When we first looked into getting goats for our homestead, Nigerian Dwarf Goats were the obvious pick for us for the following reasons . . .
They Are The Smallest Of The Dairy Goats
We wanted a dairy animal that we could get our own organic milk from. Initially, we looked into Jersey cows as they are a bit smaller than their larger cow cousins. Then we realized that was still much more than we needed. Feeding a cow was going to be much more expensive than the amount of the milk we’d get. Additionally, cows milk is much more difficult for people to digest than goats milk (A1 vs A2 protein). So we turned to goats, and even the standard sized dairy goats were going to provide much more milk than we would consume as a small family. Plus, as goats are herd animals, you need more than one. So we discovered the Nigerians and loved the fact that they provide a more manageable amount of milk for a small family. The only drawback is that they have much smaller teats to milk from, but when your only keeping a couple then it’s not too big a deal.
Great Tasting Milk With Multiple Uses
Not all breeds of goat produce the same tasting milk, some are stronger or “goatier” tasting than others. My first taste of goats milk from our Nigerians did not disappoint. It was like really creamy cows milk and tasted wonderful. The key is cooling it very quickly and keeping everything very clean. They have the highest butterfat content of any other breed at 6-10% butterfat vs 2-6% of other goats. This makes it perfect for making butter, cheese, ice cream, soap . . .
Easier To Handle
Goats are stubborn, and after dealing with our girls and boys, I can’t imagine having to deal with goats 2-3 times their size. I’m more hands on with my goats than maybe others are with walking, hoof trimming, brushing, moving in and out of areas. Bucks can be especially difficult during breeding season. Easy handling comes down to proper socialization and training, but if you do end up with an unruly goat, Nigerians are a much more manageable size to deal with.
Cheaper To House/Feed/Contain
With their small compact size, Nigerians are easier to house and feed. They require less food, less space, smaller shelters, and less hard core fencing requirements. Overall, they’re a more cost efficient dairy animal.
Easier Travel Size
Travel? Yes, we tend to travel with our goats when we can. We’ve gotten around having to buy a horse trailer by either preparing the back of my car for goats, or they can fit in dog crates. When our herd was too big for crates or car travel, we were easily able to buy some 2X4’s and OSB to make a quick travel box on out flatbed trailer.
Best Goat For Families With Small Kids (4H)
Along with Pigmy Goats, Nigerians are a safer size for having around small kids. Some goats think it’s real cool to be stinkers and head butt little kids. The smaller the goat the less of a punch they can deliver. Even with respectful goats, kids themselves will feel more confident around an animal that’s closer to their own height. I’ve had both friendly goats, and trouble making goats, and it’s piece of mind for me that those goats can’t cause too much trouble because of their smaller size, whether it’s with kids that come to visit or with my own kids. If you’re kids want to do 4H, Nigerians are the perfect size for kids to handle at a show.
BONUS
They’re just so colorful. You can build your herd with all sorts of coat and eye colors. It’s exciting come kidding season as you never know what colors they’re going to produce!
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