The Nigerian Dwarf goat is a miniature dairy animal originating in the tropics of Western Africa. Brought to the United States as food for big cats such as lions, surviving West African Dwarf goats were placed in zoos. The popularity of these particular goats has been on the rise due to their dairy use, friendly nature, ease of care, and colorful coats. Because of their small size and temperament, these goats have become popular as pets.

Nigerian Dwarf goat on a farm

Originally referred to as West African Dwarfs, Nigerian Dwarf goats were once thought to be pigmy goats, but the angular more refined shape of the Nigerian dwarf differed from the round boned, short-legged, heavy-bodied pigmy, thus bringing about the distinction of the breeds. The goats have an ideal weight of seventy-five pounds, and they have two height standards. One recognized by the Nigerian Dwarf Goat Association (NDGA), and the other by the American Dairy Goat Association (ADGA) and American Goat Society (AGS). The NDGA promotes and preserves the small, functional dairy-type of these goats. The ideal height for NDGA goats is 19 to 21 inches for bucks, the male species, and 17 to 19 inches for does, the female of the species. The AGS and ADGA have height standards of less than 22.5 inches at the withers, the tallest point of the animal, for does, and 23.5 inches for bucks. The AGS is dedicated to preserving and improving the pedigrees of purebred dairy goats, and the purpose of ADGA is to improve the dairy goat industry and to provide publicity and service to the goat dairying industry.

Nigerian Dwarf goats are ideal for milking because the does make a surprisingly high amount of milk for their size. The goats average two and a half pounds of milk per day, with a possibility of producing up to eight pounds per day. The milk of these goats is 6 to 10% higher in butterfat and protein than most dairy goat breeds.

The goats have become popular as pets due to their friendly nature and colorful coats. The main colors for the Nigerian are black, gold, and chocolate, but the goats can come in a multitude of different shades. When breeding, the color of the goat cannot be determined, as two goats of one color can have a kid, baby goat, with a totally different color. It is also not unusual for the goats coloring to change after birth. The goats can be tri-colored, Dalmatian-spotted, pinto-patterned, buckskin, or solid colors including white, red, and cream. The most common eye color for these goats is brown, but china-blue eye color is becoming quite popular.

Because of the friendly nature, small size, ease of being trained, these goats make great pets. They can share pastures with other livestock such as horses, cows, and llamas, and because they will eat ivy and undergrowth that other animals will not eat, they are helpful to the upkeep of the pasture. The goats are gentle and playful with loveable personalities and even tempers. They make suitable companions for children, disabled people, and the elderly. Does and neutered males, wethers, make the best pets, but breeding bucks are also gentle and easy to handle. The cost of registered breeding goats can be from $300-500, with the price going higher for milk producing records and unusual color and traits. The cost of wethers can range between 50-100 dollars each.