Nigerian Dwarf Goat Breed Standards & Production Info
"The Nigerian Dwarf is a miniature breed of dairy goat originating in West Africa and developed in the United States. The balanced proportions of the Nigerian Dwarf give it the appearance of the larger breeds of dairy goats, but does stand no more than 22.5″ (57 cm) and bucks no more than 23.5″ (60 cm). Any color or combination of colors is acceptable. The medium length ears are erect and alert. The face is either straight or dished, and the hair is short and fine." ~ From the American Dairy Goat Association website.
Nigerian Dwarf goats produce a large quantity of milk for their body size. Obviously, you are not going to get the same amount of milk from a Nigerian Dwarf as you would from a standard breed goat. A dairy goat's milk production will depend on many factors such as feed, nutrition, overall health, age, number of lactations, number of kids in the lacation, genetics, etc. Not all Nigerian Dwarf goats are bred for milk production, some are bred just as pets. If you are looking for a dairy goat, make sure you are buying from a breeder that actually milks their goats (and weighs it on a routine basis) or even better, have their herd on DHIR milk tests. Unfortunately, many breeders are telling people that they will get 1/2 gallon a day from a Nigerian doe, so people buy these wonderful little animals expecting 1/2 gallon a day for the entire lacation. While this can be true for some (very few) extraordinary individuals, it is not a typical amount that should be expected in the long term. It is not at all unusual for a good doe to PEAK at 1/2 gallon (there are some very productive does that have even produced 6-8 lbs at peak), but it is very unlikely she will continue to produce half a gallon for her entire lactation. If a breeder is telling you that you should expect 1/2 gallon throughout the entire lactation, be suspicious unless they have the DHIR milk test records proving that their doe can do that for an extended lactation, not just the first 40-50 days!
The average lactation curve for a Nigerian Dwarf based on data collected from an ADGA representative shows that most does in their 2nd lactation or later peak between 3.5 to 4 lbs of milk at around 30-40 days and then begin declining in production. By day 100, the production is around 2.5 lbs per day, by day 200 production is about 2 lbs per day, and day 300 it drops just below 2 lbs. For your reference, there is approximately 2 cups per 1 lb of milk (this can vary depending on the amount of butterfat.) Obviously, this is just an average and gives you a rough estimate of production. Individual doe performance is going to vary greatly based on genetics, nutrition, etc. The best way to determine the milking potential of your goat is to check out the DHIR milk test data on their dam, grand-dams, etc.
Nigerian Dwarf goats produce a large quantity of milk for their body size. Obviously, you are not going to get the same amount of milk from a Nigerian Dwarf as you would from a standard breed goat. A dairy goat's milk production will depend on many factors such as feed, nutrition, overall health, age, number of lactations, number of kids in the lacation, genetics, etc. Not all Nigerian Dwarf goats are bred for milk production, some are bred just as pets. If you are looking for a dairy goat, make sure you are buying from a breeder that actually milks their goats (and weighs it on a routine basis) or even better, have their herd on DHIR milk tests. Unfortunately, many breeders are telling people that they will get 1/2 gallon a day from a Nigerian doe, so people buy these wonderful little animals expecting 1/2 gallon a day for the entire lacation. While this can be true for some (very few) extraordinary individuals, it is not a typical amount that should be expected in the long term. It is not at all unusual for a good doe to PEAK at 1/2 gallon (there are some very productive does that have even produced 6-8 lbs at peak), but it is very unlikely she will continue to produce half a gallon for her entire lactation. If a breeder is telling you that you should expect 1/2 gallon throughout the entire lactation, be suspicious unless they have the DHIR milk test records proving that their doe can do that for an extended lactation, not just the first 40-50 days!
The average lactation curve for a Nigerian Dwarf based on data collected from an ADGA representative shows that most does in their 2nd lactation or later peak between 3.5 to 4 lbs of milk at around 30-40 days and then begin declining in production. By day 100, the production is around 2.5 lbs per day, by day 200 production is about 2 lbs per day, and day 300 it drops just below 2 lbs. For your reference, there is approximately 2 cups per 1 lb of milk (this can vary depending on the amount of butterfat.) Obviously, this is just an average and gives you a rough estimate of production. Individual doe performance is going to vary greatly based on genetics, nutrition, etc. The best way to determine the milking potential of your goat is to check out the DHIR milk test data on their dam, grand-dams, etc.
Considerations Before Buying a Nigerian Dwarf Goat
There is a lot of really good information on the feeding and care of goats. An excellent resource for all things goat related is Fias Co Farm. I highly recommend you visit this page for feeding and care tips. Goat forums, Facebook pages, goat friends, etc. are great ways to get different perspectives and opinions for feeding and care.
A few things to consider before you buy a goat:
Please don't hesitate to ask me if you have any questions about my breeding program!
A few things to consider before you buy a goat:
- You CANNOT have just one goat. Goats are very social animals and they must have the companionship of another goat. Goats can become very depressed and ill if they do not have another goat for companionship.
- You must have a safe and secure place to put your goats. Nigerian Dwarf goats are smaller than other goats and require fencing that they can't escape. Don't underestimate their ability to "squeeze" through wire or find ways to climb and jump over fences. The fencing also needs to be sturdy and tall enough that predators (loose dogs, coyotes, foxes, etc) cannot get into the enclosure.
- Your goat will need a barn or shed that is free of drafts and is dry.
- A goat is a commitment of 10+ years. Please consider this before buying one for yourself or your children.
- Goats require routine care such as vaccines, deworming, and feet trimming. Your goat will also require a loose mineral that is made specifically for goats.
Please don't hesitate to ask me if you have any questions about my breeding program!
Sales Policy
Please read the entire sales policy before you contact me regarding purchasing a goat. These are the general guidelines that will be followed for purchasing. If you have any questions regarding any of my policies, please let me know. I am easy to work with and willing to make reasonable accommodations to help buyers purchase one of my goats.
As the breeder, I reserve the right to retain any kid, regardless of any outside reservations. This is for the purpose of keeping and proving my own stock. However, I will do my best to meet the needs of outside reservations. If I know ahead of time that I plan to reserve a kid, you will see this noted on the kidding schedule.
I also reserve the right to refuse to sell to any buyer for any reason. Please do not be offended if I ask a lot of questions or even require pictures of your goat shelter and fencing. I want to find the best possible homes for all of my goats. If you are new to goats, please do your research before purchasing a goat so you can provide appropriate feed, shelter, supplements, and care. I completely understand that we all must learn and I encourage new goat owners to contact me; I just ask that you have done some research before you inquire about a goat. Goats are very rewarding, but they are also a big commitment.
Please note - goats are herd animals and MUST have another goat companion. If you are unable to have at least two goats, please do not purchase a single goat. They can become very lonely and depressed; human companionship alone is not sufficient. I will not sell a single goat to anybody that does not already have goats, no exceptions. If you purchase a registered doe or buck from me at full price, you can purchase a wether for 1/2 price (a 1/2 price wether would be $35) as a companion, if available.
Reserving Kids
Please see our Kidding Schedule for the upcoming planned breedings. We don't take official reservations on kids, but we will keep a list of interest so you can be notified if a kid from a pairing you like is put up for sale. If you see a pairing that you might be interested in, please send me an email and let me know. Our focus is on the conformation and milk production of our animals, not on the color. However, if there is a particular color combination you are interested in, please let me know. I will make a list of any "color interest" and do my best to let people know if their desired color is born. "Color reservations" will NOT take precedence over a person who has expressed interest on a specific doe/buck pairing.
When the decision has been made to purchase a kid, the buyer has 7 days to send a non-refundable deposit to hold the kid until weaning. Payment by Paypal or cash is preferred; checks are accepted if sent in advance with sufficient time to clear the bank. Please note, this deposit is non-refundable. If you later decide that you no longer want the goat, I will keep the deposit because I have lost other potential sales on this goat. The exception to this is if the goat dies or is injured prior to you picking them up, the deposit will be refunded in that case.
Picking Up Your Kid
The kid is expected to be picked up and the remaining balance paid in full within 2 weeks of weaning unless other arrangements are made ahead of time, a fee may be applied if the kid must stay longer than 2 weeks after weaning (charges will typically only apply if I am running short on room to hold the kid or if the amount of time I have to hold the kid after weaning is a lot longer than "normal"). If the kid is not picked up at the agreed upon time and other arrangements are not made or I cannot reach you by phone and/or email, the goat may be re-listed for sale and your deposit will be forfeited. (This sounds harsh, but it is really only meant to avoid situations where buyers keep "rescheduling" their pick-up date for months and months. These types of situations usually imply the buyer is not serious about the goat and is probably not the best home for the goat. This does not mean I will sell your goat out from under you if you have a emergency come up and have to make other arrangements for pick up. Just stay in touch with me so I know what the plan is and know that you are serious about completing the purchase of the goat.)
Sales of Adult Animals
Adult animals offered for sale will follow the same policy as kids. A non-refundable deposit is due within 7 days of you deciding to purchase the goat. The remaining balance plus any costs for shipping or testing is due in cash or by Paypal prior to pick-up (or shipping date) or by check 2 weeks in advance. If the goat cannot be picked up within 2 weeks of purchase and other arrangements have not been made, a fee may be charged or the goat may be offered for sale to another interested party and your deposit will not be refunded. (Please see my note, above, under "Picking Up Your Kid" about this policy.)
Health Procedures and Disclosures
Kids are dam raised and most will be weaned at 8 weeks at the earliest; most will be 10-12 weeks or older. If it is in the best interest of the kid we reserve the right to keep them on the dam for longer. Before going to their new homes, kids will be tattooed (if registered) and disbudded. Our herd is tested free for CAE, CL, and Johne's annually. Paperwork for registration with ADGA will be ready for the buyer. All animals are guaranteed to be healthy and disease free at the time of sale. Because we cannot control environmental influences and conditions once said animal leaves our property, we cannot offer any further guarantees. All kids will be disbudded unless disclosed as being horned, however, we can never guarantee that scurs will not grow, especially in buck kids. We do our best to watch for possible scurs and re-burn as necessary, but we cannot guarantee a scur won't develop. While we breed for milk production and conformation in accordance with the Nigerian Dwarf breed standard, we cannot guarantee the kid's future milk production, height, or breeding soundness. We will do out best to describe all kids and adult animals to give you the best information possible to make your purchase decisions. If you have specific concerns or traits you are looking for, please let us know so we can give you the most relevant information possible.
We are more than happy to provide DNA results on any kid we sell! We are working on getting DNA on file for the entire herd; at this time all of the bucks and many of the senior does are done. If you would like a DNA test, the buyer is responsible for the cost of the DNA kit (cost is around than $30-$40). If the dam of the kid you are buying isn't tested yet, don't worry; we will cover the cost of getting the dam DNA tested first. We want all our customers to be comfortable that they are getting exactly what they pay for. Alpha s1 Casein testing can also be sent in for around the same cost.
Shipping Your Goat Via Airlines
We are willing to ship kids via airline from Great Falls, MT. Based on previous inquiries with airlines, shipping adult goats out of Montana is most likely not feasible as a larger kennel is required and the size of plane required for this kennels is not common in any of the Montana Airlines (we are more than willing to help you look into shipping adult goats if you are interested, we just have not had good luck when trying to ship in adult goats to Montana.)
Buyer will be responsible for the cost of shipping, health certificates or other testing specific to their state, and the purchase of their own kennel. The airlines have made it increasingly difficult to ship goats, but we will do what we can to accommodate air shipping at the lowest prices possible.
Please note: in no case will we ship an animal that has not been paid for, in full, prior to shipping (if paying by check, there must be sufficient time for the check to clear prior to shipping.) If the payment is not received, the goat will not be put on the plane.
Delivery Options
Feel free to contact me with any questions at all! I may be able to make arrangements to drive animals part-way for the cost of gas or deliver for free to any show we are attending. Let me know where you are located and I'll see if I can work something out!
As the breeder, I reserve the right to retain any kid, regardless of any outside reservations. This is for the purpose of keeping and proving my own stock. However, I will do my best to meet the needs of outside reservations. If I know ahead of time that I plan to reserve a kid, you will see this noted on the kidding schedule.
I also reserve the right to refuse to sell to any buyer for any reason. Please do not be offended if I ask a lot of questions or even require pictures of your goat shelter and fencing. I want to find the best possible homes for all of my goats. If you are new to goats, please do your research before purchasing a goat so you can provide appropriate feed, shelter, supplements, and care. I completely understand that we all must learn and I encourage new goat owners to contact me; I just ask that you have done some research before you inquire about a goat. Goats are very rewarding, but they are also a big commitment.
Please note - goats are herd animals and MUST have another goat companion. If you are unable to have at least two goats, please do not purchase a single goat. They can become very lonely and depressed; human companionship alone is not sufficient. I will not sell a single goat to anybody that does not already have goats, no exceptions. If you purchase a registered doe or buck from me at full price, you can purchase a wether for 1/2 price (a 1/2 price wether would be $35) as a companion, if available.
Reserving Kids
Please see our Kidding Schedule for the upcoming planned breedings. We don't take official reservations on kids, but we will keep a list of interest so you can be notified if a kid from a pairing you like is put up for sale. If you see a pairing that you might be interested in, please send me an email and let me know. Our focus is on the conformation and milk production of our animals, not on the color. However, if there is a particular color combination you are interested in, please let me know. I will make a list of any "color interest" and do my best to let people know if their desired color is born. "Color reservations" will NOT take precedence over a person who has expressed interest on a specific doe/buck pairing.
When the decision has been made to purchase a kid, the buyer has 7 days to send a non-refundable deposit to hold the kid until weaning. Payment by Paypal or cash is preferred; checks are accepted if sent in advance with sufficient time to clear the bank. Please note, this deposit is non-refundable. If you later decide that you no longer want the goat, I will keep the deposit because I have lost other potential sales on this goat. The exception to this is if the goat dies or is injured prior to you picking them up, the deposit will be refunded in that case.
Picking Up Your Kid
The kid is expected to be picked up and the remaining balance paid in full within 2 weeks of weaning unless other arrangements are made ahead of time, a fee may be applied if the kid must stay longer than 2 weeks after weaning (charges will typically only apply if I am running short on room to hold the kid or if the amount of time I have to hold the kid after weaning is a lot longer than "normal"). If the kid is not picked up at the agreed upon time and other arrangements are not made or I cannot reach you by phone and/or email, the goat may be re-listed for sale and your deposit will be forfeited. (This sounds harsh, but it is really only meant to avoid situations where buyers keep "rescheduling" their pick-up date for months and months. These types of situations usually imply the buyer is not serious about the goat and is probably not the best home for the goat. This does not mean I will sell your goat out from under you if you have a emergency come up and have to make other arrangements for pick up. Just stay in touch with me so I know what the plan is and know that you are serious about completing the purchase of the goat.)
Sales of Adult Animals
Adult animals offered for sale will follow the same policy as kids. A non-refundable deposit is due within 7 days of you deciding to purchase the goat. The remaining balance plus any costs for shipping or testing is due in cash or by Paypal prior to pick-up (or shipping date) or by check 2 weeks in advance. If the goat cannot be picked up within 2 weeks of purchase and other arrangements have not been made, a fee may be charged or the goat may be offered for sale to another interested party and your deposit will not be refunded. (Please see my note, above, under "Picking Up Your Kid" about this policy.)
Health Procedures and Disclosures
Kids are dam raised and most will be weaned at 8 weeks at the earliest; most will be 10-12 weeks or older. If it is in the best interest of the kid we reserve the right to keep them on the dam for longer. Before going to their new homes, kids will be tattooed (if registered) and disbudded. Our herd is tested free for CAE, CL, and Johne's annually. Paperwork for registration with ADGA will be ready for the buyer. All animals are guaranteed to be healthy and disease free at the time of sale. Because we cannot control environmental influences and conditions once said animal leaves our property, we cannot offer any further guarantees. All kids will be disbudded unless disclosed as being horned, however, we can never guarantee that scurs will not grow, especially in buck kids. We do our best to watch for possible scurs and re-burn as necessary, but we cannot guarantee a scur won't develop. While we breed for milk production and conformation in accordance with the Nigerian Dwarf breed standard, we cannot guarantee the kid's future milk production, height, or breeding soundness. We will do out best to describe all kids and adult animals to give you the best information possible to make your purchase decisions. If you have specific concerns or traits you are looking for, please let us know so we can give you the most relevant information possible.
We are more than happy to provide DNA results on any kid we sell! We are working on getting DNA on file for the entire herd; at this time all of the bucks and many of the senior does are done. If you would like a DNA test, the buyer is responsible for the cost of the DNA kit (cost is around than $30-$40). If the dam of the kid you are buying isn't tested yet, don't worry; we will cover the cost of getting the dam DNA tested first. We want all our customers to be comfortable that they are getting exactly what they pay for. Alpha s1 Casein testing can also be sent in for around the same cost.
Shipping Your Goat Via Airlines
We are willing to ship kids via airline from Great Falls, MT. Based on previous inquiries with airlines, shipping adult goats out of Montana is most likely not feasible as a larger kennel is required and the size of plane required for this kennels is not common in any of the Montana Airlines (we are more than willing to help you look into shipping adult goats if you are interested, we just have not had good luck when trying to ship in adult goats to Montana.)
Buyer will be responsible for the cost of shipping, health certificates or other testing specific to their state, and the purchase of their own kennel. The airlines have made it increasingly difficult to ship goats, but we will do what we can to accommodate air shipping at the lowest prices possible.
Please note: in no case will we ship an animal that has not been paid for, in full, prior to shipping (if paying by check, there must be sufficient time for the check to clear prior to shipping.) If the payment is not received, the goat will not be put on the plane.
Delivery Options
Feel free to contact me with any questions at all! I may be able to make arrangements to drive animals part-way for the cost of gas or deliver for free to any show we are attending. Let me know where you are located and I'll see if I can work something out!
