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The
Proposed NPGA Linear
Appraisal and
Evaluation Program
An
ad hoc committee has
been formed to
explore the value of
creating a Linear
Appraisal and
Evaluation program
for the NPGA.
The committee has
been charged with
creating a
Scoresheet and
Guidelines for
Scoring important
Linear Traits and
the Category Traits
of pygmy
goats. It has
also been charged
with educating the
NPGA members about
the potential value
of such a program
for pygmy
goats.
Programs like this
are already used by
many Breed
Associations such as
for beef and dairy
cattle, and dairy
goats. They
give their breeders
a chance to have
their breeding stock
thoroughly evaluated
by skilled and
impartial
Appraisers.
Since the goats are
not competing
against each other
there are no
"winners'"
or
"losers"
only a complete
picture of the
goat's traits and
attributes.
Below is a list and
explanations for the
traits being
considered for
inclusion in the
NPGA program.
Linear
Traits
A
trait is defined as
being a Linear Trait
when it can be
easily measured and
scored on a
numerical scale from
one extreme to the
opposite
extreme. These
Linear Traits have
been shown to be
moderately to highly
heritable in
goats. Goats
with more nearly
ideal traits would
likely make superior
breeding
animals. The
ideals for the
Linear Traits have
not yet been set by
the NPGA.
Height
Cannon
Length
Chest Width
Rear Width
Rump Width
Rump Length
Medial Suspensory
Ligament
Udder Depth
Teat Size
Muscling
Rump Angle
Rear
Legs Side View:
Posty
Legged
Correct
Sickle Hocked
 
Fig.9
Fig.10
Fig.11
Rear
Legs Rear View
Cow
Hocked
Straight
Bowlegged
Fig.12
Fig.13
Fig.14
Fig.15
Fig.16
Major
Category Traits
The
Major Category
Traits are based on
the characteristics
described in the
Pygmy Goat Breed
Standard.
A goat is
evaluated on how
close (s)he comes to
the ideal and scored
using the point
system from the
Judge’s Scorecard.
The
following photos may
not necessarily show
an example of the
ideal trait
General
Appearance and Breed
Character
Head &
Expression
Balance and
Proportion
Condition
Coat
Breed
Specific Markings
Body
and Structure
Chest
Neck
Shoulders
Back
Barrel
Rump
Legs & Feet
Mammary
System (Does Only)
Proposed
NPGA Appraisal
Scoring Guidelines
Scoring
Linear Traits:
A trait is
defined as being a
linear trait when it
can easily be
measured and scored
on a numerical scale
from one extreme to
the opposite
extreme.
Tools:
The
choices here are
best left to the
individual appraiser
but you may find
helpful:
A
height measuring
stick that will
assure you have a
right angle at the
top of the withers.
A
caliper that can
measure the front
cannon and rump
width
A
Tape measure or 12
inch ruler for
measuring the chest
width, rear width,
and udder depth
Gulick
II Tape Measure for
measuring around the
thigh to score
muscling
An
angle indicator to
measure the rump
angle (available at
home supply stores)
Clipboard
Pens,
pencils
Calculator
The
first 10 traits are
easier to measure if
the goat is standing
on a raised platform
such as a stanchion.
Height:
Height
at withers is
measured on a firm
flat surface with a
right angle device
set perpendicular to
floor and level
across withers. Goat
is to be standing in
a normal pose. Head
is to be held in a
typical position,
neither pulled up,
down or out, any of
which may
significantly alter
height measurement.
Front legs set
evenly under the
goat’s shoulders,
not forward or
backward of the
shoulder line. Rear
legs positioned
properly, neither
drawn too far back
nor forward.
Cannon
Length:
The
cannon bone is
measured on the
front leg with
calipers set at the
outer edge of the
knee and fetlock
joints, with both
joints sharply bent.
Chest
Width:
With
the goat standing
squarely measure
from the inside of
one foreleg to the
other at the base of
the chest.
Rear
Width:
Measure from the
rear between the
thighs (tibia)
midway between the
hock and the stifle
joint.
Most goats
resent being touched
here, you can get a
measurement by
holding a tape
measure or straight
edge close to but
not actually
touching the goat.
Rump
Width:
Measure
in inches over the
top of the pelvis
from hip to hip at
the wing of the
ilium.
Rump
Length:
Measure
in inches from the
wing of the ilium to
the tip of the
pinbone.
Medial
Suspensory Ligament:
If
the udder floor is
bulging below the
tips of the teats
the score is 1.
If the udder
floor is bulging but
not below the tips
of the teats the
score is 2.
If the udder
floor is flat
between the teats
the score is 3.
A cleft as
viewed from the rear
is 0.5 inch to 1
inch deep would be
scored a 4-5.
A cleft over
one inch to 1.5
inches would be a
6-7. A
cleft 2 inches deep
or over would be
scored 8-9.
This is best
accessed on a
relatively full
udder and done by
estimating the
measurement rather
than actually
measuring.
You may be
able to give a score
for the medial
suspensory ligament
in both a springing
(doe beginning to
come into milk) and
nearly dry does.
A note should
be made in the
comments column as
to the stage of
lactation.
Udder
Depth:
Estimate
in inches where the
udder floor is from
the level of the
hock as the udder is
viewed from the
rear.
It is best
assessed on an udder
that is relatively
full.
All does can
be assessed; a
comment can be
recorded to note her
stage of lactation.
A perfectly
dry doe with a flat
udder would score a
1.
Some does
have udders that
never go back to
perfectly flat and
that should be
assessed in this
trait.
Does that are
just beginning to
build an udder
(springing) can be
assessed.
Teat
Size:
This
is a measure in
inches or fractions
of inches of the
diameter of the teat
at the top of the
teat where it joins
the udder.
Muscling:
This
is a measure in
inches of the
circumference of the
top of the thigh.
Using a tape
measure (A Gulick’s
Tape measure makes
it possible to get
very accurate
measurements) pull
the tape into the
inner flank as high
on the inner thigh
as possible, pass
the tape from the
rear to the outside
of the thigh at the
base of the pinbone
and from the front
above the stifle
joint.
The longer
sides of the ellipse
should be as
parallel as
possible.
The tape
should be snug but
not digging into the
muscle.
Rump
Angle:
This
is the degree of
angulation from
level to a line
drawn from the hip
(wing of the ilium)
to the pin bones.
First
actually measure it
with the goat
standing normally,
and then check it
again, by estimation
with the goat on the
move.
Rear
Legs Side View:
You
can either estimate
or use the angle
finder to take this
measurement.
It is best
not to actually
touch the goat as
most are sensitive
to being touched on
the rear legs. This
is a measurement of
the angle formed at
the front of the
hock joint.
Have the goat
walk a few steps and
stop in a natural
position, do not set
the goat up.
A goat with
an extremely
straight angle will
stand with the hock
joint very straight
and a line drawn
perpendicular to the
ground from the
pinbones will fall
well back of the
rear of the cannon
(fig.9).
If a goat has
a correct angle to
the hock the same
line will fall
directly along the
back of the rear
cannon and the
cannon will be
perpendicular to the
ground (fig. 10).
If the same
line falls through
the center of the
cannon the goat is
moderately over
angled.
If the line
falls at the front
of the cannon bone
or if the cannon is
completely behind
the line the goats
is extremely angled
at the hock
(fig.11).
A very
straight hock joint
would be called
posty legged, a very
angled hock would be
called sickle
hocked.
One the move,
a posty legged goat
would be likely to
stride short in the
rear, the foot would
be raised before it
reaches the line
drawn perpendicular
from the pins to the
ground.
On a sickle
hocked goat the foot
would likely be
raised well after it
passes the line.
Rear
Legs Rear View:
This
is an estimated
measurement taken
from the rear of the
goat both while
walking and while
standing in a
natural position
(not set up).
Looking at
the amount the rear
feet toe out or in
best assesses it.
If the feet
point straight
forward the point of
the hock will be
centered in the hock
joint.
A goat can
have straight rear
legs but walk with
her feet close
together.
A “cow
hocked” goat will
toe out and the
point of the hock
may appear to be
toward the inside of
the hock joint.
In an
extremely cow hocked
coat the hocks may
touch, especially if
she is walking.
A “bowlegged”
goat will toe in and
the point of the
hock may appear to
be on the outside of
the joint.
Fig.
12 shows a goat that
is extremely toed
out or cow hocked
note her hocks
nearly touch.
Fig. 13 shows
a goat slightly toed
out, the point of
the hock is toward
the inside of the
hock joint.
Fig. 14 shows
a goat with straight
legs, the toes point
directly forward the
points of the hocks
are in the center of
the hock joint.
Fig. 15 shows
a goat that is
straight in the
hocks but walks with
the legs close
together, note the
toes still point
directly forward and
the points of the
hocks are centered.
She would
score the same as
the goat in fig.
14. Fig. 16
shows a goat that is
toed in or
bowlegged.
This is very
rare in pygmy goats,
but is possible.
Scoring Major
Category Traits
In this section a
goat is evaluated on
how close the goat
comes to the ideal
as described in the
Breed Standard and
scored using the
point system from
the Judge’s
Scorecard.
For the most
part an animal is
usually at least 70%
of the ideal, about
average, so that is
a good starting
place when awarding
points. Be
very choosy, to
score the maximum
number of points for
any trait the goat
must be absolutely
perfect, the best
you have ever seen. No
leeway is given for
the age of the goat,
such as (s)he has
good depth for her
age.
*(M)
moderate, (S)
severe, (VS) very
severe:
Ratings for
faults as found in
the Judging
Scorecard to aid
with scoring.
Disqualifying
Traits:
Any
goat with a
disqualifying fault
should receive a 0
in the appropriate
section or as noted
and will have a
final number score
of 00.
The
disqualifying trait
is noted in the
comment column.
Over
or under Height (0
in Proportion)
Natural
hornlessness (0 in
Head)
Genetic
hernias (Scrotal or
umbilical) (0 in
Barrel)
Roman
nose (0 in Head)
Disfiguring
malocclusion (Any
bite or jaw
deformity that can
be seen without
opening the goat’s
mouth) (0 in Head)
Total
blindness (0 in
Head)
Eye
color other than
brown (0 in Head)
Ears
pendulous or
helicopter (0 in
Head)
Front
cannon under or
oversized (Final
score of 00)
Complete
lack of all breed
specific markings (0
in Breed
Specific Markings)
Hermaphrodism
(Deduct 12
points from the Body
and Structure major
category)
(For
Does) Blind teats,
Blind udder,
Bifurcal teats
(Mammary)
(For
Bucks) Undescended
testicles (Final
score of 00)
(For
Bucks) More than 2
normal teats,
Functional teats
(Giving milk),
Bifurcal teats,
Multiple orifices
(Final score of 00)
Points
can be broken into
tenths of a point,
the score is rounded
up in the final
scores.
Major
Categories
General
Appearance and Breed
Character
Head &
Expression:
10/12
Description
of Ideal:
Head
typey; medium-short;
profile dished; jaws
broad, strong, well
muscled,
symmetrically
aligned; bite even;
neither over nor
undershot; eyes
bright, set well
apart, prominent but
not protruding; ears
firm, medium sized,
alertly erect;
muzzle broad, full,
rounded; nose short,
wide, flat;
expression alert,
animated
Scoring:
Deduct for
head too long (S),
snippy thin muzzle,
straight or roman
profile, narrow or
shallow jaws,
misaligned bite (S),
noticeably over or
undershot bite (VS),
lack of width
between the eyes.
Balance
and Proportion: 9
Description
of Ideal:
All
parts in proportion,
well blended;
showing style,
femininity/masculinity. Typically
cobby; wide in
relation to length
& height,
showing
characteristics of
being an
achondroplastic
dwarf, legs and neck
are short, body is
full barreled, head
is fairly large in
proportion to the
body.
Scoring:
Deduct points
for any extreme
trait that
sacrifices the
balance of the
entire animal (VS),
such as an extremely
wide chest floor,
very large or small
head, neck too short
to allow for proper
head carriage (the
top of the head
should be carried
above the level of
the withers).
Deduct points
for legs being too
long, they should be
the same or slightly
shorter than the
depth of the heart
girth, body too long
in relation to the
height, the length
should be the same
or only slightly
longer than the
height at the
withers.
Condition: 5
Description
of Ideal:
Goat not too
fat nor too thin,
appropriate for the
stage of life.
Goat does not
have to be in show
condition to be
considered very
correct.
Scoring:
Deduct for
under to moderately
over weight (M to
VS), emaciated or
obese (VS).
Coat:
4/6
Description
of Ideal:
dense,
hair straight;
medium long
Scoring:
Deduct for
obviously curly,
wavy or long hair
(VS), thin or sparse
hair (M)
Breed Specific
Markings:
8/12
Description
of Ideal:
Distinct;
light accents on
muzzle, forehead,
ears, around eyes
& tail;
contrasting darker
crown, dorsal
stripe, cannons,
hocks, hoofs on all
goats except solid
black.
White marks
between the point of
elbow and stifle
joint appearing as
full or partial
bellybands are
acceptable.
Scoring:
Slight to
very severely scored
for any weak or
lacking markings,
slight to severely
scored for white
mismarks.
Body
and Structure
Chest: 10
Description
of Ideal:
Brisket
well muscled, wide
floor, prosternum
prominent and in
front of the point
of shoulder; heart
girth large, full at
the elbows; ribs
long, well sprung,
wide apart.
Scoring:
Deduct for
narrow chest floor,
poorly muscled
brisket, no
extension of the
prosternum, narrow
at point of elbow,
lack of depth at
heart girth, slab
sidedness (Ribs
poorly sprung), ribs
over sprung.
Neck:
3/5
Description
of Ideal:
Strong,
full throated,
muscular, round,
blending well into
withers
Scoring:
Neck set too
low (ewe necked),
thin neck, over long
neck (VS).
Shoulders:
5
Description
of Ideal:
Well
laid back &
angulated; smoothly
attached, angle of
scapula and humerus
should be 137°.
Withers
should be nearly
level with but not
below the shoulder
blades.
Scoring:
Deduct for
over or under
angulated, front
legs should fall
directly under the
withers, too far
forward suggests a
shoulder joint that
is too straight, too
far back suggests a
shoulder angle that
is too bent, winging
shoulder blades or
shoulder blades
above the withers
(this could also
indicate low
withers) (S).
Deduct for
withers below the
shoulder blades
(VS), or for high
withers (M).
Back:
8
Description
of Ideal:
Strong,
broad, straight,
level along chine
and loin
Scoring:
Deduct for weak
chine, weak loin,
higher in the rear
is more serious than
higher in the front.
Barrel:
8
Description
of Ideal:
Symmetrical,
broad, deep,
increasing in width
and depth toward low
set flanks.
Scoring:
Deduct for
lack of increasing
depth towards flank,
lack of increasing
width towards
flanks, or overly
rotund (may indicate
obesity).
Rump:
8
Description
of Ideal:
A
30 to 35 degree
angle is ideal as
measured between the
point of hip and
pinbones. The
rump should be medium
long, medium wide,
hips wide, nearly
level with back;
thurls high &
wide apart; pin
bones well apart,
prominent; tail
symmetrical, set and
carried high
Scoring:
A steep/short or
long rump (S), Steep
or narrow hips (S),
Close thurls (S).
Legs
& Feet:
Description
of Ideal:
Proportionally
short, short cannon
bones, heavy
boned, well-muscled,
wide apart, squarely
set.
The gait
should be smooth,
balanced, ground
covering and
effortless, legs
should move directly
forward, neither
swinging inward nor
outward.
Forelegs and
hindlegs are scored
separately.
Forelegs: 4/5
Description
of Ideal:
Straight;
cannon short; elbows
close to ribs.
Scoring:
Deduct for
bowed or knock kneed
legs, over or behind
at the knee, winged
elbows, lack of bone
(S).
Deduct
for stiff movement,
hoof dragging,
paddling legs inward
or outward (VS).
Hindlegs:
4/5
Description
of Ideal:
Well-angulated,
cannons parallel and
aligned with
pinbones; femur and
tibia long.
Scoring:
Deduct for
posty legged or
sickle hocked, cow
hocked or bow
legged, stifle not
held tightly and
smoothly into the
flank (S).
Severe sickle
hock, bowlegged and
a weak stifle are
more serious than
posty legged or cow
hocked.
Deduct
for stiff movement,
hoof dragging,
swinging or paddling
legs inward or
outward, rear feet
should fall in the
hoofprints of the
forefeet (VS).
Feet:
2
Description
of Ideal:
Well
shaped, symmetrical,
heels deep, soles
level; pasterns
short, strong,
resilient.
Scoring:
Deduct for
weak pasterns,
splayed toes.
Mammary
System (Does Only)
Doe
must be in milk to
receive full score.
A dry doe
with 2 normal
cylindrical teats
with no detectable
spurs, extra teats
or multiple orifices
scores 4.
A dry doe
with a teat spur or
extra teat score 1-3
depending on
severity, an extra
teat being more
serious, and a
non-functional extra
teat being the most
serious.
Udder:
12/0
Description
of Ideal:
Udder functional,
balanced, firm,
elastic, rounded,
small to medium
sized,
well-attached, high
in rear, well
forward in front;
teats cylindrical,
symmetrically shaped
and placed, milkable,
functional, free
from deformities
& obstructions,
devoid of multiple
orifices
Scoring:
Deduct for
poor medial
suspensory ligament
(S), poor fore udder
attachment (S), poor
rear udder
attachment (S),
unbalanced udder,
pendulous udder (S),
teats too small (M),
multiple teats, teat
spur (M)
Draft
LA Scoresheet page 1
Here is a
draft copy of the LA
Scoresheet (MS Excel
file) proposed for
the NPGA if you want
to try it out or
just take a look.
Draft
LA Scoresheet page 2
Here are the
Linear Traits
scoring scales,
Comments, and Final
Scoring
instructions.
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