About Nigerian Dwarf Goats:
The Nigerian Dwarf is a miniature dairy goat originating from West Africa and developed in the United States. The balanced proportions of the Nigerian Dwarf give it an appearance similar to the larger, Swiss breeds of dairy goats. Shorter height is the primary breed characteristic of the Nigerian Dwarf, with does measuring no more than 22 1/2” at the withers and bucks measuring no more than 23 1/2" at the withers.
They are known for their high quality milk, often with exceptionally high (6-10%) butterfat content. They can give up to 2 quarts of sweet milk a day with exceptional milkers giving even more. Nigerian Dwarfs are gregarious, friendly, hardy animals that thrive in almost any climate. The medium length ears are erect and alert. The face is either straight or slightly dished. The coat is of medium length, and straight. The Nigerian Dwarf is the only dairy breed known to occasionally have blue eyes. Both brown & blue eyed animals are encountered with no preference being given to either eye color. Any pattern, color, or combination of colors is acceptable.
They are known for their high quality milk, often with exceptionally high (6-10%) butterfat content. They can give up to 2 quarts of sweet milk a day with exceptional milkers giving even more. Nigerian Dwarfs are gregarious, friendly, hardy animals that thrive in almost any climate. The medium length ears are erect and alert. The face is either straight or slightly dished. The coat is of medium length, and straight. The Nigerian Dwarf is the only dairy breed known to occasionally have blue eyes. Both brown & blue eyed animals are encountered with no preference being given to either eye color. Any pattern, color, or combination of colors is acceptable.
Why we chose this breed:
Temperament & Size:
After much research we settled on the Nigerian Dwarf Goat breed because their friendly nature and small size made them safer for our children to be around. At only five years old our daughter could easily catch and hold any of our goats including our breeding buck. Our first herd queen, Allie, treated our then 3 yr old son like one of her own kids, and if he cried or stumbled she was right there to check on him.
Their small size makes it easy to transport them in a large or extra-large dog kennel. This means you can take them to the vet and avoid farm call outs except for the most serious of issues. They are easily transported to shows too. And the babies make great visitors to nursing homes and assisted living facilities too. And boy do they put smiles on people's faces!
Milk Production:
Since Nigerians come into heat approximately every 21 days they can be breed to kid year round and with only a small herd and well timed breedings you can assure a constant supply of sweet, creamy milk for the family table. Excess milk above the drinking/cooking requirements can be used for cheese and butter making. Although butter making does require the purchase of a cream separator, since goats milk is naturally homogenized and the cream does not rise to the top in significant quantities.
Color:
The above reasons were enough to convince us that this was the right choice for us, and as an added bonus Nigerians come in a wide variety of colors and there is no predicting what colors you will get from a particular breeding. If you like a lot of variety in your herd, Nigerians are a great choice for that too.
After much research we settled on the Nigerian Dwarf Goat breed because their friendly nature and small size made them safer for our children to be around. At only five years old our daughter could easily catch and hold any of our goats including our breeding buck. Our first herd queen, Allie, treated our then 3 yr old son like one of her own kids, and if he cried or stumbled she was right there to check on him.
Their small size makes it easy to transport them in a large or extra-large dog kennel. This means you can take them to the vet and avoid farm call outs except for the most serious of issues. They are easily transported to shows too. And the babies make great visitors to nursing homes and assisted living facilities too. And boy do they put smiles on people's faces!
Milk Production:
Since Nigerians come into heat approximately every 21 days they can be breed to kid year round and with only a small herd and well timed breedings you can assure a constant supply of sweet, creamy milk for the family table. Excess milk above the drinking/cooking requirements can be used for cheese and butter making. Although butter making does require the purchase of a cream separator, since goats milk is naturally homogenized and the cream does not rise to the top in significant quantities.
Color:
The above reasons were enough to convince us that this was the right choice for us, and as an added bonus Nigerians come in a wide variety of colors and there is no predicting what colors you will get from a particular breeding. If you like a lot of variety in your herd, Nigerians are a great choice for that too.
Why I think they are the perfect addition to a small homestead:
At an average adult weight of just 50-75lbs for does, they are roughly half the size of the larger dairy breeds. Good milkers can produce a 1/2 gallon (4#) a day of high butter fat content (their avg is twice that of larger dairy breeds) and exceptional milkers like our buck Sunshine's dam produce 3/4 of a gallon (6#) a day. By way of comparison the average milk yield for a Nubian is 5# or just a little over a 1/2 gallon.
Two Nigerian does require just slightly more feed and housing space than a single larger breed doe. However, their production will more than make up for it. Plus, with staggered breedings you could keep your homestead in milk year round with just two does, although 3-4 would be better.
Because of their small size some cities are even starting to allow them as "pets" along with chickens if you have a large enough lot. Usually the limit is two, and as with chickens, males are not welcome. But if you are seeking to be more self-sufficient and to provide quality food for your family table, you certainly can't go wrong with Nigerian Dwarf dairy goats, no matter if you have just a 1/4 acre , 5 acres or a whole lot more!
Two Nigerian does require just slightly more feed and housing space than a single larger breed doe. However, their production will more than make up for it. Plus, with staggered breedings you could keep your homestead in milk year round with just two does, although 3-4 would be better.
Because of their small size some cities are even starting to allow them as "pets" along with chickens if you have a large enough lot. Usually the limit is two, and as with chickens, males are not welcome. But if you are seeking to be more self-sufficient and to provide quality food for your family table, you certainly can't go wrong with Nigerian Dwarf dairy goats, no matter if you have just a 1/4 acre , 5 acres or a whole lot more!
