breeds you need
Hundreds of varieties of livestock are suitable to raise on a hobby farm, and here are some great goat breeds!
Nigerian Dwarfs
The Nigerian Dwarf traces its roots to West Africa and was originally known as the “West African Dwarf Goat.” It’s believed that most early imports were between 1930 and 1960. The name was coined by Bonnie Abrahamson of North Ogden, Utah, and the first herd books for the Nigerian Dwarf were opened in 1981 by the International Dairy Goat Registry.
The American Goat Society opened a herd book for them in 1984, and in 2005, the American Dairy Goat Association began registering purebred Nigerian Dwarfs. The breed was removed from The Livestock Conservancy rare breed list in 2013 and is the fastest growing dairy goat breed in America today.
Does can be no taller than 22½ inches at the highest point of the withers. The buck can be no taller than 23½ inches, making them a true miniature breed of dairy goat. Any color or combination of colors is acceptable. Medium-length ears are erect and alert. The face is either straight or dished, and the hair is short and fine.
Nigerian Dwarfs, if handled daily, tend to be friendly and cooperative. They are intelligent and learn their routine quickly. Like other dairy goat breeds, they can produce more milk than their offspring require. Small acreage requirements, high protein and butterfat properties in their milk, and their unintimidating size make them an economic choice for many homesteaders.
— Ellen Dorsey, Dill’s-A Little Goat Farm
Angoras
Angora goats originated in the area between the Black and Mediterranean seas that is now Turkey. The first importations of Angoras to the U.S. occurred in 1849 when James Davis of Columbia, South Carolina, brought seven does and two bucks back with him following a trip to Turkey. By the early 1900s, the majority
of the goats were concentrated in the Southwest, and the American Angora Goat Breeders’ Association was formed in 1900 in Rocksprings, Texas.
The peak number of Angora goats was reached in the mid-1960s with an estimated 41⁄ million in the
2 U.S., which produced almost 30 million pounds of mohair. Today, an estimated 125,000 head of Angoras remain in the U.S. with the majority located in the Edwards Plateau region of southwestern Texas. During the peak production years from 1940 to 1970, many producers ran very large herds of goats, some as large as 10,000 to 20,000 head. Those large herds no longer exist. The majority of Angora goat herds now consist of small farm flocks consisting of 20 to 30 head. Many of these small producers shear their own animals and process the mohair themselves for use in the hand-spinning industry.
In the 1990s, a group of breeders began selecting and breeding naturally colored Angoras, and the American Colored Angora Goat registry was formed in 2002. The fine, naturally colored fleeces are highly sought after by hand spinners and fiber artists throughout the country.
— Dawn Rudasill, AAGBA, and Lisa Edmiston, TAGRA Secretary/Treasurer
Nubians
In the late 1800s, imports of Jumna Pari and Zaraibi animals from the Nubian region of Egypt and India were crossed with British goats to create a distinct breed used for meat and milk. Originally called the AngloNubian, that designation was dropped in the early 1900s to simply “Nubian.”
The first imports into the U.S. began in 1906. Nubians are second only to Nigerian Dwarfs in popularity in the U.S., with more than 14,000 being registered with the American Dairy Goat Association in 2018.
The Nubian’s swanlike neck, pendulous (floppy) ears and distinct convex (roman) nose distinguish it from all other dairy goat breeds. One of the larger breeds, does stand 30 inches or more (measured at the withers) and can weigh upward of 240 pounds. Bucks are 35 inches tall at the base of the neck and weigh more than 300 pounds at maturity. The Nubian is a very social breed and has a reputation for being very talkative. This trait is normally only seen during breeding season or feeding time.
Average production for a mature doe is 1,820 pounds of sweet, rich milk with a butterfat average of 4.9%, great for home milk use and cheese production. Its’ Middle Eastern roots give the breed an exceptional adaptability to a variety of climates, allowing for a prolonged breeding season, and year-round milk and meat production.
The Nubian can be any color or combination of colors, is a fairly disease-resistant and has good mothering instincts. — Cynthia Eslava, MagMar Farm, and Caroline Lawson, TLC Farms
Oberhasli
Switzerland’s version of the Alpine, Oberhasli were originally known as “Swiss Alpines” in the U.S. The American Dairy Goat Association recognized them in 1979 as a separate breed, naming them Oberhasli.
Oberhasli feature a uniquely striking red-brown coat trimmed in black. Does can also be solid black in color. The reddish color is a hallmark of the breed and should not be confused with brown.
While similar to the other erect-eared Swiss breeds, there are some variations in type. The classic Oberhasli has a shorter and wider head, typically a slight dish between the eyes and eyes that are more prominent than other breeds. Ears are often smaller and shorter in relation to size, set a bit lower on the head and point slightly forward instead of straight up. While there is no upper size limit, the minimum height is 28 inches. This moderate size relative to other dairy breeds can be an advantage for some homesteads. The Oberhasli is laid-back and quiet compared to many of the larger dairy goats.
Additionally, Oberhasli milk can be used for a variety of purposes, but its sweet taste may especially appeal to people interested in drinking it. — Tom Rucker, Buttin’Heads Dairy Goats, with Kirt Schnipke, Ober-Boerd Dairy Goats
Pygmies
Pygmy goats are the perfect answer for urban livestock. They’re highly adaptable, good-natured and gregarious; they make docile, responsive pets and provide milk; and they’re ecologically effective browsers. Some farmers even use the breed to introduce children to the responsibilities and fun of raising livestock, due to the Pygmy’s small size and fun personality. In fact, some states allow children as young as 5 years old to show Pygmy goats in pre-4-H programs.
Feeding and housing requirements are modest: A draft-free, 8-by-10-foot shed with elevated sleeping and feeding places will accommodate four adults. An attached outside enclosure with at least 4-foot high fencing will provide the fresh air and exercise these active, fun-loving goats need. A basic diet of roughage in the form of legume and grass hay may be supplemented with minerals and small amounts of grain. As browsers, Pygmies also enjoy bark, brush and dry leaves.
Not all small goats are Pygmies. The Pygmy is a breed, not a description. Full-barreled and wellmuscled, Pygmies are genetically small, cobby and compact with clearly defined and well-angulated frames. Limbs and head are short relative to body. The body circumference in relation to height and weight is proportionately greater than that of dairy breeds.
The National Pygmy Goat Association was organized with a mission to support the Pygmy in the U.S. by collecting and disseminating information, protecting the breed standard and recording their lineage through its registry. Competitions sanctioned by NPGA are held throughout the country with open and youth classes.
Boers
Dutch stockmen in South Africa during the early 1900s crossed African goats with European dairy breeds, selecting for size, meatiness, early maturity and rapid weight gain to create the Boer, which in Dutch means “farmer.” In 1993, the first North American-born Boers were dispersed throughout Canada and the U.S. Boers are now the most popular meat goat breed in North America.
Boers are long, heavy-boned, large-framed goats with massive, meaty muscling. Great size; large, pendulous ears; and a Roman-nosed face are hallmarks. Most Boers are sparkling white with cherry red heads and necks. Bucks tip the scale at 250 to 350 pounds; does, 150 to 250. Both sexes have sturdy, wide-set horns that sweep gracefully back from their skulls instead of up and out like the horns of other meat goat breeds. Does are prolific moms (twins are the norm; triplets and quads are common) that give rich, high-butterfat milk. Unlike other goats, many Boer does have four functional teats.
The easy-going Boers are registered by three American organizations: The American Boer Goat Association, International Boer Goat Association and United States Boer Goat Association.