How to Register an Unregistered Pygmy Goat

Pygmy goats are among the most popular goat breeds because of their small size, good health and friendly disposition. The National Pygmy Goat Association (NPGA) is the U.S. registry that keeps track of pygmy goats. There are several benefits to registering your goat. Registered goats are easier to sell and may command a higher price. Registering your goat also allows the NPGA to track goat genetics over the course of several generations, which can help improve goat health.

Things You'll Need

  • Livestock tattoo kit or microchip
  • Camera
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Instructions

    • 1

      Take a photo of your goat that clearly shows its markings, color and hair texture. The NPGA recommends taking a front shot of your goat as well as a photo from the side, though the side photo is not required.

    • 2

      Assign your goat a tattoo number. The NPGA requires that all registered pygmy goats have either an ear tattoo or a microchip with a uniquely identifying number. Goats born in 2011 should be assigned a code beginning with the letter B, while goats born in 2012 will be assigned the letter C. Each subsequent year should have a code beginning with the next letter. After determining the letter code, assign a number to your goat based on when in the year the goat was born. The first goat born in 2011 would be B1, for example.

    • 3

      Tattoo the number onto your goat's right ear using a livestock tattoo kit. If you do not want to tattoo your goat's ear, have your vet insert a microchip into your goat that contains the tattoo number. Attaching a permanent number to your goat is vital for livestock tracking and provides proof of ownership.

    • 4

      Fill out the membership application. As of 2011, the cost of registration ranges from $8 to $20 depending on the sex of the goat and your membership status in the NPGA. The application requests the name of your goat's herd. If your herd does not have a registered name, you may leave this portion blank. If you would like to register your herd's name with the NPGA, fill out a herd name registration form.