Goats

Nigerian Dwarf Goats

The Nigerian Dwarf Goat is an American breed of dwarf goats that originated from West Africa.

They have a lifespan of twelve to fourteen years.

This breed is typically used for milk, meat, show, or as a companion animal.

They hold an average of seventy-five pounds.

They can also produce one to two quarts of milk per day which contains protein, calcium, and fats. Goat milk is easier to drink compared to cattle milk with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits. This has many positive effects on the human body making these goats very high in value for multiple uses.

A doe can be bred 3 times in 2 years.

This breed goes into heat about every 21 to 28 days. It usually lasts between twenty-four and forty-eight hours.

Does typically begin their first heat cycle between seven to eight months of age. It is best to breed a doe at about a year of age.

Bucks begin breeding once they are fertile, around seven weeks in age. This is why its vital that bucks are separated from the rest of the females before seven weeks, otherwise incest is a common consequence. Incest breeding can lead to many health issues, although this is a common practice in breeding show goats.

Some signs of a doe going to heat include wagging her tail, personality change, sticky tail, urinating often, and being very vocal. Some may show a clear discharge when they are in heat.

Nigerian dwarf goats are typically pregnant between one-hundred-forty to one-hundred-fifty days.

One of the first signs of pregnancy is bagging utters, although some will not make utters until the last month of their gestation period.

This breed can birth three to four kids, but it’s not uncommon for them to have up to five. The mother is more likely to have more children for future pregnancies.

Some people claim that if you feed your doe high protein several weeks prior to breeding, she will release more eggs during her heat cycle which can result in a bigger litter.

When a goat goes into labor they typically will begin nesting and show discharge from the vulva while her babies will drop lower in her stomach and she will soften her ligaments around her tail to allow for delivery.

Some will scream when they are going into labor and become very restless.

Goats will carry their young on the right side of their stomach as their ruminant is on the left side. Kids will only go into the left side if the mother is having more than one baby. Once the kids are born they will wean from their mother at around eight weeks old and become independent.

False pregnancy in goats, also known as cloudburst, can occur relatively frequently. This can be caused by a hormonal imbalance. This can make a doe look, act, and feel pregnant. She can even drop her udders and produce milk. When she “gives birth,” only a cloudy discharge will exit her body. 

     When we breed our goats, I think that it would be best to document the conception date to track each stage of her pregnancy and to have a better idea of when she is expected to have her babies. This will also help track each stage to make sure she is developing correctly in the proper time span. A normal labor will last about 12 hours and the actual birth will last about 30 minutes or less. Dystocia is when the difficulty in labor or birth occurs. It can be caused by a poorly positioned kid, the cervix didn’t dilate properly, or an oversized kid. The average weight of a kid is two pounds. A kid over this weight is considered oversized. Stress or fear will also cause labor or birthing issues. Predators, overcrowding, or a noisy environment can induce fear. The following list consists of concerns to watch out for: stage 1 of labor lasts more than 8 hours, straining or trying to push for more than 30 mins without any progress, you can see the birth sac but no progress, signs of distress, fatigue, an abnormal delivery position, or the placenta isn’t delivered within 12 hours of the last kid being born. The best position for a kid to be presented would be front feet out first, like a superman position. If it’s back feet out first, there is likely more than one baby but this can happen with single kids too. If it’s a breech, the butt will come out first which may call for assistance in delivery because the baby can get stuck. You would have to reach in and pull its bag legs toward you. Legs should not come out one at a time or be crossed. This can cause injury. If their head is turned back but its legs are coming out straight, you would have to bring its head forward otherwise this is the most dangerous position for it to be presented.This can cause a broken neck or a difficult birth for the doe. Sometimes when carrying multiples, both kids could come forward at the same time and in this case you would need to push one baby back. In any case of assistance, wear a lubricated glove. Nails should be cut and hands and arms should be disinfected with a cleanser such as Betadine surgical scrub. Clip any of her excess hair around the vulva and clean the birth area. Insert your hand in a folded position in between contractions. You can go in as far as your elbow. Only pull when the doe is pushing and don’t pull both legs at the same time. The shoulders have to pass the cervix so pulling one leg forward at a time will help them wiggle past her cervix without widening. Pull at a downward angle if she’s standing straight up without pulling too hard. Following the assisted birth, the doe should be given antibiotics the next few days to fight any infection that could have developed from entry during birth. 

     There can be other factors in dystocia such as Toxemia or Ketosis. This can develop in the last few days of pregnancy. It is more common in dairy goats or higher producing goats. Toxemia is a pregnancy disease that can be caused by low blood sugar. This often roots from nutritional or inclement weather stress. Ketosis is the same disease caused by a disturbance in carbohydrate usage. This is common in overweight goats carrying two or more kids. This is because when a doe is carrying multiple kids, it pushes into her rumen making it physically difficult to consume and digest enough food. She will begin to lack energy and use her body fat reserves to gain it back. Breaking down such large amounts of fat reserves can result in compounds known as ketones in the blood. If the compound is large enough, it can have toxic effects on the doe. Early signs of toxemia and ketosis include poor appetite, apathy, decrease in milk production, disorientation, or a rough hair coat. To treat this disease, a veterinarian can administer glucose or electrolytes. We could also administer this ourselves. There is goat electrolyte powder such as MannaPro for $5.99. This powder is mixed into their water. There are products such as propylene glycol that can help with glucose but it can inhibit rumen bacteria. This is something that should only be used if the doe isn’t eating at all. However, some people use their own homemade remedies. For example, “goat magic recipe” is administered for does that are experiencing toxemia. This recipe consists of 2 parts corn syrup, 1 part molasses, and 1 part corn oil. It can be given orally through a syringe. Pregnant goats should be fed high energy foods such as grain. Forage will take up more room faster than grain and won’t provide enough energy. Gradually decrease the hay portion and increase the grain portion of her diet. If this diet change happens too quickly,  it can change the pH levels in the rumen which will lead to more health issues such as rumen acidosis. Acidosis can cause symptoms such as bloat, lack of appetite, depression, diarrhea, etc. Severe acidosis can often be accompanied by systematic or even fatal acidosis. Feeding forage in pellet form can be beneficial to take up less room. Feeding smaller meals more frequently will help maintain fiber levels.You can also increase energy intake by adding small amounts of fat such as corn oil to the feed. To provide immediate carbohydrate energy right after birth, you can give the doe a small amount of honey or molasses. This is only necessary for goats prone to ketosis and toxemia. Otherwise, this diet change can cause unnecessary weight gain if the doe is already healthy.

     Nigerians make very good companion animals especially for children as well as disabled and elderly people. They are known for being very friendly, gentle, calm, and playful. Their small size attracts people as they are more manageable and can bring more comfort to people. Some people have used Nigerian dwarf goats as indoor pets. This breed is very smart and can be successfully potty trained. They can also be used as therapy animals due to their known affection. Even other animals are paired with goats as a companion animal such as horses with separation anxiety. Nigerian dwarf goats being trainable as a working animal adds on to their dual purpose making them more popular. Another thing that they are commonly used for is goat yoga. I think this would be great to add to our farm. I have had multiple guests ask me if we offer this activity. It is becoming progressively popular. Tickets for goat yoga typically range from $30-40 per person with a minimum age recommendation of 8-years old. If it rains, we could designate a place inside to relocate. If we closed off the packaging house it could be a good resolution to bad weather to avoid refunds. We could have used yoga mats available just for their session at a small fee if they don’t bring their own. Other companies do this and charge about $3 for a mat. Goat yoga businesses should obtain General Liability Insurance incase of any injuries or risks. The original founder of goat yoga, Lainey Morse, made $160,000 in revenue within her first year of business. Adding goats into yoga allows for the release of endorphins which calms stress and anxiety. There are many mental benefits of being near goats or interacting with them. It is very uncommon to have an aggressive Nigerian as they are known for being great in temper. This is why they are commonly used for children in 4H* or FFA*. 

Nigerian dwarf goats are a very hardy animal and typically don’t have major health issues that come with their breed. However, it is important to watch out for bloat and diseases. Goats can bloat from eating too much or too high-quality food. When a goat bloats you will notice that the ruminant (left side of their stomach) will become very hard and large which will cause discomfort. This can be dangerous for does especially and it is important to relieve them. A very successful way of doing this is by massaging their stomach which will help push air out. Although this breed is very hardy, they can still obtain diseases such as rabies, ecthyma, ringworm, chlamydiosis, campylobacteriosis, listeriosis, salmonella, Q fever, etc. Some of the major symptoms in diseased goats are arthritis, keratoconjuctivitis, and mastitis. This can cause lameness, weight loss, swollen joints, fever, diarrhea, or increased respiratory rates. It is very important to watch out for these diseases as some can be fatal while others can be treated if caught early on.

     Some of the best feeding techniques for a Nigerian dwarf goat includes a diet of twelve to eighteen percent protein feed specifically made for goats. Nigerians only need half a cup per day. Bucks or wethers should not be fed grain after six months of age. Does only need grain at the end of their pregnancy or while milking. Postpartum mothers should constantly have access to high-quality grass and be fed high-quality hay such as alfalfa. It can be beneficial to provide a mineral block or free-choice minerals.         There are important things to avoid feeding to this breed that can be toxic. Some of these can include cherry trees, rhododendrons and azaleas as these can be fatal if ingested. It’s crucial that they do not eat moldy hay or feed. They must be given portions of feed as they will not stop eating the way that humans do which can also result in death if they overeat too much. The best grain mixture for this breed would contain wheat, barley, and oats. Some of the best brands include DuMOR, Dr. Pol, and Purina. A 50lb bag of DuMOR is $18.99. A 40lb bag of Dr. Pol is $35.99. A 50lb bag of Purina is $25.49. When comparing Purina and DuMOR goat feed, I have found that they both provide quality nutrients, protein, minerals, and vitamins. Based on my research and breakdown of each product, I believe DuMOR would be a great choice for our goats diet. This is because it provides the same necessities but at a lower cost.

     Making soap out of goat’s milk can be very profitable as there are very few true soaps on the market. According to the FDA, most cleansers are made of synthetic detergent. There has been an increase in demand for natural soaps making goat milk soap so popular. The soap is made through a process called saponification. This involves combining fats and oils with a base known as lye. Lye, also known as sodium hydroxide, is combined with goat milk or water. The milk has a creamy consistency from natural fats. These fats are rich in both unsaturated and saturated fats. The saturated fats will increase the lather and bubbles in the soap. Unsaturated fats will increase the soap’s moisture and nourishment. To further increase those properties, coconut or olive oil can be added into the soap as well. There are many benefits to using goat soap milk including its richness in nutrients, gentle cleanse, ability to improve dry skin, natural exfoliant, acne prevention, healthy skin microbiome support, etc. Not only would it be great to sell on our farm, but also online. Having an online shop with our soap or other products made from our animals could increase sales. Making soaps with and without fragrances will attract a multitude of people with different needs or desires. It’s often desirable for people with eczema, psoriasis, dry skin, or skin allergies. Natural fragrances from essential oils are a great organic and regenerative addition to the soap. 

     Though I have done extensive research on this particular species and how we can apply this knowledge to our farm, this is a learning process that I look forward to continuing as our farm grows. 

TAKEAWAY: 

 There are many benefits to using goat soap milk including its richness in nutrients, gentle cleanse, ability to improve dry skin, natural exfoliant, acne prevention, healthy skin microbiome support, etc. 

They have a lifespan of twelve to fourteen years.

This breed is typically used for milk, meat, show, or as a companion animal.

 Some signs of a doe going to heat include wagging her tail, personality change, sticky tail, urinating often, and being very vocal. Some does may show a clear discharge 

Nigerian dwarf goats are typically pregnant between 140-150 days.

This breed can birth three to four kids, but it’s not uncommon for them to have up to five.

The more pregnancies they have, the more babies they will have.

 When a goat goes into labor they typically will begin nesting and show discharge from the vulva and she will soften her ligaments around her tail to allow for delivery. Some will scream when they are going into labor.

 Goats will carry their young on the right side of their stomach as their ruminant is on the left side. Kids will only go into the left side if the mother is having more than one baby.

 False pregnancy in goats, also known as cloudburst, can occur relatively frequently. 

A normal labor will last about 12 hours and the actual birth will last about 30 minutes or less.

The average weight of a newborn kid (baby goat) is two pounds.

Toxemia is a pregnancy disease that can be caused by low blood sugar. This often roots from nutritional or inclement weather stress. Ketosis is the same disease caused by a disturbance in carbohydrate usage. These cause dystocia which is a difficult labor. 

Nigerians make very good companion animals especially for children as well as disabled and elderly people. They are known for being very friendly, gentle, calm, and playful. 

Adding goats into yoga allows for the release of endorphins which calms stress and anxiety. 

Goats can bloat from eating too much or too high-quality food. When a goat bloats you will notice that the ruminant (left side of their stomach) will become very hard and large which will cause discomfort. This can be relieved by a belly massage.

Some of the best feeding techniques for a Nigerian dwarf goat includes a diet of twelve to eighteen percent protein feed specifically made for goats. Nigerians only need half a cup per day. Bucks or wethers should not be fed grain after six months of age. Does only need grain at the end of their pregnancy or while milking.

 They must be given portions of feed as they will not stop eating the way that humans do which can also result in death if they overeat too much.