Pygora
A single Pygora can be born into any of three officially recognized fleece types, each spun completely differently.
Registered by Pygora Breeders Association (PBA).
Is Pygora right for you?
About Pygora
A single Pygora can grow any of three different fleece types, from mohair-like ringlets to a soft, cashmere-like down, and each one gets spun differently, with yield swinging from about half a pound to 3 lb a year depending on which type a kid grows. The breed was developed in Oregon in the 1980s by crossing registered Pygmy and Angora stock.
The breed keeps the miniature size of its Pygmy side, with does typically standing 18 to 22 inches at the withers. Temperament reads affectionate and engaging, which the Pygora Breeders Association pairs directly with the fiber in its own pitch for the breed: a manageable size and personality alongside a genuinely useful fleece.
Shearing happens twice a year for the mohair-like and blended fleeces, while the cashmere-like type can be brushed, plucked, or sheared instead. Hardiness is rated high, and the breed carries no formal conservation flag.
A good fit for a small-space fiber hobbyist who also wants a companion animal, not a large-scale commercial fiber operation.
How Pygora compares
Too few sourced figures for a group median: 3 of 5 fiber breeds have one.
Does are cited at 98 lb, below the median of 100 lb across the 17 breeds in our list with a sourced doe weight.
Ranked 2nd of 3 fiber breeds on fleece yield. 2 more fiber breeds are in our list without a sourced figure for this.
Breeds like this one
Full record
Size
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Size class | Miniature2 |
| Mature doe weight | 75–120 lb1 |
| Mature buck weight | 75–140 lb1 |
| Height at withers (doe) | 18–22 in2 |
| Height at withers (buck) | 23–27 in2 |
Appearance
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Coat type | Cashgora fleece2 |
| Coat length | Varies2 |
| Colors | caramel, agouti, black, white2 |
| Patterns | dorsal stripe, socks to the knees, facial mask2 |
| Distinguishing features | Produces one of three distinct, PBA-defined fleece types (A/B/C), No fleece on legs from the knee down, Cross of registered NPGA Pygmy and AAGBA Angora foundation stock2 |
2 more fields not found in our sources
| Ears | Not found in our sources* |
| Horns | Not found in our sources* |
Fiber
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Fiber type | Cashgora2 |
| Annual fleece yield | 1–3 lb1 |
| Fiber diameter | 18.5–28 micron2 |
| Staple length | 1–6 in2 |
| Shearings per year | 23 |
1 more field not found in our sources
| Down percentage | Not found in our sources* |
Temperament and management
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Docility | Docile1 |
| Temperament tags | Docile, Friendly, Curious1 |
| Hardiness | High1 |
7 more fields not found in our sources
| Handler experience level | Not found in our sources* |
| Heat tolerance | Not found in our sources* |
| Cold tolerance | Not found in our sources* |
| Parasite resistance | Not found in our sources* |
| Browse clearing suitability | Not found in our sources* |
Housing: Not found in our sources*
Fencing: Not found in our sources*
Availability
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Conservation status | Not listed (The Livestock Conservancy, 2026)4 |
2 more fields not found in our sources
| Availability in the US | Not found in our sources* |
| Population estimate | Not found in our sources* |
History and registries
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Origin country | the United States1 |
About goats generally
The facts below are stated by extension and veterinary sources for goats as a species, not for this breed specifically, shown separately from the breed's own cited record above.
| Fencing / escape difficulty | High5‡ |
| Hardiness | High5‡ |
| Heat tolerance | High6‡ |
| Cold tolerance | Low7‡ |
| Browse clearing suitability | High5‡ |
Housing: Goats generally don't need elaborate housing -- a simple three-sided structure that blocks wind and rain is enough, at roughly 15 square feet of bedded space per animal. The real hazard is cold, damp drafts rather than fresh air itself: sustained drafty, wet-cold conditions can quickly bring on pneumonia and scours in young kids more than in adult stock.8‡
Fencing: Goats are notorious escape artists, so fencing built for cattle or sheep usually isn't enough. A multi-strand, electrified high-tensile fence with hot wires worked into the first, third and top strands is the standard effective approach; plain woven wire works too, but needs an extra interior electric strand to stop goats climbing on it or catching their heads and horns in the mesh.5‡
See our guides on how many goats to keep and how much space each one needs.
‡ Facts marked with a double dagger are about goats generally, not specifically this breed. See "About goats generally" above.
Sources (8)
- Pygora FAQ - Pygora Breeders Association · breed registry / association, retrieved 2026-09-05
- Pygora Breed Standard - Pygora Breeders Association · breed registry / association, retrieved 2026-09-05
- Pygora Fiber - Pygora Breeders Association · breed registry / association, retrieved 2026-09-05
- Conservation Priority List - The Livestock Conservancy · peer-reviewed / government / conservation body, retrieved 2026-09-05 (as of 2026)
- Meat Goat Production | Penn State Extension · university extension, retrieved 2026-09-05
- Nutritional Requirements of Goats | Merck Veterinary Manual · peer-reviewed / government / conservation body, retrieved 2026-09-05
- Shelter, Fencing and Predator Control Needs on Pasture | Langston Ag Research · university extension, retrieved 2026-09-05
- Goat Housing and Facilities | Penn State Extension (Meat Goat Production and Management Home Study Course) · university extension, retrieved 2026-09-05
Want WhichGoat to keep showing up in your Google results?