Mini Nubian
Mini Nubians keep the standard Nubian's long, bell-shaped ears in a body scaled down for a backyard.
Registered by Miniature Dairy Goat Association (MDGA), The Miniature Goat Registry (TMGR).
Is Mini Nubian right for you?
About Mini Nubian
Mini Nubians keep the standard Nubian’s signature look, long, wide, pendulous ears that reach the mouth or beyond, and a convex, Roman-nosed profile, in a mid-sized cross of Nigerian Dwarf and standard Nubian.
The cross can carry more muscling than dairy goats of Swiss origin, inherited from the Nubian side, and milking is easy, with high quantity and quality of milk. Typical mature weight for the mini dairy breeds generally runs 80 to 120 lb for does, in a compact frame under 29 inches at the withers.
A smaller-footprint way to keep Nubian character and butterfat without the full-size Nubian’s frame or its volume.
How Mini Nubian compares
Not enough sourced data to compare this breed on milk yield. Our sources didn’t publish one.
Does are cited at 100 lb, the same as the median of 100 lb across the 17 breeds in our list with a sourced doe weight.
Not enough sourced data to rank Mini Nubian on milk yield. Our sources didn’t publish one. 9 of 19 dairy breeds in our list have a sourced figure for this.
Often confused with, and breeds like this one
Full record
Size
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Size class | Miniature4 |
| Mature doe weight | 80–120 lb2 |
| Mature buck weight | 145–165 lb2 |
| Height at withers (doe) · sources disagree | up to 29 in1 One source reports 22–30 in (TMGR Member Handbook, breed standard). |
| Height at withers (buck) · sources disagree | up to 31 in1 One source reports 23–32 in (TMGR Member Handbook, breed standard). |
Appearance
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Coat type | Smooth1 |
| Coat length | Short1 |
| Colors | any color or pattern accepted1 |
| Patterns | any color or pattern accepted1 |
| Ears | Pendulous1 |
| Facial profile | Convex (Roman)1 |
| Blue eyes | Occurs in the breed5 |
| Distinguishing features | Long, wide, pendulous bell-shaped ears reaching the mouth or beyond, Convex ('Roman') nose required for Purebred registration, Butterfat yield similar to standard Nubian in a smaller frame1 |
1 more field not found in our sources
| Horns | Not found in our sources* |
Dairy
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Lactation yield range | 1,002 lb or more3 |
| Milking temperament | Docile1 |
4 more fields not found in our sources
| Average lactation yield | Not found in our sources* |
| Lactation length | Not found in our sources* |
| Butterfat | Not found in our sources* |
| Protein | Not found in our sources* |
Meat
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Weaning weight | Not applicable, Bred and registered as a dairy breed. |
| Average daily gain | Not applicable, Bred and registered as a dairy breed. |
| Dressing percentage | Not applicable, Bred and registered as a dairy breed. |
Mature carcass: Not applicable, Not raised as a meat breed.
Muscling: MDGA notes Mini Nubians 'can carry more muscling than dairy goats of Swiss origin', inherited from the Nubian side of the cross.2
Fiber
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Fiber type | None1 |
| Annual fleece yield | Not applicable, Not a fiber breed. |
| Fiber diameter | Not applicable, Not a fiber breed. |
| Staple length | Not applicable, Not a fiber breed. |
| Shearings per year | Not applicable, Not a fiber breed. |
| Down percentage | Not applicable, Not a fiber breed. |
Breeding
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Breeding season | Extended season breeder6 |
3 more fields not found in our sources
| Litter size | Not found in our sources* |
| Age at first breeding | Not found in our sources* |
| Weight at first breeding | Not found in our sources* |
Availability
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Conservation status | Not listed (The Livestock Conservancy, 2026)7 |
2 more fields not found in our sources
| Availability in the US | Not found in our sources* |
| Population estimate | Not found in our sources* |
History and registries
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Origin country | the United States4 |
About goats generally
The facts below are stated by extension and veterinary sources for goats as a species, not for this breed specifically, shown separately from the breed's own cited record above.
| Fencing / escape difficulty | High8‡ |
| Hardiness | High8‡ |
| Heat tolerance | High9‡ |
| Cold tolerance | Low10‡ |
| Browse clearing suitability | High8‡ |
Housing: Goats generally don't need elaborate housing -- a simple three-sided structure that blocks wind and rain is enough, at roughly 15 square feet of bedded space per animal. The real hazard is cold, damp drafts rather than fresh air itself: sustained drafty, wet-cold conditions can quickly bring on pneumonia and scours in young kids more than in adult stock.11‡
Fencing: Goats are notorious escape artists, so fencing built for cattle or sheep usually isn't enough. A multi-strand, electrified high-tensile fence with hot wires worked into the first, third and top strands is the standard effective approach; plain woven wire works too, but needs an extra interior electric strand to stop goats climbing on it or catching their heads and horns in the mesh.8‡
See our guides on how many goats to keep and how much space each one needs.
‡ Facts marked with a double dagger are about goats generally, not specifically this breed. See "About goats generally" above.
Sources (11)
- Mini Nubian Breed Standard - MDGA · breed registry / association, retrieved 2026-09-05
- TMGR Member Handbook · breed registry / association, retrieved 2026-09-05
- Milk Test How To | tmgronline (TMGR) · breed registry / association, retrieved 2026-09-05
- Breed Standards - Miniature Dairy Goat Association · breed registry / association, retrieved 2026-09-05
- Breed Standards | tmgronline (TMGR) · breed registry / association, retrieved 2026-09-05
- What is a Miniature Dairy Goat? | Miniature Dairy Goat Association · breed registry / association, retrieved 2026-09-05
- Conservation Priority List - The Livestock Conservancy · peer-reviewed / government / conservation body, retrieved 2026-09-05 (as of 2026)
- Meat Goat Production | Penn State Extension · university extension, retrieved 2026-09-05
- Nutritional Requirements of Goats | Merck Veterinary Manual · peer-reviewed / government / conservation body, retrieved 2026-09-05
- Shelter, Fencing and Predator Control Needs on Pasture | Langston Ag Research · university extension, retrieved 2026-09-05
- Goat Housing and Facilities | Penn State Extension (Meat Goat Production and Management Home Study Course) · university extension, retrieved 2026-09-05
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