Nigerian Dwarf Goat History
Overview
Nigerian Dwarf Goats are a miniature dairy goat breed. They are meant to retain the proportion of a standard-sized dairy goat, unlike the Pygmy goat breed which is characterized by a shorter and stocky appearance. Nigerian Dwarfs can be any color such as buckskin, gold, black, chocolate, or chamoise. Nigerian Dwarfs can have blue or brown eyes and be naturally polled or horned. They have erect ears and a concave or straight face. They are prolific breeders who commonly have twins, triplets, or more kids per kidding, and have a life expectancy of 8-10 years. Nigerian Dwarfs produce a high volume of milk relative to their size with the highest butterfat content of any breed averaging 6-7%. Does are 17-22.5 inches in height and bucks are 17-23.5 inches. They weigh 75lbs on average. It is the only true miniature dairy goat breed.
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The modern Nigerian Dwarf goat is a descendent of West African Dwarf Goats (WAD) who were raised for milk and meat by the local people. These goats can be found under many names such as the Cameroon Dwarf, Pygmy, Guinean Dwarf, Djallonké, Fouta Djallon and others. They thrived in West Africa due to their resistance to Trypanosoma infection by the Tse-Tse fly that other breeds did not possess as well as a resistance to haemonchus contortus (Barberpole worm). Their short stature helped them adapt to the humid conditions of the region. They are still an important part of the rural village economy of West Africa.
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W. Eugene Smith 1954: Dr. Albert Schweitzer's goats imported from the Cincinnati Zoological Society on the roof of his hospital in Gabon, a country in Africa. Dr. Schweitzer was earned a Nobel Peace Prize for his humanitarian work as a missionary doctor. His goats provided milk for the hospital and they could freely roam the village.
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Imports of these goats to the United States began in the 1930s though there were reports of WAD goats being imported as early as 1918. This continued until at least the 1960s. It is theorized that they were originally imported as a food source for big cats being shipped to American zoos and the goats that were not eaten lived at the zoos. Later, it became apparent that there were two "styles" among the goats. A short, stocky, rounder goat that became known as the Pygmy goat, and a more refined and proportional goat that became known as the Nigerian Dwarf.
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This distinction led to the opening of a new breed herd book separate from the Pygmy breed. The first Nigerian Dwarf herd book was opened by the International Dairy Goat Registry (IDGR) on July 24, 1981. It emphasized the dairy characteristics of the breed which differed from the Pygmy herd book standards.
The first Nigerian accepted in the herd book was Robert Johnson's Bullfrog Alley's Johnny Jump Up #2 bred by Bonnie Abrahamson.
Bullfrog Alley's Johnny Jump Up #2. PC: IDGR
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384 Nigerian Dwarf goats were registered in the IDGR herd book by January of 1987. Originally there were three distinct color lines: black, brown, and gold which could include white markings. The lines were attempted to be kept separate until breeders began mixing the lines and it became a rare practice by 1988.
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1983: An American Goat Society (AGS) Nigerian Dwarf herd book was established. Goats were allowed to be accepted into the herd book based on committee evaluation and vote until 1992 when the herd book was officially closed with 400 foundational animals. Goats could be accepted as native on appearance until 1997. Since this time, Nigerian Dwarfs can only be registered from registered parents. Unlike other breeds, there is no process of "breeding up" by incorporating unregistered goats that appear to be of Nigerian Dwarf ancestry back into the registered population. However, there are reports of the use of standard goat breeds in early Nigerian breeding programs.
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The first Nigerian Dwarf accepted into the AGS herd book was Wrights Pansy , AGS # D-1F owned by Francis Wright of Indiana.
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1985: The first Nigerian Dwarf National Champion was named at the AGS National Show in Graham, Texas: Pine Cone Valley Black Satin, a direct import from Africa who was the foundation of the Goodwood Herd. She is said to be an ancestor of most Nigerian Dwarfs in the US today. At this time, the breed American Livestock Breeds Conservancy still considered this breed "rare".
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Kathleen Chaps pictured with Pine Cone Valley Black Satin in a "Ruminations" publication
Pine Cone Valley Black Satin
PC: Peggy of IDGR
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Goodwood Tom Thumb was one of the most influential bucks in the breed. He was born in 1993 and was heavily linebred on Pine Cone Valley Black Satin. His descendants contributed to many of the original Nigerian Dwarf herds including the Goodwood Herd, Stonewall, Twin Creeks, Gay-mor, Rosasharn which are behind nearly all Nigerian's today. If you have some time to waste, look back in ADGA Genetics on the pedigree of any Nigerian. It will almost certainly be littered with Goodwood Tom Thumb and his descendants. Heavy linebreeding was used to build up the Nigerian Dwarf breed. Below you can see how Tom himself traces back to Black Satin six times.
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Some of the first Nigerian Dwarf herds were Gay-Mor (Gail Putcher), Goodwood (Kathleen Claps), Pine Cone Valley (Robert Johnson), Highland Woods (Heabert Woods), Bush Creek (Sandra Mason; can be traced back to imports from the San Antonio zoo), Wright's Acres (Francis Wright), Willow Creek (Shauna Parker), and Bullfrog Alley (Bonnie Abrahamson). Some more of the earliest breeders include Stonewall (Judith Veale), Twincreeks (Kelley Bussey), Rosasharn (Anne Peterson), Flat-Rocks (Sunni Florence), and Caesar's Villa (Sharon Boger), and several others.
A direct import owned by Bonnie Abrahamsen: Bullfrog Alley's Daisy born 1/1/74
PC: Northern Dawn Nigerians
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Gail Putcher, owner of Gay-Mor herd, helped implement a DHIR (Dairy Herd Improvement Registry) program for milk testing through AGS. Her herd was commonly featured as the first Breed Leaders.
#1 Nigerian Dwarf Breed Leader 1996: Unicorn Farm Flujac FR Vanilla *D
#1 Nigerian Dwarf Breed Leader 1997: Gay-Mor Reggae's Nestle Quik 2*D. The previous year's breed leader's (Unicorn Farm Flujac FR Vanilla *D) daughter
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2002: Nigerian Dwarfs numbered almost 7000 head in the United States.
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2005: Nigerian Dwarf's were accepted in the American Dairy Goat Association (ADGA)
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2010: ADGA held the first ADGA Nigerian Dwarf National Show.
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2010 National Grand Champion: ARMCH SG Rosasharn P Haiku 4*M
Bred and exhibited by: Anne Peterson of Rosasharn Farm
2010 National Reserve Champion: ARMCH SG Rosasharn's Buckwheat Honey 3*M
Bred and exhibited by: Anne Peterson of Rosasharn Farm
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2011: The first ever Nigerian goat to appraise EEEE93 (at 9 years old): Old Mountain Farm Swift-Leigh. Bred by Cheryl-Moore Smith, owned by Kyeema Ridge Nigerians
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2013: Nigerian Dwarf Goats had expanded enough to be removed from the Livestock Conservancy's priority list. They were previously listed as a "recovering" breed.
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2018: The second ever to receive the highest appraisal score given to a Nigerian Dwarf, EEEE93: Weedy Tavern Farm Lily. She is currently one of the only two to receive this appraisal score.
Photo credit to Valleys-Edge Farm
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2018: SG Sugar Moon RB Zuzanna 4*M became the Nigerian Dwarf Breed Leader for Milk Production at 2190 lbs in 305 days. This record remains unbroken today. Bred by Susan Peck of Sugar Moon Farm. Owned by Amethyst Acres.
Photo credit to Amethyst Acres
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2021: The current All-Time Butterfat Breed Leader is SG Better Wayz Harmony Carabear 3*M with 136 lbs butterfat in 2021. Bred and owned by Kathy-Beck Mullins at A Better Way Farm.
Photo credit to A Better Way Farm. SG Better Wayz Harmony Carabear 3*M: bred and owned by Kathy-Beck Mullins.
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2024: The third Nigerian Dwarf to ever appraise EEEE93: CH Moon Station Ophelia. Bred by and owned by Elizabeth LaBauve Williams at Tucker Farm- Moon Station Nigerian Dwarf Goats
Photo credit to Linde's Livestock Photography. CH Moon Station Ophelia EEEE93
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The most recent ADGA National Champion in 2024 was GCH Wolfivan CQ Ginger Root VEEE92. She exemplifies the tremendous progress that has been made in the breed since its original imports. Like nearly all Nigerian Dwarfs, including most National Champions, Ginger can trace her lineage back to Goodwood Tom Thumb and Pine Cone Valley Black Satin before him.
Photo credit to Linde's Livestock Photography. GCH Wolfivan CQ Ginger Root VEEE92: bred and owned by Renee Wolf at Wolfivan Ranch
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In recent years, Nigerian Dwarf goats have skyrocketed in popularity, becoming the most popular goat breed today. It is not hard to see why. They are characterized by their friendly, spunky attitudes, sweet-tasting milk, and small size that makes them easy to handle and suitable for small homesteads. They have progressed a long way over the years and have become one of the most competitive goat breeds in milk and show. Countless breeders work long and hard to continually develop the breed. The future is bright!
References/Credit
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https://backyardgoats.iamcountryside.com/goat-breeds/all-about-nigerian-dwarf-goats
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http://adganationalshowhistory.weebly.com/nigerian-dwarf.html
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https://www.fao.org/dad-is/browse-by-country-and-species/en/
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https://adga.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/ADGA_2021-PERFORMANCE-BREEDLEADERS.pdf
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Northern Dawn Nigerians at www.northerndawnnigerians.com
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https://www.life.com/people/albert-schweitzer-in-africa-behind-the-picture/
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https://www.rrauction.com/auctions/lot-detail/31551310325229-albert-schweitzer