They do love brush, bramble, trees, poison ivies and most weeds that other livestock will not eat. After milking, the doe is returned to her kids. Nigerian dwarf milk goats are the smallest breed, with an average weight of 75 pounds (34 kg). Female Natalia, the first of the dwarf goat babies, was born on April 10 to doe Alyssa. We use a peppermint rub to soothe our does. However, being a mother myself who “kidded and nursed” my children, I know that it takes a lot out of your body. I do not claim to be an expert but I try to be safe rather than sorry. She was in the shelter laying quietly. The mom goat was dues in 2 more weeks per the seller, but yesterday gave birth to 3. We use Purina Goat Chow with kelp added morning and evening – about ¼ cup per doe. A goat will seek out the minerals that they need if it is not provided to them. When one of our goat’s routine changes, like - they aren’t first in line to eat, or don’t come up for a scratch on the shoulders – something is wrong. Kids with non- immunized does:   Birth, 4 , 6 weeks ? Our vet told me once “You will tell me when something is wrong.”  And he was right. This flexibility has helped to develop interest in this breed with hobby farmers and modern day homesteaders. When giving birth, the Nigerian Dwarf Goat doe will produce three to five babies. ). Goats that have a good choice of graze, proper hay and/or grain that they need will not eat non-edible or poisonous substances. These goats weigh between 60 and 80 pounds, on average, and because they come in a variety of color combinations, you can assemble a distinctive and beautiful herd. And our vet says that happy well cared for/loved goats produce better tasting milk. Alert and defending them from dogs and any other animals they think could hurt their babies. Nigeria dwarf goats are mostly found in the southern part of Nigeria. Angora goats, the most common type of fiber goat, can weigh 88 pounds (40 kg) or more. We want them to restore their vitamins and minerals before breeding again. 1 pregnant. It is also very handy to remove with the handle when an inexperienced or anxious doe begins to dance. I tried searching the Internet to find out how much a full grown Nigerian Dwarf doe should weigh, and saw everything from 25-70lbs, so I figured I'd better ask on TGS. But a drastic reduction of the breed variety was caused by the rise of industrial agriculture and threatened their survival. Goat milk is best, and I prefer raw milk because it has all of the antibodies intact. African Rue, Andromeda (related to foxglove), Azalea, Brouwer’s Beauty Andromeda, Boxwood, Burning bush berries, Calotropis, Cassava (manioc), China Berry Trees, all parts, Choke cherries, Datura, Dog Hobble, Dumb Cane (diffenbachia / houseplant), Eunoumus Bush Berries, False Tansy, “Fiddleneck”, Flixweed, Fusha, Holly Trees / bushes, Ilysanthes floribunda, Japanese pieris (extremely toxic), Japanese Yew, Lantana (? This is a good time to move the bucklings away from the does. within the last 2 weeks. This process usually lasts about 12 hours for goats that are kidding for the first time, but every goat is different.During this stage the goat will be restless. Yes. Each one has specific needs that the other does not. When my electronic milker comes in I’ll be milking more. However, the more kids in a freshening the more varied the weight of the kids can be. *It is also a good idea to give probiotics with Vitamin E during stressful situations. Collect all the supplies before you head out. We love the milk that they produce. Many goat owners do not attempt to breed doelings until they are at least 80% of their adult weight. However, the more kids in a freshening the more varied the weight of the kids can be. 4)  Clean hands and supplies are the most important part of the process. Bucks and wethers are fed free choice prairie hay, graze, and minerals. These are toxic to goats. They do not take any special food and can live off of graze or prairie hay during all seasons, winter included. This will help to keep their urinary system flowing. We reserve the right to choose who we will sell our animals to. If the answer is yes further inspection is needed. Mini-Manchas “Mini-manchas”, as in LaMancha does crossed with Nigerian Dwarf bucks, are sometimes used as pets or homestead dairy goats. My son and his wife just bought 2 dwarf goats (Nigerian dwarf or pigmy goats?) He has been learning quickly and is doing well with the adults. Owning two means you should have a minimum of 20 – 25 square feet. This can save a lot of money and your goat’s life. However, if the milk comes from a doe that has CAE, Johne’s, or another infectious disease, then the milk needs to be pasteurized so that the kid does not get infected.Beyond that, you’ll hear people argue all day long about what to When cared for properly, the Nigerian Dwarf goat can have a lifespan of between 12 and 14 years. Goat milk has an alkaline pH and is naturally homogenized. ), Oleander, Red Maples, Rhododendron, Rhubarb leaves, TuTu (coriaria arborea), Wild Cherry, Yew. A herd of Nigerian Dwarf goats is call a tribe or a trip. Most of our goats come from great bloodlines. The does gestation period is 145 to 156 days or about 5 months. Keep a log or chart of illnesses, medications, freshening, vaccinations, etc on your goat. This post contains affiliate links. This is when they will try other things to eat. They came to the United States in the 1930’s and 1950’s as food for larger cats like lions. Bottle feed so that the kids will not contract the Cae from the mother goat. These goats are white and easy to spot on pasture. We have given: Peanuts in the shell, orange peels, banana peels, small amounts of yogurt, cut up apples and pears and a favorite is bending a branch from a nearby tree down within their reach. A newborn Nigerian dwarf goat weighs around 2 pounds at birth. Not only are these goats great reproducers but they are also great producers. We have many kids that are polled at birth. How much room do Nigerian dwarf goats need? Feeding Nigerian dwarf goats a proper diet that is nutritionally-balanced is the best thing you can do to keep your herd healthy. Disbudding at this stage is not very effective and can be more painful to the kid. They live up to 12 years and in ideal situations they have lived as long as 20 years. She raises Nigerian Dwarf goats, Buckeye chickens, honey bees and produce. We filter our milk through a stainless steal coffee filter that sits inside of a canning funnel. She had quads a few days later. We use stainless steal pans under our does. The typical gestation period for Nigerian Dwarf Goats is about 5 months. We also use commercial teat wipes and olive oil when milking. Between about 1930 and 1960 a variety of small goats of the West African Dwarf group of breeds were imported from Africa to the United States to be exhibited in zoos. Right now I’m only milking one. This will help you answer questions for treating your goat when the vet is unavailable and over the phone consultation is necessary. We give them a pain med and disbud the kids that have erupted horns. I prefer to give my girls a few months to rest and recuperate before they are bred again. This has been on an as needed basis when illness, recovery or an exceptionally long winter with poor hay quality is needed to keep them in good condition. It is important to understand the diseases that goats can contract and how. Nigerian Dwarf Goats are known for having few birthing problems. One morning I came out and she wasn’t there. If your doe is Cae positive, powdered colostrum supliments are available. They also are extremely friendly, so they are a great fit for the Goat Yard. For weight, expect your Nigerian Dwarf goat to weigh between 60 and 80 pounds. In this article we are going to discuss the diet specifics such as grains, fiber (hay), and vitamins and minerals. Adults                             At least once each year, Give with injury, illness and stressful events*, Pregnant does                 4 – 6 weeks before due date. 2 were alive and 1 was still in the sac but the sac … The doe can be milked immediately and the kids can be bottle fed. It is not because of the amount of milk it can produce but rather of the quality. No one in our family grew up on a farm and learning to milk has been a process. Goats are herd animals and as such must be with other goats. Pregnant does are fed free choice Alfalfa hay, graze, minerals and baking soda. Most goats want to be left alone during this time, and their labor may even slow down o… Know his/her weight and age. An udder cream or spray can be used but is not necessary. In reality, they actually have very delicate nutritional needs. The earliest record of Nigerian Dwarf goats is from West Africa. To view my affiliate disclaimer, click here. Unlock additional features, and fewer ads while browsing. Our goats are loved and some may say even spoiled. Lactating does are fed free choice Alfalfa hay, graze, minerals and baking soda. She put up with a lot. Inspect her milk in the strip cup and test for mastitis if necessary. Additionally, goat milk is easier to digest making it an option for many lactose intolerant people or those that have other gastrointestinal issues. We try to make sure that the treats we give them are good for them as well. I just weighed my does, and one (Gracie) weighed 56.6lbs (Still surprised I could lift her! They are all negative and can raise their kids naturally without concern. 10)   Wash off teats with your wipe. Vetricyn, Vitamin B 12 (BOSE), Meloxican for pain relief, Ammonium Chloride, Vinegar, CD&T, Minerals (block or loose), Baking soda, Dried kelp food grade, Probiotics, Diatimatious Earth... A few tools that are handy to have are as follows: Hoof trimmers, Wood file, Collar and leash, Carrier for transport, Bowls to feed, Water heater elements to prevent frozen water in the winter, Rake, Barn lime, Shelter / Large dog house, Water container, Food container, Hay manger, Leur lock syringes and 22 gauge - 1” needles, Standard syringes, Alcohol, Cotton balls and paper towels, Scissors, Nasal Aspirator, Disposable scalpel, Disposable gloves, Digital thermometer... Nigerian dwarf goats can be milked once or twice a day. You are ready to get your goat. We do supplement the grain with kelp and BOSS at times. We sell Nigerian Dwarf goats with ADGA papers and a few without. 5)   Wipe down teats with teat wipe and solution. The balanced proportions of the Nigerian Dwarf give it the appearance of the larger breeds of dairy goats, but does stand no more than 22.5 inches (57 centimeters) and bucks no more than 23.5 inches (60 centimeters). Poor expecting Sadie. They prefer to eat a little here and a little there. Males reach sexual maturity when they are … With the other does, we remove the kids at night and milk the next morning. They can be as little as 10 ounces and still survive with a little assistance. This is all given at feeding time, but they have access to coastal hay and minerals all day long. History. Like larger dairy goats, these dwarf goats will have short, fine hair. I would want a doeling to be 60 pounds or close to it before breeding. They will be much healthier in the long run and have the benefit from the does immunities. When changing feed, always make changes slowly. I will give a list of plants to avoid that have been reported to be poisonous or harmful to goats somewhere on the internet. Finally, conformation determines how much Nigerian Dwarf Goats are worth if they are to be a show goat. at birth but grow quickly. So here is a list of vital signs to know about your goat. Are you interested in raising pint-sized goats that are productive and friendly? Please consult your veterinarian for verification. Over time it is a good idea to have a few commonly used medications on hand. One Nigerian dwarf goat care sheet to remember is that a doe with kids will require shelter that’s draft-proof. As of 2012, The Livestock Conservancy Board ranked Nigerian dwarf goats as a recovering breed. Goats were one of the first animals to be domesticated and have been herded for around 9,000 years. Anything that could cause choking:  nuts, nut shells, avocado pits, fruit pits, bones, etc. We use Purina Goat Chow with alfalfa pellets, BOSS and kelp added morning and evening at the milk stanchion while being milked. We give CD&T vaccinations as recommended. I tried searching the Internet to find out how much a full grown Nigerian Dwarf doe should weigh, and saw everything from 25-70lbs, so I figured I'd better ask on TGS. Make sure they always have fresh water available to them! One of our girls perches herself on the highest place she can and bleats out at us until we feed her in the morning and evening. Their small stature means they do not require as much space or feed as their larger dairy goat counterparts. The price will vary depending on the goat performance i.e champion pedigree, the production capabilities, health etc. The information was not any clearer when it came to the bucks. If this is your plan make sure the kids all get colostrum first. She may lick herself, or even you. 9)   Milk in the pan. However, if possible, wait until they are about 4 months old. When giving grain add approximately ½ teaspoon of ammonium chloride to the feed. Looking back, well...looking back is embarrassing. Truthfully, they prefer these more than grass. However, we do not breed polled to polled goats because of genetic concerns. When a goat calls out it is called bleating. Nigerian Dwarf goats have a more slender neck, and thinner, longer legs. A standard stainless steal pan with a handle works well. This can be confusing as some things are listed as good for them and on another list as poisonous. And the does are between 17 and 19 inches (up to 22.5 inches). Remember a happy goat gives the best milk. Ideal weight is suggested to be about 75 pounds. They do not eat anything as urban legend suggests. Nigerian dwarf goats price – how much do they cost in the USA? This type of goat can breed at 12 to 18 months, and often undergo multiple reproductions by frequently giving birth to twins and triplets. The babies are called kids. The Nigerian Dwarf does give a surprising quantity of milk for its size. 8)   Check this milk for flakes, strings, or blood signs - act accordingly if there is a problem. We use Purina Goat Chow as needed to grow and stay in good condition. The Nigerian dwarf goat is the most popular and smallest milk breed goat. Cow milk stays in the human stomach for 24 hours. Nigerian Dwarf goat breed generally have simple births with few problems and kids are born at an average of around 2 pounds. According to the Columbian Park Zoo, this West African breed are found all over the world today. We feed a good quality goat feed year round to our herd of 25-30 Nigerian Dwarf goats, but reduce it to only about 1/2 cup twice per day when the goats are dry. Continue the milking routine. Brownie (Nigerian Dwarf Doe) with Her Twin Kids about 12 Hours Old Following Morning, Brownie (Nigerian Dwarf Doe) with Her Twin Kids. If planning to disbud, best practice is to do this when the kids are 2 – 10 days old. The Saanen is another great dairy goat if you want more traditional type ears. We work hard to bring the best Goat discussion! Upon birth, the baby dwarf goats ranged in weight from 1.9 pounds to 4.7 pounds. Some breeders even breed 3 times in two years to maximize the does potential. Answer: Nigerian dwarf does weigh between 25 and 35 pounds. To avoid illness we have worked with our vet to carefully to determine how to feed each one. Each goat can comfortably live in an area spanning about 10 square feet. And if you have space and a safe environment - goats with horns are fine. She gets as much as she wants while on the stand. We have tested all our goats for Cae, CL and Johne’s disease. Weigh your vehicle empty, load up the goats, and weigh the vehicle again. When researching what our goats can and can not have, we have come across many lists on the internet. Try it and then you can always make adjustments based on things such as body condition, production, time it takes to eat or if they don’t eat it all. This can be stressful. The teats are wiped clean and then a little olive oil is applied to our hands and the teats. We have been leaving our 4 month old Great Pyrenees puppy, Titus, in the goat pasture with the adult goats. And goats and stress do not go well together. Dwarf goats breed year round. This is reported to help their urinary system develop and should not cause as many issues with urinary calculi when they are older. ONLY occasionally, have we added buck pellets (pelleted food formulated for bucks only), kelp and black oil sunflower seeds (BOSS). Meaning that they will not grow horns. A newborn Nigerian dwarf goat weighs around 2 pounds at birth. However, it is still recommended to get the help of a professional, such as a veterinarian, to deal with the whole process. For goats it is called freshening. We have worked to develop a good step by step milking routine so that even the those people who have never milked before can feel comfortable trying their hand at it. Some kids horn buds do not break through the skin until later. You can have approximately 10 Nigerian dwarf goats per acre. I checked her temp and it was 105 degrees F.  She was sick. There are plenty of color combinations to be found. Before you start shooting the messenger and accuse me of wrecking your homesteading dream or saying I’m a goat-hater, let me explain myself. Goats (and for that matter cows) do have to kid, calf or have a baby before they can give milk. Pygmy goat’s genetics are designed for meat production, so they tend to have a much thicker build in general. Answer: Yes. A movement toward self sustaining lifestyles has helped increase interest in this breed. My does that have quads are not milked until they wean their kids. They can, many times, be the same height and weight, but pygmy goats tend to be stockier, and have shorter legs. http://www.luresext.edu/sites/default/files/BCS_factsheet.pdf, https://standleeforage.com/products/premium-alfalfa-pellets, (You must log in or sign up to reply here. They reach sexual maturity at a young age so be sure and separate the bucks and does. We learned on an unexperienced but very very patient doe. Interesting facts:  Only goats, sheep, toads, and octopi have rectangular pupils. Nigerian dwarfs don’t actually require the acreage that’s needed for larger varieties of livestock. Hi Lindsey, most experts on Nigerian Dwarf goats say the ideal weight is 75lbs but a range between 60 and 80 pounds is normal and healthy, depending on her frame. Babies are around 2 pounds when born. They only have 3 to 6 inches between their udder and the floor of the milk stanchion. You’re probably familiar with pygmy goats, which are another small-sized goat. They are definitely much smaller in size than full-size goats. This is a good thing as you can breed your doe yearly and milk for the rest of the year. 4. Nigerian dwarf goats are good mothers and typically deliver easily and unassisted. However, if she develops mastitis or is mineral deficient she may have more difficulty and need help to support her babies. Does stand between 16 and 21 inches tall at the withers and bucks can grow to be 23.5 inches tall at the withers. So, if a doe must be at least 135 pounds to meet the breed standards, a doeling would need to be at least 110 pounds to be considered fit for breeding. When her stream slows bump the udder or massage softly then finish milking her out. At that time, we begin milking twice a day about 12 hours apart. 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