LEt's start with some basic terms...
Kid = goat baby
Doeling = female kid
Jr. Doe = unbred young female
Doe = adult female, the term "nanny" is not typically used by goat breeders
Buckling = male kid
Jr. Buck = young intact male
Buck = adult intact male, the term "billy" is not typically used by goat breeders
Wether = neutered male
Kidded = gave birth
Litter = the kids born, Nigerian Dwarf Goats typically have multiple kids and the number of kids born is referred to as the "litter".
Udder = is the proper term for a goat's mammary system. Calling a goat's udder a bag, utter or utters is not correct. A goat has one udder and two teats.
Freshened, Freshening, Freshener = You will often see terms like "1st freshening" or "3rd Freshener" it refers to the number of lactations a doe has had. To say "She freshened on March 1st" means she gave birth and came into milk on March 1st.
Polled = a naturally/genetically hornless goat.
Doeling = female kid
Jr. Doe = unbred young female
Doe = adult female, the term "nanny" is not typically used by goat breeders
Buckling = male kid
Jr. Buck = young intact male
Buck = adult intact male, the term "billy" is not typically used by goat breeders
Wether = neutered male
Kidded = gave birth
Litter = the kids born, Nigerian Dwarf Goats typically have multiple kids and the number of kids born is referred to as the "litter".
Udder = is the proper term for a goat's mammary system. Calling a goat's udder a bag, utter or utters is not correct. A goat has one udder and two teats.
Freshened, Freshening, Freshener = You will often see terms like "1st freshening" or "3rd Freshener" it refers to the number of lactations a doe has had. To say "She freshened on March 1st" means she gave birth and came into milk on March 1st.
Polled = a naturally/genetically hornless goat.
F.A.Q.
Why Nigerian Dwarf Goats?
There are many reasons why people choose Nigerian Dwarf Goats over other breeds. They have the advantage of being smaller and easier to handle than standard sized dairy goats and while they don't produce the same volume of milk as a standard size goat, Nigerian Dwarf Goat milk is typically higher in butterfat giving it a rich, mild and creamy taste. The higher butterfat and protein levels also give you a greater yield when making cheese. People are often drawn the wild array of colors that Nigerian Dwarf Goats come in and their sweet natured, friendly personalities. They make wonderful family milkers and are the perfect size for kids who want to show or raise goats.
How long do Nigerian Dwarf Goats usually live?
Well cared for Nigerian Dwarf Goats will typically live for 10-14 years.
How tall are Nigerian Dwarf Goats?
The American Dairy Goat Association (ADGA), our preferred association, requires that females (does) be no taller than 22.5" and bucks 23.5". Personally, we do not like our does to be any shorter than 19", as small does can be more prone to kidding problems.
How much do Nigerian Dwarf Goats weigh?
Mature does will usually weight between 50-75lbs and mature bucks between 60-100lbs.
Do goats smell bad?
Yes and no. Goats can get a bad rap because bucks (unaltered males) often have a very strong smell, especially during rut (breeding season) which runs from August-January. This is one of the many reasons we do not recomend people keep bucks as pets and we will not sell a buck to a pet home. However, wethers (castrated males) do not have that strong smell or hormonal bucky behavior and make excelent pets. Does (female goats) do not have have a strong smell either. If you hug a wether or doe you might get a light whiff of goat but it is not at all unpleasant and does not carry on the wind like buck smell does.
Can I have just one goat?
We strongly advise against someone keeping a single goat and will not sell a single goat to a home that does not already have other goats. Goats are highly social herd animals that are also prey animals. Because of this they depend on one another for their comfort and security.
Can I keep my dog with my goats?
Unless your dog is a genuine livestock guardian breed (Great Pyrenees, Anatolian Shepard, Kangal, Maremma, Akbash, or Sarplaninac) and was raised from a puppy to be a flock protector we strongly advise against letting your dog interact with goats. There must always be a good, solid fence between them and even with that you will want to make sure Fluffy isn't acting like a predator and stressing the goat out along the fence line. Dogs are domesticated predators. Goats are domesticated prey. Believe it or not, death by pet dog (your dog, your neighbor's dog or a wandering dog) is one of the top killers of domestic goats. The others being death by coyote, poisonous plants and getting into unsecured grain or chicken feed. So many people think "But Fluffy is so sweet, he would never hurt my goats!" only to learn the hard way. Case in point... several years ago we sold two mature does, that had worked their way out of our breeding program, to a well vetted home that insisted their dogs would be kept separate from the goats. Only to discover, upon being invited over to visit, that they were allowing the dogs (a Pitt cross, a sheepdog and a bulldog) to have unrestricted access to where the goats were grazing. The dogs would mill around and at times circle around the goats, one of the dogs in particular having very predatory body language. We observed both does being on high alert and one of the does showing extreme stress behavior. It was easy to see how thin she was becoming due to the constant stress of having to be ever vigilant to these domestic predators. We asked to purchase them back and sadly the new owner didn't see anything wrong at the time and did not want to sell them back. A couple of months later they contacted us to let us know that one of the does had mysteriously died (likely from a weakened system due to constant stress) and they were willing to give us back the other doe. It was a heartbreaking lesson for them to learn and sad for all of us.
Do goats really eat everything?
No. Contrary to popular belief goats are actually rather picky. However, they probably got that reputation because the are a lot like perpetual toddlers, always walking around putting things in their mouth to taste. Unlike horses, that are grazers of grass with their head down, goats are browsers, meaning that left to their own devices in the wild they would be reaching up and eating shrubs, leaves off of trees and generally nibbling on this and that as they go throughout their day.
What should I feed my goat?
Every breeder has a different routine and we are happy to share what works for us, but first of all, at a bare minimum goats must have access 24/7 to three things - fresh water, good hay or plentiful browse and a loose mineral formulated especially for goats. Ok, so those are the basics, here is our routine... we feed our goats grass hay in hay nets, making sure not to let the hay net run empty. Twice a day our does and young, growing goats (female and male) get Chaffhaye. Milking does get additional Chaffhaye, a small amount of oats, ground flax and probiotics. We do not feed high protein, high starch diets for milk volume, rather we aim to raise goats that will have long, healthy, sustainable lives and we are happy to avoid some of the hoof and rumen problems that comes with feeding sweet or rich gain. Mature bucks get good quality grass hay and during the winter/rut season we give them Chaffhaye as well. We also supplement our herd with Replamin, VitE/Selenium gel and Copper as needed throughout the year. With our youngsters we aim for steady growth based on a moderate amount of protein. Young goats need adequate protein and calcium to grow, however having a blend that is too high in protein can cause quick growth, placing stress on the joints and too low a protein level can stunt their growth. We have found that one of the most helpful indicators if the goat is receiving adequate nutrition is watching the horn growth on our horned kids. Fairly smooth texture growth at a steady pace is a good visual indicator. Other signs to look for are coat color and texture (faded or rough coats can indicate a mineral imbalance) as well as feeling the goat along the spine and ribs for adequate (but not too much) flesh. You want to be able to easily feel their ribs though a layer of flesh but not see them. On the flip side, if you are feeling a thick layer of flesh on the ribs the goat is likely overweight or as we like to politely say in the goat world... "over conditioned".
There are many reasons why people choose Nigerian Dwarf Goats over other breeds. They have the advantage of being smaller and easier to handle than standard sized dairy goats and while they don't produce the same volume of milk as a standard size goat, Nigerian Dwarf Goat milk is typically higher in butterfat giving it a rich, mild and creamy taste. The higher butterfat and protein levels also give you a greater yield when making cheese. People are often drawn the wild array of colors that Nigerian Dwarf Goats come in and their sweet natured, friendly personalities. They make wonderful family milkers and are the perfect size for kids who want to show or raise goats.
How long do Nigerian Dwarf Goats usually live?
Well cared for Nigerian Dwarf Goats will typically live for 10-14 years.
How tall are Nigerian Dwarf Goats?
The American Dairy Goat Association (ADGA), our preferred association, requires that females (does) be no taller than 22.5" and bucks 23.5". Personally, we do not like our does to be any shorter than 19", as small does can be more prone to kidding problems.
How much do Nigerian Dwarf Goats weigh?
Mature does will usually weight between 50-75lbs and mature bucks between 60-100lbs.
Do goats smell bad?
Yes and no. Goats can get a bad rap because bucks (unaltered males) often have a very strong smell, especially during rut (breeding season) which runs from August-January. This is one of the many reasons we do not recomend people keep bucks as pets and we will not sell a buck to a pet home. However, wethers (castrated males) do not have that strong smell or hormonal bucky behavior and make excelent pets. Does (female goats) do not have have a strong smell either. If you hug a wether or doe you might get a light whiff of goat but it is not at all unpleasant and does not carry on the wind like buck smell does.
Can I have just one goat?
We strongly advise against someone keeping a single goat and will not sell a single goat to a home that does not already have other goats. Goats are highly social herd animals that are also prey animals. Because of this they depend on one another for their comfort and security.
Can I keep my dog with my goats?
Unless your dog is a genuine livestock guardian breed (Great Pyrenees, Anatolian Shepard, Kangal, Maremma, Akbash, or Sarplaninac) and was raised from a puppy to be a flock protector we strongly advise against letting your dog interact with goats. There must always be a good, solid fence between them and even with that you will want to make sure Fluffy isn't acting like a predator and stressing the goat out along the fence line. Dogs are domesticated predators. Goats are domesticated prey. Believe it or not, death by pet dog (your dog, your neighbor's dog or a wandering dog) is one of the top killers of domestic goats. The others being death by coyote, poisonous plants and getting into unsecured grain or chicken feed. So many people think "But Fluffy is so sweet, he would never hurt my goats!" only to learn the hard way. Case in point... several years ago we sold two mature does, that had worked their way out of our breeding program, to a well vetted home that insisted their dogs would be kept separate from the goats. Only to discover, upon being invited over to visit, that they were allowing the dogs (a Pitt cross, a sheepdog and a bulldog) to have unrestricted access to where the goats were grazing. The dogs would mill around and at times circle around the goats, one of the dogs in particular having very predatory body language. We observed both does being on high alert and one of the does showing extreme stress behavior. It was easy to see how thin she was becoming due to the constant stress of having to be ever vigilant to these domestic predators. We asked to purchase them back and sadly the new owner didn't see anything wrong at the time and did not want to sell them back. A couple of months later they contacted us to let us know that one of the does had mysteriously died (likely from a weakened system due to constant stress) and they were willing to give us back the other doe. It was a heartbreaking lesson for them to learn and sad for all of us.
Do goats really eat everything?
No. Contrary to popular belief goats are actually rather picky. However, they probably got that reputation because the are a lot like perpetual toddlers, always walking around putting things in their mouth to taste. Unlike horses, that are grazers of grass with their head down, goats are browsers, meaning that left to their own devices in the wild they would be reaching up and eating shrubs, leaves off of trees and generally nibbling on this and that as they go throughout their day.
What should I feed my goat?
Every breeder has a different routine and we are happy to share what works for us, but first of all, at a bare minimum goats must have access 24/7 to three things - fresh water, good hay or plentiful browse and a loose mineral formulated especially for goats. Ok, so those are the basics, here is our routine... we feed our goats grass hay in hay nets, making sure not to let the hay net run empty. Twice a day our does and young, growing goats (female and male) get Chaffhaye. Milking does get additional Chaffhaye, a small amount of oats, ground flax and probiotics. We do not feed high protein, high starch diets for milk volume, rather we aim to raise goats that will have long, healthy, sustainable lives and we are happy to avoid some of the hoof and rumen problems that comes with feeding sweet or rich gain. Mature bucks get good quality grass hay and during the winter/rut season we give them Chaffhaye as well. We also supplement our herd with Replamin, VitE/Selenium gel and Copper as needed throughout the year. With our youngsters we aim for steady growth based on a moderate amount of protein. Young goats need adequate protein and calcium to grow, however having a blend that is too high in protein can cause quick growth, placing stress on the joints and too low a protein level can stunt their growth. We have found that one of the most helpful indicators if the goat is receiving adequate nutrition is watching the horn growth on our horned kids. Fairly smooth texture growth at a steady pace is a good visual indicator. Other signs to look for are coat color and texture (faded or rough coats can indicate a mineral imbalance) as well as feeling the goat along the spine and ribs for adequate (but not too much) flesh. You want to be able to easily feel their ribs though a layer of flesh but not see them. On the flip side, if you are feeling a thick layer of flesh on the ribs the goat is likely overweight or as we like to politely say in the goat world... "over conditioned".
Coming up soon...
What kind of Fencing and Shelter do Goats Need?
Can you keep Nigerian Dwarf Goats in the city or suburbs?
Are Nigerian Dwarf Goats Noisy?
Will goats clear out brush and weeds?
What plants are poisonous to goats?
How can you tell when a goat is in heat?
Do I need to have a buck?
What is the average gestation for a Nigerian Dwarf?
How many kids do Nigerian Dwarfs have?
How much do kids usually weigh at birth?
How much milk does a Nigerian Dwarf produce?
Do I have to milk my goat?
Does a doe have to get pregnant and have kids to make milk?
Why do people bottle raise goats?
Do goats need to have their horns removed?
Do goats need to be shaved?
How do you sell a goat?
How do you photograph a goat?
How are polled (naturally hornless) genetics passed on?
How are blue eyed genetics passed on?
How are moonspot genetics passed on?
What color is my goat?
What kind of Fencing and Shelter do Goats Need?
Can you keep Nigerian Dwarf Goats in the city or suburbs?
Are Nigerian Dwarf Goats Noisy?
Will goats clear out brush and weeds?
What plants are poisonous to goats?
How can you tell when a goat is in heat?
Do I need to have a buck?
What is the average gestation for a Nigerian Dwarf?
How many kids do Nigerian Dwarfs have?
How much do kids usually weigh at birth?
How much milk does a Nigerian Dwarf produce?
Do I have to milk my goat?
Does a doe have to get pregnant and have kids to make milk?
Why do people bottle raise goats?
Do goats need to have their horns removed?
Do goats need to be shaved?
How do you sell a goat?
How do you photograph a goat?
How are polled (naturally hornless) genetics passed on?
How are blue eyed genetics passed on?
How are moonspot genetics passed on?
What color is my goat?
Basic Nigerian Dwarf Goat Genetics
