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Useful Information Regarding Nigerian Dwarf Goat Farms

By Ann West


The origin of Nigerian dwarf goats is Western Africa. This breed became very popular due to the fact that they have beautiful body marks and are small in size. This breed has existed for a long time, but never have they been so popular like they are today. The small size of the goat is advantageous to farmers in numerous ways. This is worth knowing about Nigerian dwarf goat farms.

To begin with, people prefer Nigeria Dwarf goats because their small size makes it easier to raise them even on small parcels of land. The breed is classified as a dairy goat by the US Department of Agriculture. There are several other breeds of goats that fall in the same category, but they are much bigger in size. Rearing them would require more space and feed.

The small size and gentle nature of this breed makes it safe to handle. These goats are not aggressive by nature like other goats. As such, they can be handled very easily. Even children can be left to handle them without risk of accidents and injuries. Since they are classified under livestock dairy animals, they qualify for youth FFA and 4H projects.

Many people also prefer these goats because of their high milk production capability. They can produce about two quarts of milk per day. Other than being too nutritious, the milk is also sweet. The milk produced by the goats is amongst those with highest butterfat content in the entire animal family. Protein in the milk is also very high.

Despite the fact that the goats can produce so much milk in a single day, many farmers who keep them do not do so for the milk. As a fact, many individuals do not milk the goats for commercial purposes of domestic use. Instead, these goats are kept as pets. The animals provide company to their owners that many people love and enjoy.

Nigerian dwarfs are a legitimate breed that has strict conformation standards. Conformation standards in this breed are similar to the ones observed in other larger dairy goats. The first requirement for conformation is that body parts must be proportional. The nose is supposed to be straight with the ears being upright. The coat is required to be soft with the hair growing to a short or medium length.

The goats usually come in various colors or combination of certain colors which are acceptable depending on conformation standards. For the females, 17 to 19 inches is the ideal height. The males ought to be between 19 and 21 inches in height. In rare cases, the males can reach a height of 23 inches while the females could reach 21 inches.

The ideal weight is supposed to be 75 pounds. Animals that weigh too much or have other faults are usually disqualified from shows. Examples of faults include having pendulous ears, curly coat, or roman nose. When buying, it is important to be accompanied by an expert to verify conformity. Alternatively, one can ask the farmer to produce registration papers for the goat to verify conformity.




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