Apache Junction, Arizona
Nigerian Dwarf Goats
Nigerian Dwarf dairy goats bred in Apache Junction, Arizona for correct conformation, strong udders and gentle dispositions. We sell kids and breeding stock to homesteads and small farms across the East Valley and Pinal County — Gold Canyon, Mesa, Queen Creek, San Tan Valley — and we disbud and band on site.
About the breed
The Nigerian Dwarf is a miniature dairy goat of West African origin, refined in the United States into a true dairy breed in a small package. Does stand up to about 22½ inches at the withers and bucks up to 23½, typically weighing 60 to 80 pounds. For their size they are remarkable milkers: a good doe gives a quart or more a day at her peak, and the milk is among the richest of any goat breed — six to ten percent butterfat — sweet, creamy, and ideal for drinking, cheese and soap.
Nigerians breed year-round rather than seasonally, carry for around 145 to 150 days, and commonly have twins, triplets or quads. They come in every color, sometimes with blue eyes, and some are born polled (naturally hornless). The breed is registered with the American Dairy Goat Association (ADGA), the American Goat Society (AGS) and the Nigerian Dwarf Goat Association (NDGA).
What we breed for
We breed for the dairy goat first: a doe that milks well, holds up over years of kidding, and passes both on. Every breeding is planned in our herd book against pedigree, conformation and milk records, and every kid born here is recorded from its first day.
- Udder — strong attachments, good capacity, and teats that are easy to hand-milk.
- Conformation — correct height, a level topline, strong legs and feet, and the body capacity to carry kids and make milk.
- Temperament — calm on the stand, gentle with people, and easy for children to handle.
- Health — a closed, carefully managed herd, with kids disbudded, vaccinated and started right.
Temperament & care
Nigerians are gentle, curious and easy for children to handle, which is why they're the goat of choice for small acreage. They're herd animals and must never be kept alone — plan on at least two.
- Fencing & shelter. A four-foot fence they can't climb or squeeze through, and a dry, draft-free shelter. In our summers, deep shade and cool water matter as much as anything.
- Feed. Good grass hay or browse, loose goat minerals with copper always available, and clean water. Grain is for milking does and growing kids, in measured amounts — too much is dangerous.
- Routine. Hoof trims every six to eight weeks, CD&T vaccination, and regular checks for parasites.
- Disbudding. Kids are disbudded in their first few days of life — we offer this for our kids and for neighbors' herds.
- Bucks. An intact buck needs his own space away from the does. Wethers (castrated males) make excellent, easy pets and companions.
Our Nigerian Dwarf breeders
Pulled straight from our herd book — including milk records where we have them.
Herd sires
Does
Our goats aren't listed online just now — text us and we'll tell you about them.
Recent kiddings
Buying a goat from us
Kids go home at eight weeks or older, disbudded, started on CD&T and eating well. Registration paperwork comes with registered stock. Our current listings are on the For Sale page, updated straight from our herd book; the breeding schedule shows which does are due and what's planned, and we take reservations on kids before they're born. Ask us about our herd's health testing — we'd rather you ask than wonder.
How much milk does a Nigerian Dwarf give?
A good doe in full milk gives a quart to two a day at her peak, less as the lactation goes on. What sets the breed apart is the richness: at six to ten percent butterfat the milk is sweet and creamy, and a little of it makes a lot of cheese.
Do I really need two?
Yes. Goats are herd animals and a goat alone is a stressed, noisy, unhappy goat. Two wethers, two does, or a doe and a wether are all good pairs for a first-time owner.
Can I keep goats where I live?
It depends on your zoning. Parts of Apache Junction, Gold Canyon and unincorporated Pinal County allow small livestock on suitably zoned lots; many subdivisions and HOAs don't. Check with your city or county before you buy — we're happy to tell you what we know.
Can they handle the Arizona heat?
With deep shade, plenty of cool water and airflow, yes — ours do. A misting line or a fan in the shelter helps through July and August. They handle our mild winters with just a dry, draft-free shelter.
What's a wether, and are they good pets?
A wether is a castrated male. They're the easiest goats to keep — no heat cycles, no buck smell, no kidding — and they make affectionate, playful companions. We band bucklings that aren't going on as breeding stock.