Why Nubian goats?

Nubians have a friendly temperament and come from Middle Eastern roots which gives them adaptability to a variety of climates. They can navigate hilly, rocky terrain as easy as pastureland and have no issues foraging on an overgrown plot. They’re ideal for companionship and will seek out attention from their owners, which can make them a fun pet for many farms. As a top-down browser, they will eat leaves and needles off of low hanging branches before moving on the brush to lastly eat grass. Great for land clearing for preparation for grass or plowing. They are also adapted to a wide range for temperatures, we have had them handle 100+ in the summer to 30 below in the winter as long as they have the proper shelter to get out of the elements.

Nubians are primarily a dairy goat, but we have had a large number of clients buy them for their meat as well. As a popular choice for dairy farmers, they boast a high average butter fat content between 4 & 5 percent and makes a rich and creamy milk. This makes it a great choice for drinking or making cheese, butter, and even yogurt. The high butter fat content means it can be used to make a wider variety of products like soaps and lotions for its moisturizing properties. Nubians have the ability to produce roughly a gallon of milk per day and can continue to produce that for over 280 days a year before needing to reset themselves for breeding. It is possible to maintain this level of production with a well-established and consistent milking schedule, generally requiring a morning and afternoon milking. Nubians are on the smaller side of goats in term of meat production, generally reaching upwards of 100lbs within that first year, providing a carcass around 50lbs in our experience or half its live weight.

For their breeding/mothering characteristics, Nubians are a seasonal breeding animal, following a Fall breeding similar to Deer, with the Bucks going into a “Rut” as the Does go into Heat. Nubians have 2 or 3 kids on average but as many as 5 has been recorded. Their milk production makes it easier for them to rear an average size litter. We have had our moms deliver 3 kids without requiring any supplemental feeding, meaning that all the kids were getting adequate milk. Lacking both the fat content and a nice wool coat when born, kids can be quite susceptible to harsh winter conditions. As a result, we’ve pushed breeding later, so births target warmer weather. The cold weather can also be mitigated by the use of heat lamps and indoor shelters. This requires active monitoring of expectant mothers to assist with getting the kids dried off and warmed up swiftly.