Kiko goat
The Kiko is a large-framed meat goat bred in New Zealand to survive and grow on rough hill country with little help. Its name is the Maori word for flesh or meat. Does weigh about 100 to 180 lb and bucks 200 to 250 lb. It is often white but comes in any colour, because it was selected for survival and growth rate, not looks. Florida's extension service rates it more resistant to internal parasites than the other meat breeds.
- Cold tolerance
- Heat tolerance
Is the Kiko right for you?
Good fit if
- You want a meat goat that looks after itself. The breed was selected for survival and growth on hill country with the least inputs
- You farm somewhere warm and wet. Florida's extension service says Kikos suit humid, subtropical conditions and resist the barber pole worm better than other breeds
- You want does that kid and rear on their own. They were selected for mothering and for kidding without help
- You want a sire or dam for crossbreeding
Poor fit if
- You want a show goat with a fixed look. There is no common coat colour or pattern
- You want a small goat. Does run 100 to 180 lb and bucks 200 to 250 lb
- You want milk or fibre. It is a meat breed
Appearance and varieties
A Kiko is a lean, well-muscled goat with a large frame. Does weigh about 100 to 180 lb and bucks 200 to 250 lb, roughly twice the weight of the feral New Zealand goats the breed came from.
Many are white, a legacy of their Saanen ancestors, but any colour from white to black turns up. Cornell says the ears are like a Spanish goat's, somewhat drooping but shorter than a Nubian's.6311712
Production numbers
What our sources report for the breed. If two sources disagree, you see the full range.
| Measure | Typical | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Kids weaned | About 1.6–1.8 per doe7 | With an average litter weight of 62 to 67 lb at 90 days old. Does were selected to have twins every year. |
| Maturity | Early72 | Florida's extension service says Kikos have large frames and are known to mature early. The association says kids reach market weight sooner than other breeds. |
| Meat yield | About 35–42% of a kid's liveweight3 | The University of California's figure for Boer and Kiko kids, which usually go to slaughter at four to six months and 50 to 80 lb. |
| Carcass | Lean and well muscled6 |
Housing, feed and health
Housing
For meat goats on pasture Penn State suggests an open shed with 10 to 12 sq ft per doe as shelter in very hot or cold weather. Cornell's minimum is 12 to 15 sq ft of shed floor per doe when she also has a yard, and at least 25 sq ft of pen per goat.
Goats need tight fencing. Penn State recommends five or six strands of high-tensile wire with some electrified, or woven wire with an electric strand inside to stop goats climbing it or getting their heads stuck.
Kikos were selected for survival and growth in New Zealand hill country, and Penn State says they survive under a wide range of climates. Penn State puts most Pennsylvania pasture at six to seven does an acre, depending on their size.6131
Feed
Kikos were developed to produce meat on the least inputs, and the breed association calls them aggressive foragers. Like all goats they are browsers, and take a higher share of brush and weeds than sheep or cattle do.
The University of California's figure for goats in general is 2 to 3% of body weight a day in dry matter, so a 150 lb doe eats about 3 to 4.5 lb of forage. The University of California says small-acreage landowners often need to add irrigated pasture, hay or other supplemental feed.
Penn State advises a goat mineral mix, because forage rarely has enough minerals and most sheep products are too low in copper for goats. Keep clean water within reach.216314
Health
Florida's extension service says the Kiko is generally more resistant to internal parasites, especially the barber pole worm, than the other meat breeds it describes. The breed association also claims fewer hoof problems.
Resistant is not immune. Penn State calls internal parasites the most important health issue for goat keepers and recommends rotating pasture, moving goats every four to five days and before the grass is under 4 in tall.
This is a starting point, not veterinary advice. Work with a vet who treats goats, or ask your county extension office.726
Price and where to buy
| Quality | Typical price |
|---|---|
| Commercial or percentage Kiko | $250–$37589 |
| Purebred buck kid | $500–$5758 |
| Purebred doe | $600–$6758 |
Northland Kikos' page was last updated on 14 September 2026; on it the lower figure in each purebred range is the commercial price and the higher is with National Kiko Registry papers. The Abandoned Dog's page lists a commercial wether and doeling born on 19 June 2025 at $250. The purebred prices come from one breeder only.
Where to look
Start with a breeder you can visit. Nobody pays to be on this list.
| Seller or directory | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| National Kiko Registry classified ads | Directory | Does and bucks for sale from the registry's clients; ads stay up for about 30 days |
| Northland Kikos, Somerset, Wisconsin | Breeder | Registered purebred and percentage Kikos; 25% deposit to reserve |
| The Abandoned Dog Kiko Goats, Lansing, North Carolina | Breeder | Commercial kids at $250 in 2025 |
Similar breeds
History
Garrick and Anne Batten of Nelson, in the north of New Zealand's South Island, developed the Kiko from feral goats. Those goats were hardy but small, with does weighing 25 to 55 lb, and gave little meat or milk.
The Battens crossed selected feral does with Anglo-Nubian, Toggenburg and Saanen bucks, crossed again in the second and third generations, and kept the animals that survived and grew best on hill country. After four generations liveweight had improved dramatically. By 1986 the breed was established and the herd closed to further crossbreeding.
Common questions
What are Kiko goats used for?
Meat. The breed was purpose-bred in New Zealand for meat production, and kiko is the Maori word for flesh or meat.1
How big do Kiko goats get?
The University of California puts Kiko does at about 100 to 180 lb and bucks at 200 to 250 lb. That is smaller than a Boer, whose does it puts at 200 to 225 lb.3
Where do Kiko goats come from?
New Zealand. Garrick and Anne Batten of Nelson bred them from feral does crossed with Anglo-Nubian, Toggenburg and Saanen bucks, and the breed was established by 1986. Kikos reached the United States in the 1990s.1
What colour are Kiko goats?
Often white, but any colour. The breed was selected for survival and growth, so there is no common coat colour or pattern.67
Are Kiko goats parasite resistant?
More than most. Florida's extension service says the breed is generally more resistant to internal parasites, especially the barber pole worm, than the other meat breeds. They still need pasture rotation and checking.76
Sources
The small numbers beside each fact point to one of these.
- Oklahoma State University, Breeds of Livestock: Kiko Goats (archived copy).
- American Kiko Goat Association, Kikos Perform.
- University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources, Meat goats.
- BreedBarn, Editorial rating, method on the editorial policy page.
- Purdue University Department of Animal Sciences, Housing for Dairy Goats.
- Penn State Extension, Meat Goat Production.
- University of Florida IFAS Extension, Duval County, Goat Breeds.
- Northland Kikos, Goats for Sale.
- The Abandoned Dog Kiko Goats, 2025 Kids.
- National Kiko Registry, FAQ.
- Ohio State University Extension, Meat Goat Production and Budgeting.
- Cornell University, New York State 4-H, Goat Fact Sheets: Meat Goat Breeds.
- Cornell University, New York State 4-H, Goat Fact Sheets: Goat Facilities.
- Penn State Extension, Dairy Goat Production.
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