Twin Angora doelings

Nigoras are a dual-purpose breed being developed to produce fiber and milk. First generation Nigoras are a cross between a Nigerian Dwarf, and an Angora. They are the only miniature fiber breed also bred to be a dairy animal unlike the Pygora, which is a Pygmy/Angora cross. You won’t be able to start a commercial dairy with Nigoras, but because Nigerian Dwarfs produce more milk than standard dairy breeds relative to their size, the Nigora is the perfect choice to supply a family with milk and fiber.

High quality purebred Angoras produce long ringlets of lustrous fiber called mohair but it can take several generations to get this quality of fiber in your Nigoras. Either white or colored Angoras can be used in the development of Nigoras, but white Angoras will produce all white kids unless they carry for color. Nigoras out of white Angoras can’t be colored until the second generation. Nigoras are accepted and desired in all colors and patterns and it is very exciting to breed for a variety of colors.

Nigoras can also have blue eyes as both of the foundation breeds can have blue eyes as well, though it is rather rare in Angoras. The blue eyed trait is dominant so it is fairly easy to breed for it and it is highly sought after.

There is some controversy over whether or not to disbud (remove horn buds) Nigora kids because Nigerians are always disbudded and Angoras are always horned. Nigerians, like other dairy breeds, have horns that grow out away from the head and can be a nuisance in a dairy operation. Angora horns grow back against the head before spiraling outwards so they don’t tend to get in the way as much nor are Angoras kept the same way as a dairy herd. Because of this, it is up to you which way you want to go. If you plan to keep your Nigoras primarily for milk, it might be best to disbud them or look for naturally polled (hornless) goats so that horns don’t get caught in stanchions and milk stands. If your Nigoras will be turned out in open housing and won’t have to deal with keyhole feeders, you might not want to bother with the trouble of disbudding.

If you want to start from scratch breeding your own Nigoras, it is best to start with high quality Angora does and Nigerian Dwarf bucks. This can be expensive but it is the best way to achieve the results you want in your Nigora breeding program. Look for quality fiber in your Angoras and high milk production in your Nigerians.

There are three main fleece types in Nigoras: type A, which is ringlets of hair 6 inches or longer, type B, which is fluffy with ringlets and is 3 to 6 inches long, and type C, which is 1 to 3 inches long with some crimp. 50/50 cross Nigoras including first generation (F1) and greater (F2 and beyond) are called Standard. Nigoras can be any ratio mix of Nigerians and Angoras between 75/25 and 25/75. Nigoras with more Angora in their breeding are referred to as Heavy Nigoras and they tend to be larger with type B or better fleece. Those with more Nigerian in their breeding are known as Light Nigoras and are usually smaller with type C or B/C fleece.

There isn’t a registry for Nigoras yet, but there is a guide for classifying them for future registration. The three categories are: Blue List, Red List and Breeding Stock. Blue List is for Standard Nigoras that come from registered foundation stock. Red list is for Heavy and Light Nigoras that come from registered foundation stock. These may not fit the Nigora standard exactly but they are valuable breeding animals. The Breeding Stock category is for Standard, Light and Heavy Nigoras that fit the Nigora standard, but are from unknown or mixed fiber breed origin.

The best way to get results from a Nigora breeding program is to have a distinct goal within the Nigora Standard. Include your priorities, for example: Fleece type, milk production, color, conformation, size, temperament, etc. And have a clear picture of how you want your ideal Nigora to look and feel. This will be determined by your needs for the Nigora breed as well as the foundation stock you have available. Our goal for the ideal Nigora is a small bicolored or tricolored goat with type A or A/B fleece and blue eyes that can produce up to three cups of milk a day.

You will have fun developing the breed to be the perfect fit for your family’s needs and seeing the results of your hard work will be highly rewarding.

For more pictures and information check out the American Nigora Goat Breeders Association (Established in 2006) website: http://nigoragoats.homestead.com/index.html. If you are interested in starting with Nigoras, I recommend joining the Nigora_Goat_Notes Yahoo! Group.