There were two distinct types of small goats imported, one being short, cobby, with short legs, and the other being more slender, with a longer body and proportionally longer legs and a more streamlined appearance. In the earlier years, in fact until about the 1960's and 1970's, little distinction was made between the cobbier type that became the African Pygmy goat,
and the more dairy-type goat that became known as the Nigerian Dwarf.

Over the years, selective breeding has resulted in the two distinct breeds that
are recognized today in the United States: the African Pygmy Goat and the Nigerian Dwarf.

What do all those numbers and symbols in a goat's name mean?
I get this question a lot, so here is the explanation to help you figure out what the meaning is when you scroll through the pedigrees.
 

FOR EXAMPLE

AGS titles -- ARMCH Pretty Doe 3*D E

AR -- Advanced Registry (earned a milk star on 305-day test)
Master Champion (earned GCh at 3 different AGS shows)
3*D -- earned her milk star and so did both her dam and maternal
grand (she's the third generation of star milkers)
E - Excellent - classified with a score of 90 or above in AGS

 

IN ADGA - GCH Pretty Doe 3*M E90

G - she earned her milk star along with a permanent championship.
CH - she is a permanent champion, having won 3 official ADGA legs.
3*M - she is a third generation star milker.
E90 - she linear appraised with an overal score of 90, which is an Excellent rating.

Comparing AGS titles with ADGA titles.........

MCH and CH are basically the same thing
ARMCH and GCH are basically the same thing
*M and *D are basically the same thing
The "E"s are a similar thing, but not exactly the same, as AGS
classification and ADGA appraisal are two different programs, with
different criteria.

MILK DESIGNATIONS TO BE EARNED

While the CH titles are fairly straightforward, milk awards get very much more complicated. Bucks can earn milk awards.
Please check the ADGA and AGS rules for details. Here is a brief outline.

*M (ADGA) and *D (AGS)- milk star recognition based on DHIA milk testing and minimum criteria (milk levels) for Advanced Registry or Star program set by ADGA and AGS. The number of stars indicates the number of consecutive generations of does that qualified.
A doe can also earn a *M or *D if she has 3 daughters who qualify or a combination of sons and daughters that qualify.

*B (ADGA) or *S (AGS) - bucks can earn this if their dams or offspring are qualified
+B or +S the same recognition for bucks who have three AR or Star daughters from three different dams, or sons with +B's
++B or ++S recognition for bucks if he has both sons and daughters who qualify.

(Courtesy of American Nigerian Dwarf Dairy Goat Association)

SOME FACTS ABOUT GOATS
http://www.famu.edu/goats/UserFiles/File/Facts_About_Goats.pdf
 

• Goats were the first animals to be used for milk by humans.

• The female goat is called a "doe".

• The male goat is called a "buck".

• A neutered goat is called a "wether".

• A baby goat is called a "kid".

• The act of giving birth is called "kidding".

• The doe can have 1 to 6 kids per litter, however, 4 to 6 kids are rare.

• Goats do not have teeth in their upper front jaw.

• Both male and female goats can have beards.

• Normally goats have two teats and cows have four.

• Goats prefer browse over grass and grass to clover.

• Goats do not eat tin cans, clothing or garbage, but are selective eaters when provided with a well-balanced diet.

• Goats can be born with or without horns (polled).

• The natural life expectancy for goats is around 8 to 12 years and in some cases, goats can live over 15 years.

• Goats do not like to get wet and prefer to seek shelter when it is raining.

• Goats are more susceptible to parasites and other infectious diseases when they are mismanaged.

• Estrus (heat) is the period in which does are receptive to mating.

• The estrus cycle is between 18 to 22 days in does.

• The duration of estrus is 12-36 hours.

• Signs of heat include tail wagging, mucous discharge, swollen vulva, bleating, mounting or being mounted by other goats, etc.

• The normal body temperature of goats is between 101.7 to 104.5 degrees.

• The heart rate is of goats is between 70 to 135 beats per minute.

• The normal respiration rate for goats is 12 to 15 breaths per minute.

• Goats have a four chamber stomach that contains fermenting bacteria and protozoan that aid in breaking down their feed.

• Most medications that are currently used on goats are "off label," meaning they were developed for use in other livestock species (i.e., cattle and swine).

• A large group of goats is called a herd.

• A hermaphrodite is a goat that exhibits both male and female sexually characteristics and organs.

• Azalea bushes are poisonous to goats.

• Goats are very social creatures.

• Wattles are those little tufts of hair that covers the skin that dangles from the throat of some goats.  Wattles serve no function and are thought to be remnants of gill slits that mammals shared somewhere back down the evolutionary tree.

• Goat's milk is easily digestible and less allergenic than cow's milk.

• Goat's milk is higher in calcium, vitamin A and niacin than cow's milk.

• Goats are one of the cleanest animals and is much more selective feeders than cows, sheep, pigs and even dogs.