Breeding Nigerian Dwarfs

[akhomesteader]

Someone is going to give us his two Nigerian Dwarf does, but he doesn't have a buck. Can an alpine or other full size buck be used to breed ND does?

Thanks,

Jenny

[dbarjacres]

NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO!!!!

You can absolutly do it, but you will most likely have disasterous consequences of a doe to small to push out big kids. My best Nigie doe died in my arms last March when either I or the vet tore thru her uterus trying to get out a large buckling. I will never forget the pain she was in and how terrible I felt. And that was Registered Nigie to Registered Nigie. Can't imagine purposely breeding to a larger buck and knowing the odds of that happening.

[julieq]

Definitely not! Find a ND buck.

[LoneStrChic23]

Agree with the previous posters! Your asking for trouble if you try that and it's not fair, or safe for those little does. Try finding a male their size or smaller. If you can't find ND bucks, consider even a pygmy if the only goal is to get the girls in milk. Do make sure whatever buck you choose is healthy and preferably from a CAE & CL free herd.

Good luck!

Best Wishes,
Crystal
http://noodlevilleadventures.blogspot.com

[akhomesteader]

Thanks for the advice. It's been several years since we've had goats, and I don't have any buck at the moment. Just wanted to check before we bought one. Sorry to hear about your doe, dbarjminis. I'm sue that was a horrible experience. I certainly don't want to risk something like that.

Thanks again,

Jenny

[Backfourty,MI.]

Hopefully you'll be able to find a nice Nigerian buck around close that can service your does. For just 2 does you might not want to buy & keep a buck on your property all the time do you? He should be housed in a seperate area away from the girls except when breeding & then he'll need a wethered buddy for company as they are such social little critters.

If you can't find a nigerian buck & really want them bred I would use a pygmy buck. Nothing larger than that though.

[akhomesteader]

We live in the bush and have to charter a plane to fly into town. Our old timer friend who wants to give us his ND does is our only year-round neighbor, so the only way to service the does is to either fly them into town each time, or buy a buck. I'd rather buy a buck kid than deal with flying does in each year. These aren't really very good breeding stock, but since they're free, we thought we might give it a try. I'm not sure if it will be worth it to buy a good ND buck for them. If we take them, I'd want to keep the ND line going and not mix a pygmy. I'd want to keep the kids for milking later. These does are papered, but a bit wild and very poor mothers. The offspring buck from one of them was not able to get his does pregnant. Not sure if that would be from the does or from his daddy. So, we're not really sure we even want these girls. Might be better to just start over with new stock. The old timer who has them takes good care of his animals, but he doesn't have a clue what to look for when he buys them. He paid WAY, WAY too much for these does.

[lasergrl]

It probably isnt the bucks fault or the does, that they didnt get pregnant. With my Nigies, I find if I dont keep up with their minerals especially copper, they will not settle. Mine, also are seasonal breeders even though they are supposed to be year round breeders.

[Cannon_Farms]

Alaska is a big place but there are several top nigerian breeders there, also you can consider AI a friend of mine just collected some wonderful ND sperm so its becoming a more common thing. Semen can be shipped with the proper equipment all over the place.
Google Nigerian breeders and visit ADGA, AGS and lastly NDGA if you are unable to find a breeder through google

[Cannon_Farms]

also, many folks will ship bucklings so maybe you can explore that option as well

[akhomesteader]

Thank you very much for the suggestions. I'll look into that more.