About The Nigerian Dwarf Goat

The Nigerian Dwarf is a miniature breed of dairy goat originating in West Africa

and developed in the United States.

They have delightful personality and milk.

The balanced proportions of the Nigerian

Dwarf give it the appearance of the larger breeds of dairy goats. The Nigerian

Dwarf has a higher percentage of butterfat and produces a good a quantity milk

for it's small size. The Nigerian Dwarf differs from the Pygmy in that the Pygmy

is a more Cobb and compact animal with heavier bone, shorter legs, larger but

short head, rounder flatter shoulders and a shorter rump. The Nigerian has a

longer leaner neck, more level rump, rear-angled ribbing indicative of dairy

animals, sharper withers and more refinement. The Nigerian Dwarf is known for

being reproductively sound and doesn't have the kidding difficulties that the

Pygmy is known for. The Nigerian will breed all year round with the buck kids

becoming fertile as young as 3 months of age. It is not uncommon for Nigerian

does to produce from two to five kids.

American Goat Society (AGS) and the American Dairy Goat Association (ADGA)

standards for Nigerian Dwarf goats state there is no minimum size for either

sex, however, does must not be over 22 1/2 inches tall and bucks no more than

23 1/2 inches at the highest point of the withers. Any color or combination of

colors is acceptable.

According to the Nigerian Dwarf Goat Association (NDGA), the ideal height of

Nigerian Dwarf goats is 17" to 19" for does with does up to 21" allowed in the

breed standard. Ideal height for bucks is 19" to 21" with bucks up to 23"

allowed in the breed standard. Ideal weight is suggested to be about 75 lbs.

Animals are disqualified from the show ring for being oversized for the breed

standard and/or for other faults: having a curly coat, roman nose, pendulous

ears or evidence of myasthenia (a breed characteristic of fainting goats).