GradeNigoras

About Grade Nigoras

THE WHYS AND WHEREFORES OF USING “GRADES”

IN A NIGORA BREEDING PROGRAM

To start, I would like to say I feel using grades in any breeding program is something that should be taken on by experienced breeders, rather than first time breeders. It has to be done with a definite purpose in mind, the goal of breed improvement being foremost. When using grades the goal is to obtain desirable traits from the outcross animal, (i.e.: better fleece, stronger color, multiple births) the idea being to incorporate these traits into the genepool of the breed you are working on. The resulting offspring that are kept for breeding purposes should be without any major faults or disqualifications, never cross two goats together that share the same faults, as this will only serve to double the incidence of these faults occurring in subsequent generations. Another thing to keep in mind is staying within breed type; you do not want to sacrifice the type of your original breed in the name of improvement. If you find this beginning to happen in your breeding program you will have to seriously reassess the situation, and possibly even start over from the beginning.

The Nigora is first and foremost a hybrid; a hybrid being a distinct new type created by crossing two or more different breeds together. The practice of hybridizing has been going on for more than 100 years, and is responsible for a multitude of modern day breeds in a wide range of domestic animals. The Definition of what constitutes a “breed” has changed in the past few years as more and more breeds are becoming customized. Most notable amongst these is the horse. Certain breed associations allow the horse to be registered in more than one type… Quarabs, for instance, need not be limited to individuals that are 50% Quarter horse to 50% Arabian, but are also allowed to be registered in blood quotients of 75% QH to 25% Arab (“Heavy Quarab”), and 75% Arab to 25% QH (“Light Quarab”). Since the Nigora may also be 75% to 25% of either parent breed, I decided to adopt the terms used by Quarab breeders for the goats-- hence “Standard Nigoras” are 50/50 Nigerian to Angora breeding, “Heavy Nigoras” are 75% Angora to 25% Nigerian, and “Light Nigoras” are 75% Nigerian to 25% Angora. Having the three different designations gives Nigora owners more of a choice when breeding their goats: Those who seek a smaller, cashmere producing goat will find the Light Nigora desirable for their goals, as these goats will tend to produce Type C fiber more often. Those who like a bit larger animal with a heavier fleece, more like mohair but without the twice-yearly shearing requirement, will be attracted to the Heavy Nigora, which tends more towards a Type A fiber. The Standard Nigora is a nice intermediate size and is sought after by handspinners, and as a pet, for it’s soft lofty Type B fiber, which makes them the “Teddy bear” of the breed.

In the development of the Nigora it was decided that “grades” and goats of unknown heritage would be allowed, as long as they met the Nigora breed standard and were free of disqualifying faults. There were guidelines set up as to what type of goats would qualify for creating grade Nigoras, and three particular breeds were chosen-- The PBA registered Pygora, the PCA registered Pygora, and the Cashgora-- any one of these, when bred to a purebred Nigerian Dwarf, would produce grade Nigora kids. The Pygora was chosen for two primary reasons:

1.It is the breed most closely related to the Nigora, as Pygmy goats and Nigerian Dwarf goats are essentially cousins, both breeds originating from the West African Dwarf goat

2.Pygoras and Nigoras share the same fiber type and basic size.

The similarity ends there though, as Nigoras and Pygoras also share the same differences as Nigerians and Pygmies. Nigoras are more refined, fine boned with a rectangular build, and come in a wide range and combination of colors/patterns like the Nigerian Dwarf. Pygoras, on the other hand, inherit the heavier bone, blockier build, temperament, and colors which are limited only to the Pygmy goat; the PCA Pygora is the exception to this rule, however, as their registry also allows colors and patterns found within the Colored Angora breed. A third reason to consider Pygoras is that there have occasionally been kids produced from multi-generation PBA lines, which have appeared more “dairy” in type, build, color and markings. These goats are essentially throwbacks to the early origins of the Pygmy and Nigerian Dwarf, and while their markings and general type will disqualify them from registry with the Pygora Breeders Association, they make a fine addition to a Nigora breeding program, when proper guidelines are followed.

The Cashgora, though not an officially recognized breed itself, was also chosen due to the similarity in fleece to the Type “B” Nigora fiber, wide range of colors, and hybrid vigor. Cashgora goats that are no less than 50% to 75% Angora are best to cross back to a Nigerian or Nigora, once again following the proper guidelines for using grades in a breeding program.

In the end, ALL goats applying for registration status will be required to meet the breed standard, as well as being free of any disqualifying faults. The bottom line is the decision to use grades is strictly an option, one open to those with the knowledge and experience to make such a decision work for the betterment of the Nigora breed as a whole. The main goal of every breeder, whether or not they opt to use grades in their breeding program, should be to produce the best Nigoras they possibly can, ones that will do the breed proud-- that’s what really matters.