Our Nigerian Dwarfs
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We first became interested in goats because we wanted to have our own fresh milk every morning and ventured into making our own dairy products. However, we had one limiting belief that stopped us from purchasing goats sooner then we did. And that was that goat milk is utterly disgusting and has a strong “goaty” taste. Luckily for us we continued to do our research and stumbled upon a miniature breed of goat called the Nigerian Dwarf Goats. The Nigerians are known for their rich, sweet, and “cow-like” milk. Once we discovered this little breed we fell in love with their small stature, big personality and their delicious milk.
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We breed our does once a year for spring kids, so that we can have fresh goat milk all year long. We milk share with our goat kids, meaning that after the babies are 2 weeks old we separate the kids from the does at night and in the morning we milk the does for our own consumption. After milking we return the babies to their moms and let them have all the milk they want during the day. Any excess milk is either frozen for soap/lotion making or fed to our young pigs. Once the babies reach 10 weeks they are weaned and either retained for our breeding program or sold as breeding stock or pets to other farms.
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If you have any interest in any purchasing any of our goats please check out our most current breeding schedule or feel free to contact us with any questions you might have about our goats.
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The History
The Nigerian Dwarf Goats are a miniature breed of dairy goat. Nigerian Dwarfs were originally brought from West Africa to North America on ships, with their primary purpose being a meat source for large cats that were being delivered to zoos. However, the lucky goats that were fortunate to survive the trip over became added attractions in zoos. Several years later, there was development within the breed and a noticeable difference between the stockier, heavier set animals and the ones with more noticeable dairy characteristics. The stockier type became the well-known Pygmy goats that we see today, while the dairy type animals became known as the Nigerian Dwarf.
Today, Nigerian Dwarfs have gained a huge amount of popularity due to their small stature and ability to produce an abundant amount of milk. To meet breed standards Bucks (males) cannot stand any higher than 23” and Does (females) not over 22”. Another admirable trait of the Nigerian goats is that they can come in any colour and coat pattern imaginable, and have the possibility of having blue eyes. On average Does have 2-3 babies per pregnancy but it is not uncommon for them to give birth to 4 or 5 kids either.
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Compared to the standard goat breeds, Nigerian’s do produce less milk then big breeds (about 2-5 pounds a day). But what they lack in quantity they make up for in taste. Unlike other breeds of dairy goats, Nigerian Dwarf goats are famous for their rich and sweet “cow like” milk. This is because their milk has the highest butterfat content, meaning about 6-10% of their milk is made up of butterfat. While most other standard goat breeds produce somewhere between 1-4% butterfat content. Making them the perfect breed for small families and homesteads that are interested in producing their own dairy products. They also make fantastic pets and are easy to handle and train.
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The Soap
The soap and lotions we make from our goat’s milk are all made in small handmade batches and are crafted right here on our farm. We have taken the time to test each batch of soap/lotion and create our own recipes based upon what think are the best products. It is also important to us that we oversee the soap and lotion making process from start to finish. From breeding and milking our own goats to making and creating the products in our Soap Room, we love the process! The additional ingredients used in our products such as oils, fragrance, lye, and pigments are sourced from reputable soap suppliers that sell quality ingredients. Our soaps and lotions are free from chemicals and use ingredients that you are familiar with and can actually pronounce.
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Goat milk products offer many benefits, which is due to the natural lactic acid found in goat’s milk. The lactic acid helps to exfoliate the skin by working to breakdown the bonds holding together the dead skin particles, which in return allows for the new skin cells the chance to grow. Another important component of goat milk products is the natural fats found in the milk. Their milk is filled with saturated fats, which create a good ‘lather’, and unsaturated fats, which provides moisturizing and nourishing properties for your skin. Goat milk skin products have also been reportedly effective to individuals suffering from sensitive skin. This is most likely because goat’s milk has the same pH as human skin, so it does not disturb the skin’s natural microbiome. Meaning the human skin does not tend to react to goat milk products because it does not see it as a foreign substance. These are just a few facts about goat milk products, but we feel that to experience all the benefits it has to offer you just have to try it out for yourself!
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If you are interested in trying any of our artisan soaps or lotions, please check out our farm shop!
