Mini Nubian vs Nubian (Anglo-Nubian)

These are not the same breed.

Mini Nubian carries the Nubian name and its long ears, so buyers searching "mini nubian goat" often do not know whether it is a small Nubian or a separate registered breed.

Mini Nubian is a registered Nigerian Dwarf x Nubian cross under MDGA/TMGR, capped at 29 in (doe) and 31 in (buck), and cannot be registered with ADGA as a Nubian. Nubian is one of ADGA's nine standard dairy breeds, with an ADGA minimum of 30 in (doe) and 32 in (buck).

Nubian is one of ADGA's nine standard dairy breeds, with an ADGA minimum of 30 in (doe) and 32 in (buck). Mini Nubian is a registered Nigerian Dwarf x Nubian cross under MDGA/TMGR, capped at 29 in (doe) and 31 in (buck), and cannot be registered with ADGA as a Nubian.

Registered by (Mini Nubian)

Registered by (Nubian (Anglo-Nubian))

Mini Nubian is a dairy breed. Nubian (Anglo-Nubian) is a dairy breed. They are registered by different bodies and judged to different standards.

Both are dairy.

Size class
Miniature1
Standard2
Mature doe weight
80–120 lb3
135 lb or more2
Mature buck weight
145–165 lb3
170 lb or more2
Height at withers (doe)
up to 29 in4
30 in or more2
Height at withers (buck)
up to 31 in4
32 in or more2

Our sources give a registry minimum for Nubian (Anglo-Nubian) and a typical range or figure for Mini Nubian. Those answer different questions and we don't compare them directly.

Build and conformation

Coat type
Smooth4
Smooth2
Coat length
Short4
Short2
Ears
Pendulous4
Pendulous2
Facial profile
Convex (Roman)4
Convex (Roman)2
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 frame4
Long pendulous 'bell-shaped' ears, Strongly convex (Roman-nosed) facial profile, High butterfat and protein milk, Notably vocal breed6

They differ most on blue eyes, distinguishing features.

1 more field with no figure for either breed

Milk

Average lactation yield
Not found in our sources*
2,018 lb7
Lactation yield range
1,002 lb or more8
510–3,840 lb7
Butterfat
Not found in our sources*
4.9%7
Protein
Not found in our sources*
3.8%7
Milking temperament
Docile4
Not found in our sources*

Our sources publish a lactation yield figure for Nubian (Anglo-Nubian) and not for Mini Nubian. That is a difference in what has been recorded, not evidence that Mini Nubian has none.

1 more field with no figure for either breed

Temperament and handling

Noise level
–
Vocal6

Neither breed has a published docility figure in our sources.

3 more fields with no figure for either breed

Breeding

Breeding season
Extended season breeder9
Not found in our sources*

2 more fields with no figure for either breed

Availability

Availability in the US
Not found in our sources*
Common10
Conservation status
Not listed (The Livestock Conservancy, 2026)11
Not listed (The Livestock Conservancy, 2026)11

Our sources publish a availability figure for Nubian (Anglo-Nubian) and not for Mini Nubian. That is a difference in what has been recorded, not evidence that Mini Nubian has none.

Which one fits you

Good for (Mini Nubian)

  • Milk for the house
  • Hand milking

Not for (Mini Nubian)

  • Fiber production

Good for (Nubian (Anglo-Nubian))

  • Milk for the house
  • Hot climates
  • Finding stock without a long wait in the US

Not for (Nubian (Anglo-Nubian))

  • Fiber production
  • Close neighbors and small plots

Why people mix them up

Mini Nubian carries the Nubian name and its long ears, so buyers searching "mini nubian goat" often do not know whether it is a small Nubian or a separate registered breed.

Sources (11)
  1. Breed Standards - Miniature Dairy Goat Association · breed registry / association, retrieved 2026-09-05
  2. ADGA Breed Standards · breed registry / association, retrieved 2026-09-05
  3. TMGR Member Handbook · breed registry / association, retrieved 2026-09-05
  4. Mini Nubian Breed Standard - MDGA · breed registry / association, retrieved 2026-09-05
  5. Breed Standards | tmgronline (TMGR) · breed registry / association, retrieved 2026-09-05
  6. AGS Breed Standards · breed registry / association, retrieved 2026-09-05
  7. Penn State Extension, Dairy Goat Production (Table 2, 2019 DHIR data) · university extension, retrieved 2026-09-05 (as of 2019)
  8. Milk Test How To | tmgronline (TMGR) · breed registry / association, retrieved 2026-09-05
  9. What is a Miniature Dairy Goat? | Miniature Dairy Goat Association · breed registry / association, retrieved 2026-09-05
  10. ADGA 2024 Annual Report · breed registry / association, retrieved 2026-09-05
  11. Conservation Priority List - The Livestock Conservancy · peer-reviewed / government / conservation body, retrieved 2026-09-05 (as of 2026)