New Goat Breed Catching On Fast

New Goat Breed Catching On Fast 33-4-8 Here's an unusual new breed for you. Miniature Silky Fainting Goats are less than 25 in. high at the withers (23 1/2 in. for a doe) and have long silky hair. The breed is the result of a selection program developed by Renee Orr. Orr developed the breed from Nigerian Dwarf does, some of which were fainting goats. She selected for long hair and other characteristics that have become trademarks of the breed. "The goal is to have a consistently long, straight, flowing coat that drapes freely over the entire body," says Orr. "The body hair should include profuse bangs, muffs and beard, blending into the chest and body coat to produce a Silky Terrier-like appearance." The breed website lists 70 breeders, nearly all in the United States. Ada Austin, Harmony, Minn. is a long time sheep and Angora goat breeder who fell in love with the new breed and now has 9 head of breeding stock, including a show champion buck. "When I first saw them, they looked so awesome I decided to raise them myself," says Austin. "They are just beautiful and very gentle from the minute they are born." Though she raises Angora goats for their fiber, the Silkies are different. The fiber they produce is coarse and silky, unsuited for spinning or weaving. "They're just eye candy," says Austin, who also raises Old English Babydoll Southdown sheep. "They dress up the pasture." When beauty is all that matters, it also determines the value. Austin paid $1,250 for her buck, which seemed expensive at the time. This past winter it looked like a particularly attractive doe bred to that buck was going to pay Austin back for most of that investment. "One woman said she would pay me $1,000 if the kid was a doe and looked like her mother," recalls Austin. "Another woman said she would match that offer. When the kid was born, it was male and didn't have the looks of either parent. It wasn't worth 50 cents." At the time this story was written, a three-month-old doe kid was listed for sale at $1,200. Of course it met all the attributes of the breed. Austin says it's often a gamble with a new breed to see if the animals will breed true. It's a chance she's more than willing to take. "Visit a show or a breeder near you to see these little goats in person," she advises. "But be forewarned; once you see them, you will fall in love too." Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Miniature Silky Fainting Goat Association & Registry, 22105 Countryside Lane, Lignum, Va. 22726 (ph 540 423-9193; www.msfgaregistry.com); or Ada Austin, 14484 331st Ave. SE, Harmony, Minn. 55939 (ph 507 886-6731; mohair@har monytel.net; www.austinsmohair.com).

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