Goats

Firestone Creek HWD Acorn and her mother

We have owned Nigerian dwarf dairy goats since 2006, and since then, we've also owned a few other breeds with the Nigerian always winning out as a favorite. Nigerians are miniature dairy goats of West African origin. Apparently they were originally brought to the US as food for large predators that were being shipped from overseas. 

Height and Length

The American Goat Society and the American Dairy Goat Association agree on the height for Nigerians, which they state should be:

DOES: less than 22.5 inches (57 cm) at the withers

BUCKS: less than 23.5 inches (60 cm) at the withers. 

The Nigerian Dwarf Goat Association requires animals to be shorter:

DOES: 21" maximum with 17-19 as ideal

BUCKS: 21" maximum with 19-21 as ideal 

The length of a buck or doe should be in proportion with the height. A dairy body instead of a 'keggy' body (like a pygmy goat) is desired. Below is a video from the 2012 ADGA Nationals showing good examples of animals with well-proportioned height to length.