Milk Yield
| Breed Name | Nigerian Dwarf |
| Other Name | None |
| Breed Purpose | Milk, Meat, pet |
| Breed Size | Small |
| Buck | About 19-23.5 inches (48-60 cm) |
Why should you raise Nigerian Dwarf goats?
- These miniature goats are adorable and friendly in nature.
- The Nigerian Dwarf goats are very easy to blend with other livestock and usually share pastures peacefully with other animals such as sheep, cattle, horses, and other goats.
- The Nigerian Dwarf goats can live in smaller spaces than standard size goats.
How much feed does a Nigerian Dwarf goat eat?
The hay can either be provided freely where your Nigerian Dwarf goats can eat it at their leisure or you can directly feed them hay twice a day. Each goat will need 2 to 4 pounds of hay daily. You will find that some goats east more hay than others. Don’t be too concerned as each individual goat’s feeding needs will vary.
How to raise Nigerian Dwarf goats?
Raising Nigerian dwarf goats involves having the right kind of fencing, keeping a covered area for them in the rain and feeding them properly. They are gentle and easily trainable, much smaller in size than the average goat. Nigerian dwarf goats are used primarily to produce milk and are raised as dairy goats.
When do goats reach puberty?
When Do Goats Go into Heat
- Heat Cycles. Every doe has an estrous cycle, which is the goat’s equivalent of a woman’s menstrual cycle. ...
- Signs Of Heat. Below is a list of signs to could signify that your doe is in heat. ...
- Caring For Does In Heat. First and foremost, it’s extremely important that if you also own a buck, that he is not kept with your does.
- Breeding. ...
At what age do Nigerian dwarf goats go into heat?
About the Does (female goats of breeding age): A female goat kid (often called a doeling) may reach puberty as early as 3 months. At this time, she may show signs of her first “heat” (estrus), but this doesn't mean she should be bred at that age.
What age can female goats breed?
A young female goat, referred to as a doe (plural does) or a doeling, will typically reach sexual maturity or puberty at 6 to 9 months of age.
Can you breed a 7 month old goat?
Farmers would breed theirs as early as 7 months for most cases. On average, the goat breeding age is from 10 to 12 months old. However, a better practice requires breeding adults who have achieved 70% to 75% of their mature weight.
Can a 3 month old goat get pregnant?
Although they can come into puberty and breed does as early at 4 months of age, waiting until a buck is a year of age to start using him for breeding is best.
At what age do goats go into heat?
The onset of puberty in goats typically occurs at 6–8 months of age in does and 4–6 months in bucks. Age at onset can vary between breeds and is influenced by environmental factors, such as the season of birth, breed, and nutritional status.
When can Nigerian dwarf Bucklings breed?
Bucklings can be fertile at as young as 7 weeks of age. Make sure you wean does and bucks separately to help you avoid unintentional breeding. Does can be bred at 7-8 months of age if they have reached a mature size. Some breeders prefer to wait until they are at least one year or older.
Can you breed brother and sister goats?
When it comes to line-breeding there is no set rules such as breeding daughter and grandfather, except never breed full brothers and sisters.
Can you breed goats twice a year?
By their second season, between August and March, does would be over a year old and, at 100 pounds or more, big enough to carry twins or triplets. Polyestrous goats, such as Boers, can breed year-round, although they do not breed well during the off-season (April to July).
Heat Cycles
Nigerian dwarf goats are unlike other goats in that they go into heat roughly every 21-28 days. This means they can breed year-round! You don’t have to wait for the fall season like with Boers and Nubians, among others. You have a little more control over when you’ll have babies. We intend to have babies in the spring and fall next year.
Gestation
Nigerian dwarf goat gestation is roughly 150 days, or five months. This might seem long to those who breed dogs because for all intents and purposes, Nigerian dwarf goats are basically dogs. Just joking, they are ruminants with a lot of the same traits as dogs!
How to tell if your Goat is Pregnant
If you don’t want to wait until she starts to show or the babies start kicking away, you can get testing done by your vet. There are blood tests that will show if a goat is pregnant. The only drawback to that is, it could become a “false” positive if the goat miscarries.
How long does it take for a Nigerian dwarf goat to breed?
Breeding Nigerian Dwarf Goats. Dwarf goats breed year-round. Many owners breed their does three times in two years, giving the doe at least a 6-month break. Of course, this is a personal choice for each breeder. The gestation period for a doe is 145 to 153 days.
What is NDGA goat?
NDGA was formed in 1996 and is the only registry and show sanctioning organization dedicated exclusively to the Nigerian Dwarf breed. NDGA is funded through goat registrations and transfers, annual membership dues, and fundraising activities.
How much milk does a Nigerian dwarf goat produce?
A healthy Nigerian Dwarf doe can produce a surprising amount of sweet milk for her small size – up to two quarts per day. The Nigerian Dwarf goat milk benefit is that it is higher in butterfat (6-10%) than most dairy goat breeds. However, many Nigerian Dwarf owners do not raise their goats for milk ...
What is the temperament of a Nigerian dwarf goat?
Nigerian Dwarf Goat Temperament. Dwarf goats are gentle, lovable, and playful. Their calm, even temperament, and engaging personalities make them suitable companions for all, including children, the disabled, and the elderly. Even breeding bucks are handled easily. They make wonderful pets and great animal projects for young children in 4H or FFA.
Why are Nigerian dwarf goats so popular?
Nigerian Dwarf goats are enjoying a rise in popularity due to their small size and colorful markings. Their small stature means they do not require as much space as larger dairy goat breeds, and their gentle and friendly personalities make them good companion pets. They are easy to handle; even small children can be at ease with these little goats.
What is the difference between a Nigerian dwarf and an African pygmy?
Pygmies are bred to be “cobby” and heavy boned. Dwarfs are bred to have the length of body and more elegant structure that’s similar to their larger dairy goat counterparts.
How many registries are there for dwarf goats?
Dwarf goats are registered in 5 registries: four in the United States (NDGA, AGS, IDGR & ADGA) and one in Canada (CGS). Dwarf shows are growing in popularity and are becoming more readily available all over the country. Shows are fun, educational, and a great way to meet other breeders and owners.
How long does it take for a Nigerian dwarf goat to produce milk?
Nigerian Dwarf goats produce milk for about 300 days per freshening, and breed throughout the year, rather than seasonally. This makes their polyestrous nature favorable. If you want a steady supply of delicious, high-quality goat milk, you only need a couple does, and to stagger their breeding.
How much does a Nigerian dwarf goat cost?
The cost for registered Nigerian Dwarf breeding stock is $200-$500 per goat, depending on their availability and bloodline. Wethers to be sold as pets are generally available for as little as $50-$100.
What is the difference between a Nigerian dwarf goat and a Nigerian pygmy goat?
The primary difference between Nigerian Dwarf goats and Nigerian Pygmy goats are their body proportions. Nigerian Pygmy goats tend to have stocky, barrel-like bodies, a bit like normal-sized goats with short legs.
Why are Nigerian dwarf goats so popular?
Like all goats, Nigerian Dwarf goats are useful in pastures to clear weeds and underbrush and improve grass for grazing animals. Their docile nature makes them easy to keep with grazing animals and not require special care or quarters.
How high should a fence be for a Nigerian dwarf goat?
Fences should be about 4 feet high since Nigerian Dwarf goats can't jump higher than that. Goats will lean, stand, rub, and chew on fencing, particularly if they have smaller pasture, or if there seems to be attractive forage on the other side, so posts should be no further than 8 feet apart.
What is a Nigerian dwarf goat?
Nigerian Dwarf goats are compact, docile, and productive little animals… . Because they are smaller than standard goats, and have a friendly disposition, they are easier to manage and live with, making them popular as pets. But they are also low-maintenance dairy goats, giving a surprising amount of high-quality, ...
What do you use for goat bedding?
You may use hay or straw as bedding. Due to their miniature size, these goats require only a 1/3 space of what large goats require. A dry floor is better than a wooden floor because when wet, a wooden floor can be slippery and cause hoof related problems to your goats. Nigerian dwarf goat fence – tips for best fencing.
