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Library
General Information On Nigerian Dwarf Goats
The Nigerian Dwarf is a
miniature, dairy goat which originated in West Africa. The parts of
the body are in balanced proportion to their small size, the nose is
straight, the ears upright, and the coat is soft with short to medium
length. They come in 4 basic color families: white, black, chocolate
or brown, and gold (which ranges from a very light cream color to a
dark red gold). These colors may be displayed in numerous patterns such
as solid colored, buckskin, schwartzhal, chamoise, pinto, or dalmation
spotted. They may also have random markings such a facial and dorsal
stripes, belts, frosting on ears and muzzles, or just random markings
of any shape and size. Their colorfulness is one of the big factors
that makes this breed so popular. Breeders never know for sure what
color the kids will be until they are born and even then, colors can
change as they mature.
Nigerian Dwarfs are gentle, social, and very lovable animals that
make wonderful pets and great animal projects for FFA and 4H. A
Nigerian doe can produce up to 2 quarts of milk per day and because
of their sweet nature, they are excellent, productive animals for the
small homestead. They blend in well with other breeds of goats, as
well as with donkeys and llamas. They do not require separate or special
housing, only adequate fencing to keep them in because of their small
size (and to keep the coyotes out).
Nigerian Dwarfs can breed all year round and a doe carries a kid for
5 months; how often a doe is bred is a matter of breeder choice. Does
can be bred at 7-8 months of age, but most breeders prefer to wait
until they are at least 1 year or older. Does can have several kids
at one time with twins and triplets being fairly common. They are
usually good mothers if the kids are left in their care. Bucks are
of breeding as young as 7 weeks of age, so they must be weaned
separately from any doe kids or dams; most bucks can be used for service
as young as 3 months of age, but most breeders wait until they are at
least 7 or 8 months old to be sure of their conformation. Dwarf bucks
are vigorous breeders, but are gentle enough to allow for hand or leash
breeding; they are also very successful pasture breeders.
For more information on Nigerian Dwarf goats, see Organizations/Registries,
Useful Web Sites, Other References, and the Frequently Asked Questions
pages. Also, if you are new to goats, the breeder from whom you purchase
your animals should be a willing and vital source of information.
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