Nigerian Dwarf (goat)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Nigerian Dwarf goat is a miniature dairy goat breed of West African ancestry. Originally brought to this country on ships as food for large cats such as lions, the survivors originally lived in zoos.
Probably the most well-known breeder was Kathleen Claps, who had the Goodwood herd. Offspring from that herd are still in great demand, and are considered to represent the best of the breed.
Fully-grown animals range from 16-21 inches (40-56 cm) tall at the withers for does and 23.5 inches tall at the withers for bucks, and weigh 60-80 pounds (27-36 kg) – about the size of a Labrador retriever.
"Nigies" come in many colors- white, black, red, cream and patterns such as buckskin (brown with a black cape over the head and neck along with other black markings) and chamoisee (similar to an Oberhasli goat,) with or without white spots. Although most are naturally horned, most breeders dehorn them at a young age (usually 2 weeks of age). Some Nigerians have blue eyes, which is a dominant trait in goats.
Nigerians give a surprising quantity of milk for their size, ranging from 2-6 pounds (0.9-2.7 kg) per day, with an average of 4. They are thus ideal milk goats for most families. Their milk has a higher butterfat content than milk from full-sized dairy goats, making Nigerian milk excellent for cheese and soap making.
Nigerians are gentle and easily trainable. This, along with their small size and colorful appearance, makes them popular as pets.
