One of the most popular goat breeds today, the Nubian goat is a favored dairy goat. Useful for producing goat milk for cheese making and other purposes, this friendly and adorable goat breed is found on farms throughout the country. While Nubian goats are a practical addition to a farm or homestead, they're also fun to have around. Affectionate, full of personality, and entertaining, it's easy to see why Nubian goats are so popular.
Nubian Goat History
The Nubian goat, known as the Anglo-Nubian outside of North America, was developed in Great Britain in the 19th century but has origins that extend to the Middle East and North Africa. Brought to the United States by European settlers from England, the Nubian goat was originally used as a source of milk and meat.
Today, the use of Nubian goats has moved away from meat production, as the breed has become a popular dairy goat. While Nubian does produce a smaller quantity of milk than other dairy breeds, the milk they do produce is very flavorful and has the highest butterfat content. The combination of flavor and high butterfat content are two qualities make the Nubian one of the best dairy goat breeds for cheese production.
Breed Characteristics
Due to the Nubian goat's Middle Eastern roots, the breed is exceptionally adaptable to extreme heat and has a prolonged breeding season. This extended breeding season means that their milk production can continue nearly year round, another reason for their popularity as dairy goats.
This distinctive breed is known for their social, outgoing, and vocal personality. These lop-eared goats love being around humans and are known to call for their owner. To show their affection for their humans, Nubian goats display neck and side stroking behaviors.
Buying a Nubian Goat
If you are interested in purchasing a Nubian goat, or any other breed of domestic goat, the American Dairy Goat Association and the International Nubian Breeders Association have breeder and member directories available on their sites.
This article was last updated on March 31, 2020.
