Nubian goat
The Nubian is a large dairy goat with long hanging ears and a Roman nose, kept for rich milk rather than a lot of it: butterfat runs between 4 and 5%. It is the dairy breed best suited to heat, and it milks through more of the year than the Swiss breeds. Does stand at least 30 in and weigh at least 135 lb.
- Cold tolerance
- Heat tolerance
Is the Nubian right for you?
Good fit if
- You want rich milk more than a lot of it: butterfat runs between 4 and 5%
- You live somewhere hot. It is the dairy breed best suited to heat
- You want milk through more of the year. Its breeding season is longer than that of the Swiss breeds
Poor fit if
- You want the most milk per doe. Alpines and Saanens average about 3,000 lb a lactation against the Nubian's 1,860 lb
- You want a small goat. Does stand at least 30 in and weigh 135 lb or more
Appearance and varieties
The head is what marks a Nubian. The profile between the eyes and the muzzle is strongly convex, the Roman nose. The ears are long, wide and hanging; they lie close to the head at the temple, flare out and forward at the rounded tip, and reach at least 1 in past the muzzle.
It is a big dairy goat. The association's minimums are 30 in and 135 lb for does and 32 in and 170 lb for bucks. Oklahoma State describes it as relatively large, proud and graceful.
The coat is short, fine and glossy, and any colour or pattern is accepted. Black, red and tan are the most common, often mixed with white. The udder is roomy but can hang lower than that of the Swiss breeds.21
Production numbers
What our sources report for the breed. If two sources disagree, you see the full range.
| Measure | Typical | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Milk per lactation | 1,860 lb on average; 610–3,650 lb across recorded does3 | 251 Nubian lactations in the association's 2025 breed averages. |
| Butterfat | 4–5%14 | 4.9% in Penn State's table of 2019 milk records, second only to the Nigerian Dwarf's 6.4% among the eight breeds listed. |
| Milk protein | 3.8%4 | 2019 milk records. |
| Breeding season | Much longer than the Swiss breeds1 | Which makes milk through the year possible. |
| Kids | 1–3 a year4 | Penn State's figure for dairy goats in general, after a gestation of 145–155 days. |
| Meat | Kids are fleshier than Alpine kids raised the same way9 | Cornell's comparison, for older kids of Nubian and LaMancha dams. |
Housing, feed and health
Housing
For dairy goats Purdue recommends 20 to 25 sq ft of enclosed housing a goat, plus 50 sq ft of exercise yard, behind a woven-wire or electric fence at least 4 ft high. Cornell's minimum is 12 to 15 sq ft of shed floor per doe when she also has a yard.
A three-sided shed open to the south is enough in many places. What matters is that it is dry, well ventilated and free of drafts.
Purdue puts the comfort zone for dairy goats at 55 to 70 °F and says milk yield and feed intake fall off above 80 °F. The Nubian handles heat better than the other dairy breeds, but it still needs shade and moving air in summer.781
Feed
Penn State's advice for dairy goats is that hay, pasture and browse should make up most of the diet. Does in milk need grain as well; for high producers it suggests 1 lb of grain for every 2.5 to 3 lb of milk. Too much grain with too little fibre upsets the rumen and lowers the fat in the milk.
Forage rarely has enough minerals, so offer a goat mineral mix. Most products made for sheep do not contain enough copper for goats. Clean water must always be within reach; Penn State calls it essential for milk production and herd health.4
Health
Penn State names parasites as the biggest health concern for any goat, and mastitis, an udder infection, as a major one for dairy goats. Clean, dry bedding, good ventilation and clean milking habits are its first defences.
It also advises asking a vet about screening tests before you buy, because caseous lymphadenitis, CAE and Johne's disease spread by contact or through milk.
This is a starting point, not veterinary advice. Work with a vet who treats goats, or ask your county extension office.4
Where to buy
We could open only one dated breeder page with a price, so we don't quote a range.
Start with a breeder you can visit. Nobody pays to be on this list.
| Seller or directory | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Fuzz & Buzz Farms, Tijeras, New Mexico | Breeder | ADGA-registered purebred Nubians. On 9 October 2026 a pet or home-milker quality doeling born April 2026 was listed at $300 |
| The Wool Family Farm, Selma, North Carolina | Breeder | ADGA-registered Nubians; no prices on the page |
Similar breeds
History
The breed is named for Nubia in north-eastern Africa, but it was made in England. Before 1895, English breeders crossed long-legged, hardy bucks imported from Africa, Arabia and India on the common short-haired does of England. The result was the Anglo-Nubian. In the United States it is simply the Nubian.
Because it copes with heat better than the other dairy breeds, it has been used in many tropical countries to raise the milk and meat production of local goats.15
Common questions
How big do Nubian goats get?
The American Dairy Goat Association gives minimums, not a range: does at least 30 in tall and 135 lb, bucks at least 32 in and 170 lb.2
How much milk does a Nubian goat give?
The association's 2025 breed average was 1,860 lb a lactation, with recorded does ranging from 610 to 3,650 lb. That is less than an Alpine or Saanen, which average about 3,000 lb.3
Why is Nubian milk said to be richer?
It has more butterfat. Oklahoma State puts it between 4 and 5%, and Penn State's table of 2019 records gives 4.9% fat and 3.8% protein, against 3.3% fat for Alpines and Saanens.14
What are Nubian goats used for?
Mainly milk in the United States. Oklahoma State describes the breed as all-purpose, useful for milk, meat and hides.12
Do Nubian goats do well in hot climates?
Better than other dairy breeds. Oklahoma State calls the Nubian the best suited of the dairy goat breeds to hot conditions. Goats in general still eat and milk less above 80 °F, so give shade and moving air.17
What colours do Nubian goats come in?
Any colour or pattern is accepted. Black, red and tan are the most common, often with white.21
Where do Nubian goats come from?
England. Before 1895 English breeders crossed bucks imported from Africa, Arabia and India on local short-haired does. The name comes from Nubia in north-eastern Africa.1
Sources
The small numbers beside each fact point to one of these.
- Oklahoma State University, Breeds of Livestock: Anglo-Nubian Goats (archived copy).
- American Dairy Goat Association, Breed Standards.
- American Dairy Goat Association, Breed Averages: DHIR Breed Averages, 2025 Lactations.
- Penn State Extension, Dairy Goat Production.
- Cornell University, New York State 4-H, Goat Fact Sheets: Dairy Goat Breeds.
- BreedBarn, Editorial rating, method on the editorial policy page.
- Purdue University Department of Animal Sciences, Housing for Dairy Goats.
- Cornell University, New York State 4-H, Goat Fact Sheets: Goat Facilities.
- Cornell University, New York State 4-H, Goat Fact Sheets: Meat Goat Breeds.
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