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A black and brown Nigerian dwarf goat standing on grass.
Photo: Jmkarohl, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Nigerian Dwarf Goat

Capra aegagrus hircus

A small, easygoing dairy goat breed of West African ancestry known for rich milk, often born three or four at a time.

🐐 Farm Animals🦓 Hoofed Mammals
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About the Nigerian Dwarf Goat

Nigerian dwarf goats are a miniature dairy breed with West African ancestors. Adults weigh 40 to 60 pounds and stand 16 to 20 inches tall. Their short coats come in many colors, including black, white, brown, red and gold. They can give up to two quarts of milk a day, and their milk has about 10 percent more protein and butterfat than most dairy goats' milk.[1]

Quick facts

Scientific name
Capra aegagrus hircus[1]
Size
16 to 20 inches tall (males up to 23). 24 to 30 inches long.[1]
Weight
40 to 60 pounds.[1]
Lifespan
About 10 years.[1]
Diet
Herbivore. Hay, plants, grain and produce.[1]
Where it lives
West African ancestry; now kept worldwide.[1]
Babies
Pregnancy lasts 145 to 153 days. Three or four kids are common.[1]

Fun facts

  • A Nigerian dwarf goat can give up to two quarts of milk a day.[1]
  • Their milk is used to make cheese.[1]
  • Three or four kids at once are more common than one or two.[1]

Vocabulary

domesticated
Tamed and raised by people over many generations.
breed
A group of domestic animals that people have raised to share certain traits.
doe / buck
Names for an adult female (doe) and adult male (buck) goat.
kid
A baby goat.
dairy
Having to do with milk and foods made from it.

See it in person

Sources

  1. [1] Zoo Atlanta. “Nigerian Dwarf Goat.” https://zooatlanta.org/animal/nigerian-dwarf-goat/ (accessed 2026-10-02)

Facts last checked 2026-10-02.

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