Nigerian Dwarf Breed History

   by Tom Rucker

Like many breeds of domesticated livestock, the complete history of the Nigerian Dwarfis

incomplete. Through the years and stages of development, record were not always kept, or if

they were, they are sketchy at best. Developing the history of the breed is much like putting a

jigsaw puzzle together that is missing many of its pieces. To reach the present day Nigerian

Dwarf, one has to use a combination of documented facts, speculation, deductive reasoning and a

little imagination.

What is known is the throughout tropical Western Africa, there is a type of goat referred to as

the West African Dwarf )WAD). These goats are used as a food source, both meat and milk, for

the local population. Due to economic hardships, keeping "pets" is not an option. It appears that

little thought is used in breeding and it is truly a survival of the fittest phenomenon taking place.

The writings about Albert Schweitzer and his work at his hospital in Lamberne in the country

now known as Gabone, the local goat is often times referred to, and in fact is credited with

supplying the milk for the hospital. The imported breeds typically known as dairy breeds weren't

able to withstand the tse - Tse fly, and there fore were not productive. The WAD goats continued

to survive and thrive. Throughout books on Dr. Schweitzer, pictures of goats similar in type to

what are referred to as a Nigerian Dwarves in the U.S. can be found.

Exactly how the WAD goats came to American soil is one of the missing pieces in the puzzle.

One theory is that as the big cats were shipped to zoos, goats were loaded on the zoos. AS

early as 1918, Joseph Crepin reported the second edition of la Chevre that WAD goats had

been imported to the United States. Additionally, there were a number of documented

importations from the 1930s to the 1960s.

The beginning of the breed in this country lies in zoos. The first miniature goats to appear in this

country were part of zoo exhibits, and occasionally research instructions. As the population began

to grow, it became necessary to reduce the number of animals and individuals had their first

opportunity to own these unique goats. Originally, all small goats of WAD origin were

indiscriminately referred to as pygmies. In the beginning, "pygmy" was used more to  describe a

size of goat rather than a specific breed, much like " Swiss" is often times used to refer to the

various erect eared breed hailing from Europe.

As time went on, breeders began to notice differences in type within what had become the

Pygmy breed. It became apparent that there were two distinct types: the shorter legged, heavier

bodied, round bone animals more typical of what is know today as a Pygmy, and the more

refined. angular animal that has become today's Nigerian Dwarf As breeders began to

communicate, they discovered there were others in the United States and Canada that had similar

observances. Mrs. Bonnie Abrahamson of North Ogden, Utah, while working in a zoo in

California was one of the fist to notice the distinctive deference.

Mrs. Abrahamson brought several black and white animals that she referred to as "Nigerian

Dwarves" to an AGS Pygmy certification committee. Despite their more refined type and dairy

appearance, these animals were accepted into the AGS Pygmy herdbood. At about the same

tie, Mr Heabert Woods of Alexandria, Indiana, had animals similar in type to Mrs.

Abrahamson's, but brown in color, refused entry into the National Pygmy Goat Association's

herdbooks because of their color.

These two breeders petitioned the Intimation Dairy Goat Registry (IDGR) to open a herdbook

for Nigerian Dwarves. IDGR opened a separate herd book for the breed, complete with a standard

emphasizing dairy characteristics, and on July 24, 1918 Mr Robert Johnson's Bullfrog Alley's

Johnny Jump - Up #2 a buck bred by Mrs Abrahamson, became the first Nigerian Dwarf

registered by any registry. By January 1987, there were 384 animals registered tin the herdbooks

of IDGR as Nigerian Dwarves, with 93 of those registered the previous year alone. In part,

largely due to the fact that

IDGR does not sanction show, the popularity of the registry has waned over the years.

The early Nigerian Dwarves were seen most often in three distinct color lines, all of similar type,

even though many of the early breeders attempted to keep each color line separate from the

others. A majority. Possibly because of the limited number of representatives of the breed, breeders

did begin to mix the color lines fairly early on, although references to specific color lines could

still be found as late as 1988.

In 1984, the American Goat Society (AGS) opened a herdbook for Nigerian Dwarves, and by

September of the following year, 82 animals, representing breeders from 8 states and Canada had

been registered. The first AGS registered Nigerian. Mr. Woods was instrumental in getting a

separate herdbook for the breed with AGS, and was made chairman of the Nigerian Dwarf

committee. Mr. Wright and Pat Freemman of Dutton, Ontario completed the original Nigerian

Dwarf committee for AGS.

To form the foundation of the breed, applications were submitted to the committee, along with a

clear photo graph of the animal and a measurement of the animal at the withers. If the committee

unanimously agreed that the  animal, that had to be at least one year of age, met the breed

standard, the animal was then eligible to be registered as a purebred Nigerian Dwarf. Animals

that were a accepted for registration using this process are often times referred to as a "committee

animal." Some of the animals submitted,

such as Mrs. Abrahamson's, were previously registered as Pygmies. It also would include

animals with unknown backgrounds that showed true Nigerian Dwarf characteristics, and as time

went on, animals that were of registered ancestry but which did not have the paperwork kept up.

Many times, it was

easier to submit the animal for certification than to retrace paperwork for several generations.

The original closing date for the herdbook was set at December 31, 1987. A change in the

standard that year, however, would allow animals that previously were ineligible and the date

was extended to December 31, 1990, with fewer than 400 Nigerian Dwarves registered,

the AGS Board voted to extend the deadline until December 31, 1992 to allow for a sufficient

genetic base of foundation stock. The certification process did end in 1992, and all animals

registered through this point, whether by ancestry or committee approval, carry an "f" suffix to

their registration number to indicate that they are considered a foundation animal. Unfortunately,

accurate records were not kept as to exactly how many animals were a admitted via certification,

but by the end of 1992, a total of approximately 2000 Nigerian Dwarves had been registered with

the American Goat Society. There was still some concern that the breed need a broader genetic

base, and a progeny program was put into place until December 31, 1997. An unregistered

animal would still be considered for registration if, when bred to several different AGS

registered Nigerian Dwarves (3 for does, 4 for bucks), the animal and all surviving offspring meet

breed standard and received unanimous approval of the Nigerian Dwarf committee. Again,

accurate records were not kept, but one committee member recalls very few of these coming

through committee. In keeping with AGS' philosophy of closed, purebred herdbooks, since

January 1, 1998, the only way to be registered as a purebred Nigerian Dwarfis to be the

offspring of two registered purebred Nigerian Dwarves. (A breakdown of AGS registration

numbers can be found in the Pedigree section of this proposal.) While undoubtedly there have

been animals of varied background admitted to the herdbook, essentially since 1992 we have had

a closed herdbook All breeds begin somewhere, and what is more important that what we started

with, is where we are going. Using the wide genetic base created through the open herd book,

breeders are now molding the breed into a superior milk-producing animal of unmistakable dairy

goat type that also happens to be small. While the Nigerian Dwarf and the Pygmy share common

ancestry, they have clearly become two, distinct breeds through the efforts of breeders of both of

the breeds.

The popularity of the breed has continued to grow, in part because of AGS sanctioned shows

being held across the country. The first show that offered a separate sanction for the breed was

the 1985 AGS National Show held in Graham, Texas. Only two exhibitors of Nigerian Dwarves

were present (Shaula Parker and Kathleen Claps), and the breed wasn't official, but there has

been no looking back since. Pine Cone Valley Black Satin, a doe that is listed as an original

import, owned by Ms Claps, had the distinction of being crowned the first AGS notional

Champion Nigerian Dwarf. While the popularity of shows skyrocketed a fleer this, another AGS

National Show wouldn't be held until 1996. Through the hard work of Nigerian Dwarf breeders,

an AGS sectioned National Show has been held every year since. Please see the pictures of our

5 beautiful National show winners at the end of this section. Interestingly, the 4 does to win the

national a fleer Black Satin all trace back to her many times.

From the first show in 1985 with a few animals, it is now not uncommon for a show of Nigerian

Dwarves only to approach 200 animals. AGS sanctioned shows are being held in almost every

part of the country, and Nigerian Dwarf breeders are traveling thousand of miles a year to

promote the breed and their herds.

Looking back at the breeders that have made this all happen, we need to start with Mrs.

Abrahamson. It was her vision that the breed be classified separately from what was known as

the Pygmy. Due to her failing health, Mrs Abrahamson was force to sell her herd in 1981, and

Robert Johnson, owner of IDGR, purchased her herd. her Bulfrog Alley herd can be found in

many of today's Nigerian Dwarves, either directly, or more commonly through Mr. Johnson's

Pine Cone Valley herd. Of course, Mr Wood, working primarily with the brown line, was quite

influential, and Highland Woods animals are evident in many pedigrees. Mr Wood worked

closely with Mr Wright of Wright Acres, and those animals appear in many pedigrees as well.

Mr. Freeman's Braco herd, primarily through the popularity of one buck, can be found in many

pedigrees. Of these early breeders, unfortunately many are no longer alive  no longer active.

Ms Freeman still breed goats, but her herd is known more for its Pygmies.

Moving a bit forward, we find three other prominent herds that have heavily influenced the

Nigerian Dwarf breed. Fortunately, for ANDDA and the breed, all three are still actively

breeding and are members of ANDDA. Mrs. Sandra mason, now of Medina, Ohio, but

previously from Texas and then Washington, own the Brush Creed herd. Much of her original

herd traced to the San Antorino zoo that reportedly had direct imports. Mrs. mason has been

breeding Nigerian Dwarves since 1982 and is the current AGS Nigerian Dwarf committee

chairperson and current ANDDA Director -at- Large. Also beginning in 1982 was Mrs. Shaula

Parker of Willow Park, Texas. Breeding under the herdname of Willows or Willo Creek, Mrs.

Parker's animals can be found in pedigrees throughout the country. Additionally, Mrs Parker

was the breeder of the 1996 National Best of Bred doe. Mrs. Parker and Mrs. Mason have

formed a very close relationship, and animals from each herd can be found in the other. Also

these two ladies co-edited the first breed publication, Footnotes*. The last herd to be mentioned

is that of Ms. Kathleen Claps, now of dripping Springs, Texas. Her Goodwood animals have

stamped a very distinctive type across the breed. The achievement of the Goodwood animals is

nothing less than remarkable. The first Master Champions were the Goodwood name, the 1997

National Best of Breed doe was a Goodwood doe, the first animals on test were owned by

Goodwood. Ms Claps was also the founder of one of the original breed organizations for the

breed, and following the decision to stop publishing Foot notes * Ms. Claps began the breed

magazine, Ruminations, remaining its editor until recently. These three ladies have done more

than most of us will ever know in the formation of the breed to what it has become today.

But, not to rest on our laurels, the breed can be equally proud of our "new" breeders. We now

boast a breeder of multiple ADGA National Show champions, previous owners of large

commercial dairy goat operations, and a past ADGA President. Of chouse, we also have the

beginner that has never owner a goat before and the enthusiasm that brings, and breeders of

every currently recognized ADGA breed. Through this varied mix of individuals, the breed's

future is secure.