African pygmy goat roams about at Emerald park

African pygmy goat

Capra hircus
  • paws icon
    Animal class
    Mammal, bovidae
  • house icon
    Habitat
    African pygmy goats are domesticated animals that thrive in many habitats including farmland, woodlands, and rocky terrain.
  • apple icon
    Diet
    Herbivores – they will eat grass, shrubs, leaves and twigs.
  • Introduction

    African pygmy goats are a small, domestic breed of goat, that is very social and outgoing by nature. Pygmy goats are great climbers that like to scale rocks and tree stumps with ease. They have a thick coat of hair that is straight and medium to long in length. Males have the most hair and have long flowing beards. Both male and female African pygmy goats have horns.

    They can produce large amounts of milk despite their small size.

    They are very social and like to be in the company of other goats. The males will butt heads to establish a hierarchy in the group.

  • Habitat

    Pygmy goats originated on the continent of Africa, in particular the Cameroon Valley in West Africa.

    They are domesticated animals that thrive in many habitats including farmland, woodlands, and rocky terrain.

    They prefer dry habitats and have been bred from species that like to live in savannah habitats.

  • Fun Facts

    They are ruminants, like sheep and cows, meaning they have a 4 chambered stomach. This allows them to digest coarse plant materials.

    Twins are very common in Pygmy goats and after a pregnancy of approximately 150 days, “kids” will be born.