Nigerian Dwarf Goats Pack A Lot Into Little Package

2014 - Volume #38, Issue #2, Page #40

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According to folks that raise them, Nigerian Dwarf goats offer a lot in a little package – easy care, excellent milk and great pets.
    “I didn’t have to help very many mammas deliver,” says Dotty Clark, who serves as the registrar for the Nigerian Dwarf Goat Association (NDGA). Babies average 2 lbs. at birth and grow rapidly. Young bucks can breed as young as 7 weeks.
    Clark’s frustration with birthing issues with pygmy goats led her to the Nigerian Dwarf breed, which was perfect for her daughter’s 4-H project, as well as an entertaining addition to her family’s Arizona property.
    The livestock dairy goat has West Africa origins like Pygmy goats. Nigerian Dwarf goats were bred to have longer, more elegant structures like other dairy goats compared to heavy-boned Pygmy meat goats. Nigerian Dwarf does must be 21 in. or less at the withers, and bucks are 23 in. or less to meet NDGA standards. Colors vary widely. They range from white to jet-black and spotted to tri-colored.
    “They are very adaptable to climate,” Clark says. NDGA members live as far north as Alaska and Canada and as far south as the Deep South.
    “They are very easy to take care of. Like horses you can feed them the bare minimum like Bermuda grass and alfalfa mix in a fenced-in area,” she adds. “Other owners go overboard. Some of our members have even built play yards for the kids to run around.”
    The goats’ unique hop along with their climbing skills make them very entertaining – and smart.
    “They can be trained like dogs,” Clark says. “They can do the agility skills, but they are smarter (than dogs), so they tend to be stubborn about it.”
    YouTube videos show many of their talents. One owner taught her goat to swim in a pool, though goats typically don’t like water.
    “A lot of people get them for the milk, which is high in butterfat (6 to 10 percent higher than most goat milk) and makes the best ice cream in the world. And the cheeses are great,” Clark says.
    Nigerian Dwarf goats can live about 16 years, and their numbers are growing. The American Livestock Breeds Conservancy recently upgraded them to a “recovering” rating, because of increased numbers. NDGA has more than 26,000 in its database.
    Prices vary according to region and demand. Champion pedigreed breeding stock typically runs $300 to $500 apiece, with pet stock (wethers) between $50 to $100.
    Clark recommends getting at least two goats as they are a herd animal and can be noisy if they are lonesome. She also suggests dehorning them because the horns get easily caught in fences and other barriers.
    She adds that most Nigerian Dwarf goats live peaceably with other animals such as cattle, horses, llamas and donkeys. While it’s true they improve the pasture by eating undergrowth and wild bushes, it’s a myth they will eat anything.
“They put everything in their mouth but they don’t always eat it. They are leaf eaters, not grass eaters,” she says.
    For more information, including breeders in your area, check out the NDGA’s website.
    Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Nigerian Dwarf Goat Association, 8370 W. Abbey Lane, Wilhoit, Arizona 86332 (ph 928 445-3423; www.ndga.org).

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Nigerian Dwarf Goats Pack A Lot Into Little Package LIVESTOCK Miscellaneous According to folks that raise them Nigerian Dwarf goats offer a lot in a little package – easy care excellent milk and great pets “I didn’t have to help very many mammas deliver ” says Dotty Clark who serves as the registrar for the Nigerian Dwarf Goat Association NDGA Babies average 2 lbs at birth and grow rapidly Young bucks can breed as young as 7 weeks Clark’s frustration with birthing issues with pygmy goats led her to the Nigerian Dwarf breed which was perfect for her daughter’s 4-H project as well as an entertaining addition to her family’s Arizona property The livestock dairy goat has West Africa origins like Pygmy goats Nigerian Dwarf goats were bred to have longer more elegant structures like other dairy goats compared to heavy-boned Pygmy meat goats Nigerian Dwarf does must be 21 in or less at the withers and bucks are 23 in or less to meet NDGA standards Colors vary widely They range from white to jet-black and spotted to tri-colored “They are very adaptable to climate ” Clark says NDGA members live as far north as Alaska and Canada and as far south as the Deep South “They are very easy to take care of Like horses you can feed them the bare minimum like Bermuda grass and alfalfa mix in a fenced-in area ” she adds “Other owners go overboard Some of our members have even built play yards for the kids to run around ” The goats’ unique hop along with their climbing skills make them very entertaining – and smart “They can be trained like dogs ” Clark says “They can do the agility skills but they are smarter than dogs so they tend to be stubborn about it ” YouTube videos show many of their talents One owner taught her goat to swim in a pool though goats typically don’t like water “A lot of people get them for the milk which is high in butterfat 6 to 10 percent higher than most goat milk and makes the best ice cream in the world And the cheeses are great ” Clark says Nigerian Dwarf goats can live about 16 years and their numbers are growing The American Livestock Breeds Conservancy recently upgraded them to a “recovering” rating because of increased numbers NDGA has more than 26 000 in its database Prices vary according to region and demand Champion pedigreed breeding stock typically runs $300 to $500 apiece with pet stock wethers between $50 to $100 Clark recommends getting at least two goats as they are a herd animal and can be noisy if they are lonesome She also suggests dehorning them because the horns get easily caught in fences and other barriers She adds that most Nigerian Dwarf goats live peaceably with other animals such as cattle horses llamas and donkeys While it’s true they improve the pasture by eating undergrowth and wild bushes it’s a myth they will eat anything “They put everything in their mouth but they don’t always eat it They are leaf eaters not grass eaters ” she says For more information including breeders in your area check out the NDGA’s website Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Nigerian Dwarf Goat Association 8370 W Abbey Lane Wilhoit Arizona 86332 ph 928 445-3423; www ndga org

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