 " lock of fiber cut from their midsection. More information about Pygoras can be found at the PBA website: www.pba-pygora.com.

PCA is an organization that originated from PBA breeders who began adding Colored Angora Goats registered under CAGBA into their breeding program. These goats are not recognized by PBA. The standards for the PCA are the same as for PBA with the exception of inclusion of NPGA as also recognized in the parentage as well as recognizing color or markings not consistent with the Pygmy standards. PCA requires only one registration rather than the 2 PBA requires.

Have a Pygora goat question? Please email Nancy at Wandering Moose Fiber Farm