NIGERIAN DWARF GOATS
Welcome to our dedicated Nigerian Dwarf Goat page. Here you will find out about the Breed Standards and ideals for the Nigerian Dwarf, along with the AGB Inc. registry and grading rules. You can connect with our leading Nigerian Dwarf breeders here to find out more about these stunning animals.
The Nigerian Dwarf goat breed is very well established in Australia with high % appendix animals bred up from dairy and Australia Miniature Goat crosses, as well as a relatively large population of American Purebred animals.
DNA verified purebred does 93.75% plus are trading starting at around $4,000 at the moment, USA purebred does on average $7,000-$10,000 for current/widely available genetics. New genetics, good udders and outstanding animals could attract a higher price. Lower % does 75% around $1,500 and 87.5% starting $2,500.
Bucks are trading a little lower than does, though attracting a premium for new genetics or awesome udder lines - on average around $5,500, but ranging from $3,000 though to $8,000+.
NIGERIAN DWARF BREEDERS
We have some of the best Nigerian Dwarf breeders in the country!
Connect with a premium breeder here.
NIGERIAN DWARF BREED STANDARDS
Our Nigerian Dwarf Breed Standards are adapted from the USA where this breed was developed:
GENERAL APPEARANCE AND CONFIRMATION
GENERAL APPEARANCE stylish and alert, exhibiting balance in all positions displaying femininity/ masculinity, length of body and smoothness of blending throughout. Moves easily and correctly about the ring.
FRONT END assembly prominent withers blending smoothly from neck into topline. Shoulders tightly attached and elbows laid in against body wall. Deep and wide chest, with moderately extended brisket.
BACK, TOPLINE & RUMP strong and straight, well defined vertebrae, topline slightly higher at the withers, then leveling out through the chine and loin. Good width from loin to rump. Rump slightly angled downward. Tail head smoothly set slightly above well-defined pinbones. Tail symmetrical to body.
FEET & LEGS flat bone and strong throughout. Set wide - front legs wide and under withers, back legs straight as seen form rear, and angled from side. Pasterns strong and flexible. Feet pointing forward with toes close together. Feet uniform from toe to heel.
Snr Doe 30, Jnr Doe 45, Buck 45 points
HEAD AND NIGERIAN DWARF BREED CHARACTER
HEAD is balanced in length, width and depth; broad muzzle with full nostrils; even bite; alert eyes; strong jaw with angular lean throat junction. Medium length, upright ears. Nose either straight or slightly dished. Neck is lean with good length blending smoothly into shoulders. Any eye colour. Disbudded or polled.
DAIRY CHARACTER shows angularity (clearly seen dairy wedges from top, rear and side), free from excess flesh and coarseness. Sharp withers, good width and length from chest through to escutcheon. Thighs wide apart, highly arched and out-curving into the escutcheon.
BONE long and flat. General openness and angularity with clean bone structure.
SKIN 'dairy skin' - loose, thin and pliable with soft, smooth hair.
COAT is short and fine. Any colour combination is accepted.
SIZE - Does between 43cm and 57cm measured at withers. Bucks between 43cm and 60cm.
Snr Doe 25, Jnr Doe 30, Buck 30 points
BODY CAPACITY
CHEST deep and wide chest with well sprung fore ribs that blends smoothly into the barrel.
BARREL large capacity increasing in depth from heart girth to flank. Body capacity and depth appropriate with level of maturity for juniors.
Snr Doe 15, Jnr Doe 15, Buck 15 points
REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM
UDDER is well-attached, globular, balanced when viewed from both the side and rear. Capacious but with floor level well above the hocks. 1/3 visible in front of the leg, 1/3 under, 1/3 behind. Texture is soft, pliable and elastic, well collapsed after milking.
FORE UDDER is wide and smoothly blends into the abdominal wall.
REAR UDDER is high and wide in natural arch-shaped escutcheon.
SUPPORT well supported with strong medial suspensory ligament that clearly defines the udder halves, contributes to desirable shape and capacity, holds the udder snugly against the body. Good lateral attachments extending down the inside of the thigh.
TEATS uniform in size, clearly delineated teats. Cylindrical in shape, ideally plumb. Teat size in proportion to udder capacity and appropriately placed on udder floor for ease of milking - pointed almost straight down or slightly forward.
VULVA normal in size and shape.
BUCKS - Two fully descended testicles of even size, healthy and firm. Two cylindrical teats of uniform length and size, symmetrically placed, free of deformities or multiple orifices. Normal sheath.
Snr Doe 30, Jnr Doe 10, Buck 10 points
Adapted with permission from Miniature Dairy Goat Assocation.
NIGERIAN DWARF BREED FAULTS
Disqualifying Faults: Wry face; overshot or undershot jaw; teats - double, supernumerary, multiple orifices, blind teat, sprigs, spurs; undescended testicle/s; split testicle over 3cm; hermaphrodism; does over 57cm, bucks/wethers over 60cm; horns or scurs over 5cm; serious emaciation; total blindness; permanent lameness; genetic hernia; pendulous ears.
Faults to be judged on severity: Crooked or malformed feet, cow or bow hocked, dropped weak or long pasterns, postiness, splayed feet; roach or sway back, dip behind wither, loose shoulders, shallow body, narrow chest, steep rump, short rump, flat rump, decreasing width of rump; udder faults (NB: BREED SPECIFIC WEIGHTING TO BE GIVEN TO MAMMARY SYSTEM faults) pendulous, fleshy, or unduly divided, pocket or lack of capacity, undefined medial; teats - uneven, bulbous, extremely small or thick, sideways pointing; folded ears; pendulous scrotum; divided scrotum over 1cm, scrotum small for age.
MILKING
The Nigerian Dwarf is first and foremost a DAIRY goat. Breeders are looking to establish lines within their breeding programs with well attached udders and good teat size and placement, along with volume and production goals. Of course, there will always be one or more element that needs improvement!
Castle Rock La Jamais Contente imported by First Fleet Dairy Goats
Some examples of udders from our breeders:
NIGERIAN DWARF COLOURS
In the States the colour of the animal is a serious part of the registration as colours can only come from certain parent lines. Here of course we have DNA so not as important for registration.
A couple of great resources to check out the Nigerian Dwarf Colours + Patterns:
AGB INC REGISTRATION & GRADING
At AGB Inc. we recognise goats Nigerian Dwarf goats with DNA parental verification back to a known import. DNA for Nigerian Dwarf has been recorded and freely available since the very first imports, and all foundation breeders DNA parent verified all their stock, so unlike the Pygmy there is no reason not to have full DNA history for your animals. Buyers should check this in advance of purchase, and also that the animal has been tested for the Myotonic Gene, or is the progeny of tested clear lines.
We do not have a 'grading' system as such - rather animals will be identified by their proven % imported genetics - as 'ND87.5' for example for appendix animals. Appendix animals are graded as 'Adult'. Then, at 93.75% (and above) we recognise the appendix animal as a Purebred. Those DNA verified 100% animals from imported embryos and their progeny will be graded as 'USA Purebred'.
See following the rules around how we recognise, register and will register Nigerian Dwarf Goats in the future.
AGB Inc NIGERIAN DWARF REGISTRATION RULES
Current animals with a DOB up to 30/6/2023, carrying at least 25% DNA verified genetics can enter the AGB Inc. registry and our shows as a Nigerian Dwarf. Animals born from the start of our registry on 1/7/2023 should be at least 50% DNA verified Nigerian Dwarf genetics to be registered with AGB Inc and be eligible to show.
The Nigerian Dwarf is a mature breed here in Australia with widely available genetics. As Premium Breeders we are all working towards purebred status (at 93.75% and above). To this end, we have laid out our registry rules for the next 2 years so that Members can plan appropriate breeding, and manage their show team. The registry rules and show rules are the SAME, and any changes apply from the date of birth.
Bucks born from DOB 1/1/2024 will be at least 93.75% (Purebred) imported genetics or more for registration and showing.
Does born from DOB 1/7/2025 will be at least 87.5% imported genetics or more for registration and showing.
We plan to upgrade does also to purebred in 2026.
MYOTONIC GENE IN NIGERIAN DWARF GOATS
The mutant Myotonic Gene has been found in the Nigerian Dwarf breed in Australia with two different semen imports being identified as unaffected carriers. This is a recessive gene where two unaffected carrier parents have a 1 in 4 chance of creating affected progeny. The affected animals are colloquially known as 'fainting goats'. The carrier animals are completely unaffected.
There has been some misinformation around this topic. Really it is about identifying and managing your animals. As Premium Breeders we can make those decisions, and help educate new breeders and buyers about this mutant gene.
All animals carrying Nigerian Dwarf genetics currently owned by our Members will need to be identified in relation to their Myotonic status to enter the AGB Inc. registry. Unaffected carriers can be bred, owned and shown. Our position is that if you do not own a carrier buck, you cannot produce affected animals, and therefore our members agree that any carrier bucks will be wethered before leaving their property.
NIGERIAN DWARF BREED
Check out examples of Nigerian Dwarf Goats owned and/or bred by our Premium Breeders.
AGB Inc recognise Nigerian Dwarf as a miniature DAIRY goat breed. Does compete in Junior and Senior divisions, and this is why our Judges Scorecard reflects a dairy weighting higher than the breeds to the mammary system in the Senior Does of 30 points.
