What is the difference between pygmy and dwarf goats

The Nigerian dwarf also came from Africa. It is a miniature dairy goat, exhibiting the typical dairy characteristics of the standard dairy breeds.

Both attain the same average height, typically 18 to 20 inches tall with the maximum for does being 22 inches and a bit more for bucks. But that is where the similarities between Nigerian dwarf and pygmy goats end. Pygmy goats are heavy-boned, wide-bodied and square in appearance. The goat is mostly restricted to the West African countries. Similar forms of Pygmy goats also occur in all of northern Africa, in the southwestern African countries and also in east Africa.

However, what we call the Cameroon Dwarf goat is the one that we are concerned with and which we have in the United States and is the breed that actually came from the former French Cameroon area. They are thick muscled and stout. The body circumference is wide and full barreled.

The necks are thick and short and the overall body length from head to tail is short. The head is square with the forehead being wide. Nigerian Dwarf Goats have a refined overall body appearance. The bones are flat and the ideal body build is more delicate, with the refined angularity of a dairy animal. Overall body length is long. The front legs are set under the shoulders, back from the chest.

The structure of the hind quarters is very important to allow for good udder development, milk production and longevity of the mammary system. Therefore, breed them with other smaller goats, if at all possible.

After the breeding process, it usually takes miniature goats about days to birth their kids baby goats. Though they are small, do not let them fool you. They can easily birth anywhere from kids at a time. When we got our Nigerian dwarfs, they had already been bred. They each only had one, but it was their first time being bred. Now, our pygmy goat has been bred 3 times and has delivered twins or triplets each time.

Both breeds of goats have been good mothers in my experience. Once the babies have been born, they will get their milk from their mothers. They will be up and walk within a few minutes, and she will clean them and nurture them. Now, if you are wanting a friendly miniature goat, some people say bottle feed them.

I am actually not for this. I have tried it a few times, and I think it is just an extreme amount of work when the mother can do it just fine. But realize that the baby is only going to be as friendly as the mother. That is why I treat my goats like large dogs. They are all spoiled, friendly, and happy. They will keep producing that too. I can say from first-hand experience, I love when we have miniature baby goats around our farm. They are so cute and so much fun to watch.

Now, just because these goats are small does not mean that they will not still fight for dominance in the herd. Usually, the girls submit rather easily. This usually happens without one of them actually getting hurt. Unlike with larger breeds, where the males actually have bloody battles. That is not something that usually happens within the miniature breeds. But I love keeping a billy in the herd because he is a great protector.