History: The Nigerian Dwarf goat was brought to the United States in the 1950's. Since then, this breed of goats has been used for milk production, pets, and show.

Nigerian Dwarf goats are known for their even temperaments and gentle, playful personalities.  Due to these qualities and their small size, they have become very popular in large and small farms or  rural areas.

They are easily trainable and excellent with children, making them attractive to youth or first-timers participating in 4-H or FFA clubs.

 

Size and appearance: Nigerian Dwarf does stand between 17 and 22.5 inches at the withers, while bucks can grow up to 23.5 inches.

Their average weight is between 60-80 lbs. They come in a variety of colors and patterns and can have either brown or blue eyes in various shades.  While these goats may be smaller than standard breed dairy goats, their confirmation is similar, and their bodies are pretty proportionate.

 

Easy Keepers: (for the most part) They are fairly hardy animals that thrive in almost any climate.  Due to their smaller size, they require less space to graze and play than full-size dairy goats. They are also quite adaptable and live comfortably with other livestock. 

A healthy goat is an active one.  Their area should include things like tree stumps, rocks, and other large climbing structures that they can entertain themselves with.

 

Fencing: Adequate fencing is another requirement since these smaller goats can be quite the escape artists.  You will want fencing with smaller openings so they can't put their heads through.  It is recommended that openings in the fencing be no larger than 2" x 4" to avoid getting their heads stuck.

 

Diet: Nigerian Dwarf goats also require proper feed to thrive. Most importantly, your goats will need free-choice access to hay, forage, and a goat specific loose minerals. Pregnant or nursing does, as well as young kids will also need grain and/or Alfalfa to help supplement their diets as well as fresh, clean water at all times.

 

Milk Production: For many people, the appeal of the Nigerian Dwarf Goat is the combination of their milking ability and compact size. When milking, they produce between 3-4 lbs. of milk with a 6-10% butterfat content on average.  One Nigerian Dwarf goat produces about 2 quarts of milk in a day which is a surprising amount of milk for such a small animal.  As a result, a small herd of Nigerians can become the perfect dairy goat for families who enjoy goat products.

Nigerian Dwarf goats are unique milking goats because their milk is higher in protein than milk from most other dairy goat breeds.  The higher butterfat percentage also gives their milk a rich sweet taste.

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Breeding: When it comes to breeding, Nigerian Dwarf Goats can be bred year around.  Does can be bred as early as 7 months, but it is recommended to wait until they are fully grown at one year or more of age.  Bucks are ready to breed as early as 3 months and sometimes younger. Because of this, it's important to separate young bucklings from young doelings and does by 8 weeks of age. 

Their gestation period is between 145 to 150 days and they often have between 1-3 kids at a time. However, its not uncommon for them to deliver 4 or more.  Nigerians Dwarf goats generally have easy deliveries with few problems. Newborn kids weigh an average of  2-3 lbs. 

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Lifespan: When cared for properly, the Nigerian Dwarf goat can live up to 12-14 years.