Animal Name

Dwarf Nigerian Goat

Scientific Name

Capra hircus

Phylum

Chordata

Class

Mammalia

Order

Artiodactyla

Family

Bovidae

Genus

Capra

Species

Capra hircus

Geographic Range

They are a domesticated breed of goat that is descended from West African goats.

Habitat

Not found in the wild. They are descended from wild goats.

Physical Description

The Dwarf Nigerian Goat is a small dairy goat with short hair that comes in a variety of colors and patterns. Males and females of this breed can either be born with horns or without horns.

Physical Characteristics

Average Height of Does:17”-19”. Average Height of Bucks: 19”-21”. Ideal Weight: 75 lbs

Life Expectancy

8-12 years

Diet

The Dwarf Nigerian Goats at the Zoo eat hay, grain and browse (leaves from bushes and trees).

Reproduction

Dwarf Nigerian Goats can breed year round. Does can be bred at 7-8 months of age and bucks can be bred around 3 months of age. Their gestation period is 145-153 days. It is common for a Dwarf Nigerian Goat to have 3-4 kids at a time.

Cultural Connection

Dwarf Nigerian Goats are a heritage breed of goat. Heritage breeds of livestock and poultry are rare breeds of animals that have been raised by people for many years and have a deep history in the United States.

Conservation Status

Not Evaluated. They are considered rare by the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy.

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Location at the Zoo

Hugh Kaul Children’s Zoo Barn

The Zoo's Animals

• Patch: male, off-white, no horns
• Harley: female, all black, horns slightly curved to the sides
• Batman: male, black and white, long straight horns
• Tony: male, mostly brown, tall, horns
• Thor: male, mostly brown, short, horns
• Swiper: male, calico-like pattern
• Stryker: male, mostly black, pattern that looks like the number 16, no horns
• Pepper: female, horns, short, the front half is brown, the back half is white
• Raven: female, black with a brown spot on her face, horns
• Thalia: female, black and white, no horns, number 9 on her right side

Fascinating Facts

A doe can produce up to 2 quarts of milk a day or more. This milk is higher in butterfat and protein than the milk produced by most other dairy breeds. These animals are browsers. This means they like to eat the leaves off of high growing plants, like trees and shrubs. These animals will also eat poison ivy and poison oak. These animals are highly social and like to live in herds.