11 Smaller and Miniature Goat Breeds

There are goats of all sizes just as there is any other animal breed. Some are naturally small others have been purposefully bred to be a miniature size of a regular sized goat.
In this article, we are going to take look at ten of the smaller and miniature goat breeds.
Most miniature goat breeds have been bred downsized by crossing a standard sized goat with one of the small-sized goats.

TOP 11 SMALLEST OR MINIATURE GOAT BREEDS

Pygmy Goat

The does height averages at around 38 cm at withers and the male stand about 50 cm at withers.
They are lively, friendly and active little goats that are suitable for smaller back gardens to larger scale farms. They are tough, hardy and adaptive to their environments. Read More….

Nigerian Dwarf Goat

The does height averages at around 57 cm at withers and the male stand about 60 cm at withers.
The Nigerian Dwarf goat is a very cute miniature milk-producing goat. Their milk is used to make some brilliant cheeses, ice-creams and yogurts having one of the highest contents of both butterfat and protein in it. These little goats are very lively and active, they do love to play and are ever so friendly. They also make great little pets and are ideal for the Urban Homestead, larger homestead and or farm environments. As long as there are things to play on or with and a lot of fresh greens, they are happy. Read More….

Nigora Goat

The does height averages at around 48 to 70 cm at withers and the male stand about 74 cm at withers.
The Nigora goat is a breed of goat that was developed by the crossing of an Angora goat and a Nigerian Dwarf goat breed.
They are lively, active, intelligent and sport a coat that can have three different types of valuable fiber. Namely a cashmere type fiber, a mohair type fiber and then a cross between the two fibers called cashgora. These fibers can be used in the making of fine garments, scarves, blankets, etc.
They are also very good little milking goats and their milk contains a high content of butterfat and protein just like that of the Nigerian Dwarf goats’ milk. Their milk is excellent for the production of yogurts, cheeses, cream and even ice-cream. Read More….

Pygora Goat

The does height averages at around 45 cm at withers and the male stand about 58 cm at withers.
The Pygora Goat breed was developed in America with the cross-breeding of the Angora and Pygmy goat breeds. This little goat is an excellent goat for the Urban type garden and will produce a little bit of milk. They also have three different classes of fiber, these are a class for the cashmere type fiber, mohair type fiber and then a cross between the two fibers called cashgora.
They are a great choice for a backyard or urban type homestead, homestead or farming environments. Read More….

Fainting Goat (or Tennessee Fainting Goat)

The does height averages at around 43 cm at withers and the male stand about 64 cm at withers.
These little goats are really quite bizarre as a genetic defect makes their muscles spasm causing them to seize up and, in most cases, fall over until the spasm passes. Or they try to walk it out looking like a weird stiff goat robot. Read More….

Mini Oberhasli Goat

The does height averages at around 76 cm at withers and the male stand about 76 cm at withers.
The Mini Oberhasli has all the same striking characteristics as its standard-sized counterpart but it is just smaller. They breed was developed by the crossing of Oberhasli standard sized goats with that of the Nigerian Dwarf Goat breed.

Mini Nubian Goat

The does height averages at around 76 cm at withers and the male stand about 81 cm at withers.
The Mini Nubian are almost exact smaller replicas of their standard sized counterparts. They even have the same temperament and look like elegant graceful gazelles.
Their development came from the crossing of a standard sized Nubian goat with a Nigerian Dwarf goat breed.

Mini Toggenburg Goat

The does height averages at around 66 cm at withers and the male stand about 71 cm at withers.
They are so cute at birth they almost look like little Husky puppies with the white stripe around their fluffy little faces.
They were developed by the crossing of the standard sized Toggenburg goat to the Nigerian Dwarf goat.

Mini Boer Goat

The does height averages at around under 65 cm at withers and the male stand under 70 cm at withers.
The Mini Boer Goat is being developed by using the genetics of the Boer, Kalahari, Savannah, Australian red with that of the Australian Miniature goat and the Pygmy Goat genetics.
The object of breeding a mini Boer goat was for the smaller homesteads and maybe even some Urban back gardens.
The breed exhibits the same robust characteristics than that of its full-sized counterpart. The body is predominantly white with some brownish red markings on it.

Mini Saanen Goat

The does height averages at around 68.5 cm at withers and the male stand about 71 cm at withers.
The Miniature Saanen goat was developed by the crossing of the Standard sized Saanen goat breed with that of the Nigerian Dwarf goat. Thus, giving the goat its robust and compact features with added benefits or rich creamier milk with a higher butterfat and protein content.
They are very vigorous and rugged animals and really hardy for their size.

 

Mini LaMancha Goat

The does height averages at around 71.12 cm at withers and the male stands about 76.2 cm at withers.
They are the cutest little things a mini LaMancha developed by the cross-breeding of a Nigerian Dwarf goat breed to a LaMancha goat breed.
The goats still exhibit the LaMancha ear trait with the “elf ear” and “gopher ear”.