[Buttermilk17]

Hi,

I've seen posts on Facebook about dwarf dairy goats (also called Nigerian). I've been interested in nigerians but was told they don't exist.

So I'm unsure what these are exactly. I'm loathe to express doubt online as those who have them will undoubtedly be biased and they're on every goat page! And I'd like an unbiased view before buying one.

So in a different venue, does anyone know what they are? Are they in fact Nigerian or are they a dairy cross? I'm happy to hear opinion if you aren't sure factually.

[macgro7]

They surely exist but only in America im afraid...
Itd be really nice to have a small dairy goats, I'm sure they would soon become very popular over here. I was thinking of crossing my dairy goats with a pygmy Billy- Americans cross nubian with pygmy to get "kinder" goat.

[Buttermilk17]

Well this is a British dwarf dairy?

[roddycm]

https://www.dwarfdairygoats.co.uk/ found this maybe it will help answer your questions...

[Buttermilk17]

https://www.dwarfdairygoats.co.uk/ found this maybe it will help answer your questions...

Their first question on their website is:

Can I buy a Nigerian Dwarf here:
No That is a US breed. We are breeding Dwarf Dairy goats at this point we don't know what genes they share with Nigerian Dwarf goats from the US

____________

But they seem to sort of refer to themselves as Nigerian on Facebook. it's a little confusing if these are Nigerian, a version that is a breed over here or if it's just a gathering of small goats you can milk but uncertain as a breed.

[Buttermilk17]

Nigerian Dwarf and African Pygmy goats were imported to the UK back in the dark ages.  However, they weren't segregated and therefore what is now bred in the UK and known as "pygmies" are a mix of the 2 distinct original breeds.  Despite many claims, and many posts on the subject on this forum and most other forms of social media, no one has ever been able to turn up a Nigerian Dwarf that stands scrutiny in the UK. Some pygmies will look more like Nigerian Dwarf and some more like African Pygmy - that's just genetics for you.

If you're looking for a smallish house goat, you could do worse than either a Golden Guernsey or an Old English, both of which are rare breeds.  There would also be nothing to stop you milking a pygmy if you've got the time and patience, though whether it would produce "enough" milk for a household would depend on the goat, the feed routine and how much milk you need.

I don't suppose there would be anything wrong in asking whomever is posting about them which bloodlines they have and more about them "because you're interested" and want to understand more.

Whatever you decide to buy, be sure to do your due diligence on the health side.  You don't want to buy in something that goes on to develop CAE or Johnes in a few years time after it's already infected everything else on your property.  Get evidence of regular (at least annual) testing, check biosecurity and don't go to look at anything where they aren't willing to give you evidence before you visit.  It's a lot easier to rule out an animal before you've seen it, if the paperwork isn't in order.

No, I wouldn't buy untested goats. I have looked at Guernseys but English goats look big to me (in photos) but maybe that's just perspective? I've just always seen the American nigerians and admired them for size, dairy and colours. It's the niceness of pygmies which so many like but added bonus of good milk too.