Helpful Information
About The Breed
The Nigerian Dwarf Goats not only make great companions and pets, they make the perfect small family milkers. Known for their small size and a coat of many colors, they catch the eye of many. Nigerians stand between 17-23 inches tall at the withers. With cute little erect ears, a straight or slightly dished face, a long body and are all around balanced and well proportioned for a miniature dairy goat. Milk production averages 1-2 quarts per milking with a butterfat content of 6-10%. Their high butterfat content makes them an excellent source for cheese, butter, yogurt and ice cream making.
Basic Care
Nigerian Dwarf Dairy Goats, like all other goat breeds need basic care to ensure a good, long, productive and healthy life. Wether you have just 2 pet goats or a large breeding herd, basic good management practices should be a part of your goat ownership. Goats are herd animals and enjoy the company of other goats, so if it is your intention to purchase a goat, be prepared to purchase a minimum of two.
All information written here is with the Nigerian Dwarf Dairy Goat in mind. Where any calculations may be made as to feed, housing or size, it is based on the Nigerian Dwarf Dairy Goat. General management and care can be applied to any goat breed. I am by no means an expert in goat husbandry for there is so much to learn and still more, but my passion is for my goats and in knowing as much as I can to keep them healthy and me sane.
Feeding
Most breeders feed a 16% - 18% protein dairy goat feed or dairy ration. Make sure your feed is specific for goats as many other livestock feeds are toxic to goats. The quantity of grain feed is in proportion to the size, age and condition of a particular goat and should be fed accordingly. Hay in the form of a good grass/alfalfa mix or pasture should be available at all times as well as mineral salts and fresh clean water to both does and bucks.
Bucks and wethers should be given special attention with their grain feed intake to help prevent urinary calculi. A feed containing ammonium chloride is recommended as their grain feed source. If this is not available then top dressing their grain with the proper amount of ammonium cholride. Adding vinegar to their water helps in keeping the acid levels in control also.
Goats need plenty of fresh water to keep them healthy. This is especially true of the pregnant and nursing doe. Water is critical to bucks and wethers also for proper maintenance of their urinary tracts.
5 Reasons to choose a Nigerian Dwarf for your home milker:
1) Better For You
Goat milk is easier for human’s to digest than cow’s milk. It’s naturally homogenized, with smaller fat particles evenly suspended throughout the milk. It contains vitamins, minerals, trace elements, electrolytes, enzymes, and proteins that are easier for humans to assimilate than similar content in cow’s milk. For these reasons, it’s typically digested in 20 minutes; whereas it can take 24 hours for humans to digest cow’s milk.
People who suffer from lactose intolerance may find that goat’s milk is a good alternative. Goat milk contains less lactose than cow milk and since it passes through the digestive system so rapidly, many who suffer from lactose intolerance have no difficulty with goat milk.
Goat milk doesn’t contain the complex protein compounds that stimulate allergic reactions to milk. People experiencing bloating, diarrhea, asthma, and irritability after consuming milk are usually suffering an allergic reaction to cow milk caused by these complex proteins. Goat milk; however, can typically be consumed without triggering these reactions.
Because goat milk soothes the digestive tract, is typically accepted by those with lactose intolerance, and doesn’t trigger milk allergies; it’s often recommended for infant nutrition and treatment of coronary diseases, cystic fibrosis, Crohn’s disease, intestinal disorders, gallstone problems, and many others.
2) It Tastes Better
Among the dairy breeds, Nigerian Dwarf goat milk has the highest levels of butterfat, making it so creamy that it’s often preferred over cow’s milk. Nigerian Dwarf milk has approximately 6 – 10% butterfat, as opposed to approximately 2 – 6% for other breeds. Since butterfat is what gives milk its sweet flavor, it’s the sweetest, richest milk of all the dairy breeds.
3) Year Round Availability
Most dairy goat breeds can only be bred seasonally in the fall; which leads to a glut of milk in the spring after kidding has occurred, but milk shortages in later seasons after the does dry up. Nigerian Dwarves can be bred in any season; however, so kidding can be staggered to assure a constant supply of milk.
4) Smaller Packaging
Nigerian Dwarves are only about 20” tall and typically weigh less than 75 pounds, making them much easier to handle and house than the large dairy goat breeds. They’re similar in size to a medium size dog, and are fine-boned, proportionately small dairy goats (not the stockier Pygmy goats). Given their small size, two can live in about 20 sq. ft. of space (if they have outside pasture space), making them feasible in both rural and suburban environments. Some cities have even begun to allow Nigerian Dwarf goat does.
Because of their small size, even small women and children can easily milk and handle Nigerian dwarves. And most people handling livestock would rather have their foot stepped on by a 75 pound goat rather than a several hundred pound goat (and it will happen).
5) More Cost Effective
Good quality, registered Nigerian Dwarves can typically be purchased from breeders for around $400 per goat, whereas the larger dairy breeds are typically twice as much (or more). It’s therefore less expensive to start with a few Nigerian Dwarves than other breeds. Nigerians are also notoriously prolific, usually producing between 2 – 5 kids each freshening, so a milking herd (of whatever size desired) can be built in a very short time.
Nigerian Dwarves are also more affordable to maintain. From an efficiency standpoint, goats convert their food into milk more efficiently than cows; and among the dairy goat types, Nigerian Dwarves convert their food more efficiently than any other dairy breed. And goats like to browse rather than graze so a traditional pasture isn’t required like it is for cows. They can be turned loose in “wooded” pasture areas where they’ll help control poison ivy, blackberries, multi-flora rose, etc. – all those things we tend to consider nasty weeds, they think are tasty.
The Total Package
As with anything, it’s important that the milk from Nigerian Dwarves be handled properly and that the goats are properly cared for; however, it’s popularity is on the rise because it’s so nutritious, healthy, delicious, convenient (relatively speaking), and cost effective. For those interested in producing or obtaining the highest quality milk, the Nigerian Dwarf goat is increasingly the answer.
The Nigerian Dwarf Goats not only make great companions and pets, they make the perfect small family milkers. Known for their small size and a coat of many colors, they catch the eye of many. Nigerians stand between 17-23 inches tall at the withers. With cute little erect ears, a straight or slightly dished face, a long body and are all around balanced and well proportioned for a miniature dairy goat. Milk production averages 1-2 quarts per milking with a butterfat content of 6-10%. Their high butterfat content makes them an excellent source for cheese, butter, yogurt and ice cream making.
Basic Care
Nigerian Dwarf Dairy Goats, like all other goat breeds need basic care to ensure a good, long, productive and healthy life. Wether you have just 2 pet goats or a large breeding herd, basic good management practices should be a part of your goat ownership. Goats are herd animals and enjoy the company of other goats, so if it is your intention to purchase a goat, be prepared to purchase a minimum of two.
All information written here is with the Nigerian Dwarf Dairy Goat in mind. Where any calculations may be made as to feed, housing or size, it is based on the Nigerian Dwarf Dairy Goat. General management and care can be applied to any goat breed. I am by no means an expert in goat husbandry for there is so much to learn and still more, but my passion is for my goats and in knowing as much as I can to keep them healthy and me sane.
Feeding
Most breeders feed a 16% - 18% protein dairy goat feed or dairy ration. Make sure your feed is specific for goats as many other livestock feeds are toxic to goats. The quantity of grain feed is in proportion to the size, age and condition of a particular goat and should be fed accordingly. Hay in the form of a good grass/alfalfa mix or pasture should be available at all times as well as mineral salts and fresh clean water to both does and bucks.
Bucks and wethers should be given special attention with their grain feed intake to help prevent urinary calculi. A feed containing ammonium chloride is recommended as their grain feed source. If this is not available then top dressing their grain with the proper amount of ammonium cholride. Adding vinegar to their water helps in keeping the acid levels in control also.
Goats need plenty of fresh water to keep them healthy. This is especially true of the pregnant and nursing doe. Water is critical to bucks and wethers also for proper maintenance of their urinary tracts.
5 Reasons to choose a Nigerian Dwarf for your home milker:
1) Better For You
Goat milk is easier for human’s to digest than cow’s milk. It’s naturally homogenized, with smaller fat particles evenly suspended throughout the milk. It contains vitamins, minerals, trace elements, electrolytes, enzymes, and proteins that are easier for humans to assimilate than similar content in cow’s milk. For these reasons, it’s typically digested in 20 minutes; whereas it can take 24 hours for humans to digest cow’s milk.
People who suffer from lactose intolerance may find that goat’s milk is a good alternative. Goat milk contains less lactose than cow milk and since it passes through the digestive system so rapidly, many who suffer from lactose intolerance have no difficulty with goat milk.
Goat milk doesn’t contain the complex protein compounds that stimulate allergic reactions to milk. People experiencing bloating, diarrhea, asthma, and irritability after consuming milk are usually suffering an allergic reaction to cow milk caused by these complex proteins. Goat milk; however, can typically be consumed without triggering these reactions.
Because goat milk soothes the digestive tract, is typically accepted by those with lactose intolerance, and doesn’t trigger milk allergies; it’s often recommended for infant nutrition and treatment of coronary diseases, cystic fibrosis, Crohn’s disease, intestinal disorders, gallstone problems, and many others.
2) It Tastes Better
Among the dairy breeds, Nigerian Dwarf goat milk has the highest levels of butterfat, making it so creamy that it’s often preferred over cow’s milk. Nigerian Dwarf milk has approximately 6 – 10% butterfat, as opposed to approximately 2 – 6% for other breeds. Since butterfat is what gives milk its sweet flavor, it’s the sweetest, richest milk of all the dairy breeds.
3) Year Round Availability
Most dairy goat breeds can only be bred seasonally in the fall; which leads to a glut of milk in the spring after kidding has occurred, but milk shortages in later seasons after the does dry up. Nigerian Dwarves can be bred in any season; however, so kidding can be staggered to assure a constant supply of milk.
4) Smaller Packaging
Nigerian Dwarves are only about 20” tall and typically weigh less than 75 pounds, making them much easier to handle and house than the large dairy goat breeds. They’re similar in size to a medium size dog, and are fine-boned, proportionately small dairy goats (not the stockier Pygmy goats). Given their small size, two can live in about 20 sq. ft. of space (if they have outside pasture space), making them feasible in both rural and suburban environments. Some cities have even begun to allow Nigerian Dwarf goat does.
Because of their small size, even small women and children can easily milk and handle Nigerian dwarves. And most people handling livestock would rather have their foot stepped on by a 75 pound goat rather than a several hundred pound goat (and it will happen).
5) More Cost Effective
Good quality, registered Nigerian Dwarves can typically be purchased from breeders for around $400 per goat, whereas the larger dairy breeds are typically twice as much (or more). It’s therefore less expensive to start with a few Nigerian Dwarves than other breeds. Nigerians are also notoriously prolific, usually producing between 2 – 5 kids each freshening, so a milking herd (of whatever size desired) can be built in a very short time.
Nigerian Dwarves are also more affordable to maintain. From an efficiency standpoint, goats convert their food into milk more efficiently than cows; and among the dairy goat types, Nigerian Dwarves convert their food more efficiently than any other dairy breed. And goats like to browse rather than graze so a traditional pasture isn’t required like it is for cows. They can be turned loose in “wooded” pasture areas where they’ll help control poison ivy, blackberries, multi-flora rose, etc. – all those things we tend to consider nasty weeds, they think are tasty.
The Total Package
As with anything, it’s important that the milk from Nigerian Dwarves be handled properly and that the goats are properly cared for; however, it’s popularity is on the rise because it’s so nutritious, healthy, delicious, convenient (relatively speaking), and cost effective. For those interested in producing or obtaining the highest quality milk, the Nigerian Dwarf goat is increasingly the answer.
Normal Goat Info:
Temperature = 102 - 104 - This varies depending on the temperature of the goat's surroundings.
Pulse rate = 70 - 80 beats per minute
Respiration =15 to 30 per minute
Life span of Does & Wethers = 9-14 years average age
Life Span of Bucks = 8-10 average age
Full growth size: Most goats reach their full size at 2-3 years of age, about 19”-23” tall and about 50-75lbs.
Things to always have on hand:
Blood stop powder for hoof trimming & accidents
Digital thermometer (quick read one’s are easiest! )
Non-coated Baby Aspirin (only 1/2 tablet per animal when necessary for fever)
Good hoof trimmers
Some Syringes (3ml, 6 ml, & 12ml)
Needles (we keep a few 18 gauge, a few 20 gauge, & lots of 22 gauge)
Baking Soda (for stomach aches/bloat), just basic baking soda
Bio-Mycin over the counter antibiotic which treats a WIDE range of issues (Nuflor is also an excellent goat antibiotic but it requires a vet Rx)
Epinephrine in case of anaphylactic shock
Free Choice GOAT SPECIFIC minerals such as Sweetlix Minerals or Purina Goat Mineral
Probiotic Paste (or powder)
Vitamin B Complex Injectable Solution (injectable product but it can easily be given orally too)
A Vitamin/Electrolyte powder in cases of stress, illness
Ammonium Chloride if you have bucks/wethers, add a pinch of this to grain daily to reduce urinary stones. It can be purchased online through veterinary sources or even Amazon.com
BoSe Injectable (requires a vet Rx) or easy to use Selenium/Vitamin E Gel (available in farm stores)
Dewormer such as Ivermectin Horse Paste or Valbazen White liquid cattle dewormer
