Nigerian dwarf goat
Physical features
Short, straight coat with a wide variety of black, white, brown, red, and gold color patterns
Average Adult Weight: 40-60 lbs
Average Adult Length: 24-30 inches
Average Adult Height: 16-20 inches (males can stand up to 23 inches)
Range and Habitat
Range – originally bred in Africa as a mini dairy breed
Habitat – domestic pasture
Diet: Herbivore
Wild – Grass
Zoo – Bermuda hay, grain, fresh browse
Lifespan
Wild – 7-10 years
Zoo – 7-10 years
Reproduction
Females (does) can breed at 7-8 months of age. Males (bucks) have bred successfully as early as 7 weeks old.
These goats breed year-round. Does can be bred 3 times in 2 years.
Most births consist of 3-4 babies, which weigh approximately 2 lbs at birth.
Conservation: Not Evaluated
Considered rare by the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy (7,000 registered)
Interpretive Information
These goats can produce up to 2 quarts of milk each day.
Their milk has 10% more protein and butterfat than most dairy goats’ milk.
These goats have great temperaments and are great in family farm situations. They live peacefully with any kind of livestock.
References
Nigerian Dwarf (1996). Retrieved December 13, 2004, from the Oklahoma State University Department of Animal Science Web site: http://www.ansi.okstate.edu/breeds/goats/
Nigerian dwarf goat (2004). Retrieved December 13, 2004, from the Houston Zoo Web site: http://www.houstonzoo.org/Animal/viewAnimalDetail.asp?scriptaction=showanimal&Animal_Preview_Flag=0&animal_ID=78
Goats (1983). In R. M. Nowak & J. L. Paradiso (Eds.), Walker’s Mammals of the World (4th ed., Vol. 2, pp. 1298-1300). Baltimore, MD: The Johns Hopkins University Press.
Updated December 2004