The differences between Nigerian Dwarf and Nubian goats

Goats are the darlings of the internet, maybe second to cats.

And they are adorable creatures with their own unique personalities.

Goats on your homestead can bring both positive and unexpected chaos to your homestead. You’ll likely never have a dull moment with your goats around for entertainment.

Among all the different dairy goat breeds out there, Nigerian Dwarf and Nubian goats have a special place in my heart. I tend to both of these breeds currently and while I love them dearly…I do have some opinions.

So, should you get Nigerian Dwarfs for your homestead? Or are Nubian goats a better option?

Let's dive right in and explore the characteristics of these cutie caprines to help you make an informed decision for your homestead.

→ Important Note: I’m sharing this based on my own experience. But I also have seen such a vast range of personalities within each breed that it’s important for you to note that some personality traits that I’ll mention here aren’t universal.

Nigerian Dwarf Goat Characteristics

These little goats are absolutely precious. They are the darlings of the goat world, and are a very popular dairy breed among new homesteaders or folks without much acreage.

Here's what sets them apart:

1. Affectionate with humans:I’ve found this breed to be exceptionally sweet to their human caretakers. When I had a new herd of 6 Nigerian Dwarf goats, within a week they would all gather around me and ask for pets and snuggles. I could also start singing random songs and they would stare at me like I was telling them where to find the best alfalfa hay, humoring me with their interest.
   
   Similarly, today I walked into my barn and sat down and two of my Nigerian Dwarfs moved away from the precious hay to come say hi to me and rest their heads on my lap.
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2. Size Matters: The small size of these goats makes them a lot easier to take care of. If you’re of small stature, it might be easier for you to have Nigerian Dwarfs.
   
   They also need to eat less than the “standard sized” larger breeds. I’d say that 3 Nigerian Dwarfs eat the same amount as 1 Nubian goat. That also means I need to clean out their stalls less often 💩
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3. Milk: Nigerian Dwarfs can produce a decent amount of milk, especially when taking their size into consideration. Their milk quality and taste is top-notch: it’s high in cream and sweeter than goat milk from the store or from my Nubians. If you think you might not like the taste of goat milk, try some Nigerian Dwarf milk - you might like it a lot better than the milk of other  breeds.
   
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4. Easier to sell: In order for your does to produce milk, they’re going to need to have babies. And if your goats are having babies every year or every other year, eventually you’re going to have too many goats.
   
   Since they are so popular and versatile, I’ve found that Nigerian Dwarfs sell faster than other breeds.
   
   This fact can help you recoup some of the costs of feeding and housing your goats a little easier.
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5. Quiet: As I’ll mention below, when compared with Nubian goats, Nigerian Dwarfs are as quiet as mice. If the goats have everything they need and aren’t in heat or rut, they won’t be a nuisance to neighbors.

While that makes this breed sound like total perfection, Nigerian Dwarfs have some downsides, too:

1. Smaller amounts of milk compared to other breeds: If you want to have large quantities of milk from a Nigerian Dwarf, you’ll need to be certain that you are buying goats from excellent milk lines. If the doe you’re buying hasn’t given birth yet, it can be tough to guarantee how much milk she’ll produce.
   
   If self-sufficiency is your goal and the smaller size of Nigerian Dwarfs is ideal, you might need to pay a little extra for a doe or two with excellent genetics and milk records.
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2. Can be difficult to milk: Similar to my previous point, this can vary from goat to goat, but in general the smaller size of this breed’s udder makes them kind of hard to milk by hand. When buying your goats, you might be able to see photos of their udders to decide for yourself.
   
   We also found the Udderly EZ milking machine to be really helpful when milking Nigerian Dwarfs!
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3. Can fight a lot: Out of the two breeds that I have experience with, Nigerian Dwarfs fight among themselves the most. They are always looking for a way to rise up in the pecking order, and will fight others within their breed if they are ill, or have just given birth.
   
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4. Escape artists: Their small size makes it a little easier for Nigerian Goats to escape. I’ve had both babies and adults go through what I thought was a strong fence and go into my garden, or worse, the road. Thankfully, I have great neighbors who saw them and brought them back to me.
   
   Sometimes it seems like they want to go into a different part of the yard because the grass is always greener there 🙂 Other times they are in heat and want to hang out with our boy goats.

Nubian Goat Characteristics

Nubians, with their elegant ears and regal appearance, even though they are a bit goofy at the same time. Their milk capacity makes them a favorite of homesteaders looking to become more self-sufficient.

Here's what I love about Nubian goats:

1. Milk Production: Nubians are renowned for their high milk production. While of course milk quantity will vary from doe to doe, it’s likely that a couple of Nubian does in milk will provide for a family of four. They’re great if you want to make cheese or other dairy products and not need to “save up” the milk for a week before you have enough to make something.
   
   As a bonus, for me Nubian goats are far easier to milk by hand.
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2. Sweet temperaments: Nubians are sweet to their humans, but I’ve also noticed they are sweet with each other. I think their large size means that they feel they have less to prove.
   
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3. Smart: My Nubians know the command “hop up” for getting up on the milk stand, and will look at me when I call their name. They also caught on to the role of my livestock guardian dog very quickly, whereas my Nigerian Dwarfs didn’t quite get it until the Nubians modeled it for them.
   
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4. Less adventerous: By this I mean that my Nubian goats have never tried to hop over or crawl under a fence. This could be based on their personality, but in my experience they always respect the fence. If a gate is open, though, they will go through it to explore, but that’s human error, not their fault!

Here are the downsides of Nubian goats:

1. Loud and Proud: Nubians are famous for their vocalizations. Their melodious bleats can add a…unique soundtrack to your homestead. When they are in heat, they are even louder. One of my Nubians "sings" when she's sleeping, even.
   
   If you live in a suburban area with close neighbors, you might want to opt for a different goat breed. As they are an excellent dairy breed, this noise may be worth it for you.
   
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2. Big and Stocky: Nubians are a dual-purpose breed, so their large size could be good if you also want meat goats. But, with does weighing in at over 150lbs, they can be hard to manage if you are of smaller stature. I personally do not have a Nubian buck for this reason - they can be even bigger.
   
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3. They require more food + maintenance: Compared to Nigerian Dwarfs, Nubian goats eat a lot. Due to this, I need to clean out their stalls more often. Although, more manure can be a plus as it benefits the garden!
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The best dairy goat breed for your homestead

When it comes to choosing between Nigerian Dwarf and Nubian goats for your homestead, consider the following factors:

1. Space: If you have limited space, Nigerian Dwarfs may be more suitable due to their smaller size.
2. Purpose: Are you primarily interested in milk production? If you have the space, I’d opt for Nubian goats based on their ease of milking + the quantity of milk.
3. Personality: Consider the temperament of each breed and how it aligns with your homesteading goals and lifestyle.

In conclusion, both Nigerian Dwarf and Nubian goats have their own unique charms and contributions to offer to a homestead.

Whichever breed you choose, be prepared for a delightful, sometimes exasperating, and always entertaining adventure with these remarkable creatures.

Whether it's the mischievous antics of Nigerian Dwarfs or the melodious serenades of Nubians, one thing's for sure – life with goats is never dull!

I hope this list was helpful!

→ Now that you know which dairy goat breed you're going to pick, have a lok at my dairy goat supply list for everything you'll need to get started.

→ If you're interested in raising your dairy goats in a low-carbon footprint way, have a look at my article on eco friendly goats.

→ I also have a full review of different kinds of goat fencing, too.