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Nigerian Dwarf goat

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Nigerian Dwarf
Doe in milk
Conservation status
Country of originUnited States
Standard
Use
Traits
Weight
  • 35 kg (75 lb)
Height
  • Male:
    maximum 60 cm (24 in)
  • Female:
    maximum 57 cm (22 in)
Wool colorany color
Horn statushorned or hornless
  • Goat
  • Capra aegagrus hircus

The Nigerian Dwarf is a modern American breed of dwarf goat. Like the American Pygmy Goat, it derives from the West African Dwarf group of breeds of West Africa.[4]: 416 

History

[edit]

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.[2] The Nigerian Dwarf, like the American Pygmy Goat, derives from these, but does not resemble the stocky West African Dwarf in conformation – it has been bred to have the appearance of a miniature dairy goat.[4]: 399 [5]: 35  It was at first reared as a show breed and companion animal; selection was for appearance and for docility.[2] It was later found to be suitable for small-scale dairy production, and some breeding was directed towards dairy qualities.[2] A herd-book was established in 1980.[3]

Numbers grew rapidly; by 2002 there were almost 7000 head registered.[2] The breed was recognized by the American Dairy Goat Association in 2005.[5]: 33  The Nigerian Dwarf was formerly listed on the heritage breeds watchlist of the Livestock Conservancy as "recovering",[2] but was removed from the list in 2013.[6]

In 2023 the total number of the goats in the United States was just under 40000;[3] populations numbering 1000–2000 head are reported by Australia and Canada.[7] In 2024 the international conservation status of the breed was "not at risk".[7]

In the 1990s the Nigora breed was created by cross-breeding the Nigerian Dwarf with Angora and other mohair breeds.[4]: 399 

On March 14, 2024, the first Nigerian Dwarf goat was born in the UK through a surrogate mother of a different breed via IVF.[8][9] This method was employed due to import restrictions, which prohibit the direct importation of live Nigerian Dwarf goats into the country.

Characteristics

[edit]
The eyes may be blue

The Nigerian Dwarf is small but well-proportioned; its conformation resembles that of larger dairy goats.[4]: 399  It may be horned or naturally hornless.[2] The coat is fine and fairly short, and may be of any color, or multicolored;[2] common colors are gold, chocolate and black, frequently with white markings. The facial profile may be concave or straight; the ears are upright.[4]: 399  The average weight is approximately 35 kg (75 lb), while maximum height is about 60 cm (24 in) for males and slightly less for females;[4]: 399  stock bred for dairy performance may be rather larger than show or companion animals.[2]

It is a precocious breed – young stock may be bred from an early age: males from about three months, females from seven or eight months.[10] The gestation period is in the range 145–153 days;[10] the twinning rate is high, and triplet and quadruplet births are not uncommon.[4]: 399 [2] Life expectancy is from eight to 12 years.[10]

Use

[edit]
Nigerian Dwarf twins

The Nigerian Dwarf was originally bred for show and as a companion animal. It was later also bred for dairy use.[2] Average milk yield of dairy stock is 340 kg (750 lb) per year;[11]: 284  a yield of 993 kg (2190 lb) in a lactation of 305 days was recorded in 2018.[12]: 3  Lactation usually lasts for about ten months.[2] The milk is high in butterfat and protein, averaging 6.5% and 3.9% respectively,[11]: 284  and is suitable for making cheese and butter.[2]

References

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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Nigerian Dwarf Goat.
  1. ^ Rischkowsky, Barbara; Pilling, D., eds. (2007). "List of breeds documented in the Global Databank for Animal Genetic Resources" (PDF). The State of the World's Animal Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (PDF). Rome: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. ISBN 9789251057629.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "Nigerian Dwarf Goat". American Livestock Breeds Conservancy. Archived from the original on March 7, 2010.
  3. ^ a b c "Breed data sheet: Nigerian Dwarf / United States of America (Goat)". Domestic Animal Diversity Information System of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g Porter, Valerie; Alderson, Lawrence; Hall, Stephen J.G.; Sponenberg, D. Phillip, eds. (2016). Mason's World Encyclopedia of Livestock Breeds and Breeding (6th ed.). Wallingford: CABI. ISBN 9781780647944 https://books.google.com/books?id=2UEJDAAAQBAJ. {{cite encyclopedia}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  5. ^ a b Belanger, Jerry; Thomson Bredesen, Sara (2010). Storey's Guide to Raising Dairy Goats (4th ed.). North Adams, MA: Storey Publishing. ISBN 9781603425803.
  6. ^ "2013 Changes to the Conservation Priority List". American Livestock Breeds Conservancy. Archived from the original on October 30, 2013.
  7. ^ a b "Transboundary breed: Nigerian Dwarf". Domestic Animal Diversity Information System of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
  8. ^ "UK sees first Nigerian Dwarf goat born via IVF". BBC News. March 14, 2024. Retrieved July 31, 2024.
  9. ^ "Goat IVF introduces world's smallest dairy goat back to UK". Farming Life. March 14, 2024. Retrieved July 31, 2024.
  10. ^ a b c "Dwarf Nigerian Goat". Birmingham Zoo.
  11. ^ a b Park, Y.W.; Haenlein, G.F.W. (2010). "Milk Production". In Golpashini Solaiman, Sandra (ed.). Goat Science and Production. Ames, IA: Wiley-Blackwell. pp. 275–292. ISBN 9780813820620.
  12. ^ "ADGA 2019 Performance Breed Leaders (Volume 66)" (PDF). American Dairy Goat Association.
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