Nubian Goats - The Best Breed of Goat for Our Homestead - And Probably Your Too

We decided that the best dairy goat breed for our homestead would be Nubians because they are the only full-size dairy goat that has floppy ears. In all seriousness, Nubian goats are excellent milk producers with high butterfat, creamy and sweet-tasting milk suitable for cheese, butter, and soap. They also have a very docile and affectionate temperament and their cute long ears and distinctive Roman noses definitely add to their appeal. They are the ultimate homestead choice for both milk production and meat.

Fencing Considerations

Full size Nubian goats are too large to jump fences. You can't keep Nigerians in, kid or adult. The kids are so very tiny, unless you have chicken wire, they will escape.

Milking Consideration

Will you be using a milk machine or milking by hand? Will it be a male or female be milking? An adult or perhaps a child? These are real considerations regarding milking. Nubian teats can be quite large which make them easy for an adult to milk by hand. On the other hand Nigerians are not easy to hand milk, between their teat size and short legs, they were not the right fit for our farm.

Milk Flavor

The milk from Nubians is known for its sweet taste and  rich flavor with a high butterfat content. Many people find it preferable to the "goaty" flavor associated with other goat milk. If you love creamy, delicious milk then this is the breed for you!

Personality Consideration

Nubians are prized for their docile, sweet, and affectionate personalities, making them wonderful companions. They are very affectionate, almost like a dog. In our experience, Nubians were much easier to handle, especially for families with children. In our experience Nubians can easily be led around from pasture to pasture, while a Nigerian is quite hard to have an adult lead it, so they often were carried for rotational grazing. It is true that some people do not like how vocal Nubians are, but our Nigerians were quite vocal too.

Breeding

Nubians don’t cycle all year long which keeps your bucks more laid back in the off season. We have had both Nigerian and Nubian bucks on our farm and hands down the Nubian bucks are way less disgusting. There is a market for good quality show Nubian goats.

We also found that Nigerian kids can be hard to sell, as they can have up to 7 kids in one litter and they can be bred more than once a year, especially since they jump fences like cats.

Goat Showing

Purebred registered goats can be shown through the ADGA or American Dairy Goat Association, however cross breeds like mini-nubians cannot be. For a short time we considered mini Nubians, but if the children were to show them at not only the county fair but also the state fair, we better go with a breed that can be shown at more dairy goat shows.

Dual-Purpose

We love the fact that Nubians are also a dual-purpose breed. While not as commonly raised for meat, Nubian wethers can be raised for meat, and hides add to their versatility on a homestead. Which is one of the reasons we decided against mini-nubians.

Nubian goats are definitely the perfect choice for our small-scale homesteads, offering rich, high-butterfat milk, a gentle endearing temperament, and excellent potential in the show ring.

However, the best way for you to decide which breed is right for you is to spend some time around the different types of goats you are interested in. Talk to some breeders and find a farm near you that has the type of dairy goat you are interested in and go visit it. Listen and look, then go in the pen with the goats and try milking them. Getting some hands-on experience with different types of goats is the only way you will be truly confident with your decision. 

Keep in mind buying dairy goats from a reputable breeder is key and learning how to care properly for goats before you bring them home is very important. When you purchase a Resurgent Farms registered Nubian kid we provide a short e-book on goat care to help make your herd a success. 

We’d love to hear from you — share your questions, stories, and comments below!