What Are Mini Nubian Dairy Goats?
If you are looking for a dual-purpose goat that will do well in colder climates, then the Mini Nubians are for you!
What is a Mini Nubian?
Mini Nubians are a cross between full size Nubians and Nigerian Dwarf Goats. They can range in size and appearance based on what characteristics they take from each parent, and what generation of Mini Nubian they are.
What are the Benefits of Mini Nubian Goats?
We were choosing to breed Mini-Nubian goats because we liked the milk production output of Nubians as well as the milk taste. Nigerians are known for having very high butter fat content in their milk which is an added bonus.
The biggest benefit for us was breeding for a smaller goat that is easier to manage, as well as something hardier than a standard Nubian.
It gets very cold here in Minnesota and our Nubians always seemed to have a tough go of it in winter. We wanted to add in the fluffier coats and thicker stature of the Nigerian Dwarf breed to our Nubians. The result is a goat that will produce well and maintain more easily in a tough winter climate.
What Do Mini Nubians Look Like?
As I said before they can vary widely in their appearance. By the time you reach sixth “purebred” generation, they should be slightly larger than your average mini goat.
Mini Nubians will most likely, but not always, have pendulous ears like a Nubian. They will likely put on a shaggier thick coat like a Nigerian Dwarf during colder temperatures.
They can be any number of colors including black, tan, white, brown, moonspotted, etc.
Funny enough, earlier generations of your Mini Nubians might actually be your best generation!
It is entirely possible in later generations all of a sudden you have “bat ears”, where they are erect halfway up and then flop over at the top. you can also get “airplane ears’ (see photo below) that stick straight out to the sides and aren’t really up like a Nigerian or down like a Nubian.
Genetics can be a funny thing!
Best Practices for Breeding Mini Nubian Goats
When breeding for a mini dairy goat, your first generation cross of Nigerian Dwarfs with Standard Nubians should always consist of a Nubian doe and a Nigerian Dwarf buck. This is incredibly important for the health and wellbeing of the doe.
A Nigerian Dwarf doe if bred to a Nubian buck would likely require a C-Section because the kids would be too large for her to birth naturally. This might even have to occur before the kids have fully developed for her safety.
As you continue to breed future generations, it is advisable you always breed a smaller or equally sized buck to a larger doe. This again will help your doe have an easier time carrying and kidding.
Whenever choosing to breed goats you should select for good breed character and high quality animals. If your goal is to register the animals you will want to focus on their look (more on that below) to fit the required breed standard.
If you don’t really care about registering them but are more focused on milk quality and quantity, mothering ability, parasite resistance, etc. then you don’t have to pay attention to their physical appearance much at all.
How Much Milk Will Mini Nubians Produce?
This will vary from goat to goat and how often you milk. You should be able to expect somewhere from a half gallon up to a gallon per goat per day.
Can You Register Mini Nubians?
Yes! They can be registered with the Miniature Dairy Goat Association. You can also register your goats with the Miniature Goat Registry.
They can also be registered with the American Dairy Goat Association, however they are considered “grade” and are not recognized as a breed. For more details on the different ways they can be registered please read on.
What Makes a “Purebred Mini Nubian?”
It takes several generations before Mini Nubians are considered “purebred”.
Experimental
Any generation of Mini Nubian, including your very first cross of a Nigerian x Nubian, can be registered as “experimental.” They do not have to have definitive features at this point.
American
These goats must be third generation or higher. They also are strongly preferred to have flat or concave noses (no rounded/Roman noses like you see in Nubians). They are required to have pendulous, round ears.
Purebred
This is your sixth generation and higher. The breed standards that were just “preferred” above are required now.
How do Generations of Mini Nubians Work?
Let’s say you breed a Nubian doe named Lily to a Nigerian Dwarf buck named Lightning . They are considered your Foundation (F) or called Foundation Breed.
They have a single doeling named Daisy. That doeling would be considered F1. Meaning she is one generation away from your Foundation of Lily and Lightning.
Now let’s take Daisy and breed her to another Mini Nubian buck who is also F1 (meaning his parents were a Nubian and Nigerian). Their kids would be considered F2. They are two generations away from the Foundational pair of Lily and Lightning.
This would continue on in perpetuity, going up one number with each generation.
Let’s say though that you have a higher generation animal bred to a lower generation animal.
So let’s say Daisy, who is an F1, is bred to Rocky who is an F6 (full purebred) Mini Nubian. Daisy and Rocky’s kids would only be considered F2. The generation designation they get can only be one higher than the lowest generational number of their parents.
Where to Buy Mini Nubians?
Your best bet is to check with the breed registries listed above, as they should be able to direct you to a reputable breeder.
You can also check Craigslist or Facebook for dairy goat groups in your state.
As always, start with good quality goats who have been tested for Johnnes, CL, CAE, and Brucellosis.
