Nigora

Nigora
goats of various colours behind a wire fence
Nigora goats photographed in 2002, showing Cocoa Puff of Skyview, the first Nigora (black doe with Swiss markings, upper center), then about 13 years old
Country of originUnited States
StandardANGBA
Usedual-purpose, milk and fiber
Traits
Height
  • Male:
    48–74 centimetres (19–29 in)
  • Female:
    48–74 centimetres (19–29 in)
Coatany
Horn statushorned or hornless
  • Goat
  • Capra aegagrus hircus

The Nigora is an American breed of small or medium-sized dual-purpose goat, raised both for its milk and for its fiber.[1] It is the result of cross-breeding Nigerian Dwarf bucks with does of mohair breeds such as the Angora.[2]: 22 [3]: 325 

History

The Nigora is of recent creation: breeding started in 1994.[1] A breed society, the American Nigora Goat Breeders Association, was formed in 2007.[2]: 22  Another association, the Nigora Goat Breeders Society, was active in 2014.[4]

Use

As with the Pygora breed, the fiber is classified into three types, A, B and C, depending on the length and type of the fibers.[5]: 358  Type A is Angora-type mohair, long and lustrous; type B is "cashgora", which combines mohair with cashmere-type undercoat and is of medium length; type C is like cashmere and is shorter.[6]: 49 [7]: 94 

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Nigora goats.
  1. ^ a b Bessie Miller (March-April 2016). The cute, adorable Nigora. Countryside & Small Stock Journal. 100 (2): 80. (subscription required)
  2. ^ a b Carol A. Amundson (2013). How to Raise Goats: Everything You Need to Know. Minneapolis, Minnesota: Voyageur Press. ISBN 9780760343784.
  3. ^ Sue Weaver (2010). Storey’s Guide to Raising Miniature Livestock. North Adams, Massachusetts: Storey Publications. ISBN 9781603424820.
  4. ^ Patricia Chambers (March-April 2014) . Meet the Nigora goat: the new kids in the barn. Countryside & Small Stock Journal. 98 (2): p75. (subscription required)
  5. ^ Carol Ekarius, Deborah Robson (2011). The Fleece & Fiber Sourcebook: More Than 200 Fibers, from Animal to Spun Yarn. North Adams, Massachusetts: Storey Publications. ISBN 9781603427111.
  6. ^ Sue Weaver (2011). The Backyard Goat: An Introductory Guide to Keeping and Enjoying Pet Goats. North Adams, Massachusetts: Storey Publications. ISBN 9781603426992.
  7. ^ Cheryl Kimball (2009). The Field Guide to Goats. Voyageur Press. ISBN 9780760335222.