Miniature Dairy Goat Breed Standards
Breed Standards are designed to provide a 'template' for breeders in determining what characteristics are required and desireable in a particular breed of goat. They are usually the result of contributions of established breeders' ideas about what constitutes the desired look and type of the breed, and arrived at by consensus of that group of breeders.
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Nubian
LaMancha
Mini Nubian -
The Mini Nubian is a medium sized dairy goat of mixed Asian, African and European ancestry, the result of the careful crossing of the Anglo Nubian and Nigerian Dwarf breeds. They are known for high quality, high butterfat milk production, and can carry more muscling than dairy goats of Swiss origin. Any color or color combination is accepted including frosted nose and ears. Blue eyes are allowed.
The head is the most distinctive breed characteristic of the Mini Nubian and one of the most challenging aspects of breeding Mini Nubians. Goats do not upgrade into the American and Purebred herd books based on generation alone. The minimum standards for each of the herd books must be met.
The preferred profile of the Mini Nubian is convex. Concave profiles are undesirable in the Mini Nubian and allowed in the Experimental herd book only.
Mini LaMancha -
The Mini LaMancha is a miniature breed of dairy goat, with average weights for fully mature, lactating does falling between 90 and 120 pounds. Mini LaManchas tend to exhibit long, level lactations with strong persistence, a good letdown response, good teat size and udder capacity, and a strong will to milk. Their milk is richer than that of standard dairy goats, and they tend to have calm manners on the milkstand. Mini LaManchas also carry more flesh than standard dairy goats, so that wethers or cull does can make excellent meat animals.
In addition, Mini LaManchas possess a quiet, personable temperament, making them well suited for the urban dairy. Their tiny ears and straight profile give them a sophisticated look, the perfect cover for their inquisitive, playful nature.
Examples of correct Miniature LaMancha ears
Alpine
Oberhasli
Mini Alpine -
Mini Alpines are lean and refined with erect ears and a straight face.
All colors and combinations are allowed with frosted ears and nose permitted. Blue eyes are allowed.
Mini Oberhasli -
Mini Oberhasli draw their unique blend of characteristics from the two foundation breeds, Nigerian Dwarf and Standard Oberhasli. The Standard Oberhasli is a medium sized goat (typically 2 inches smaller than other standard sized breeds) with a proportionally wider body. It
is known for its deep, rich, red bay color and chamoisee pattern. Additionally, standard Oberhasli have a distinctive short, wide head, with deep jaw and broad muzzle with a wide forehead and prominent eyes. The Oberhasli ear tends to be shorter than other Swiss breeds, set
lower, and pointed forward. Nigerian Dwarf goats are known for short stature, high percentage of butterfat and protein in their milk, aseasonal breeding, improved hardiness. Nigerian Dwarfs are easy to keep and maintain body condition. The Mini Oberhasli is expected to be a blending of these two breeds.
Download complete Oberhasli Breed Standard
Saanen
Sable
Mini Saanen -
Mini Saanens are a heavier-boned breed, carrying more substance than the other Swiss breeds.
The ears are erect, and the face is straight or dished.
They must be solid white for acceptance in the Purebred registry. Blue eyes are allowed.
Mini Sable -
Mini Sables are a heavier boned breed, carrying more substance than the other swiss breeds, and they are the colored version of the Mini Saanen breed.
The ears are erect, and the face is straight or dished.
The Sable may be any color or combination of colors, solid or patterned, EXCEPT solid white or solid cream. Blue eyes are allowed.
NOTE:
Saanens bred to Nigerian Dwarves will be registered as mini Saanen when they are white or light cream. If they are colored, they can be registered as mini Sables or mini Saanens. The decision is at the breeder's discretion and is at the individual kid level. It is possible for litter mate siblings to have some registered as mini Saanens and some registered as mini Sables. We do not allow white kids from this breeding to be registered as mini Sables. White or light cream kids can only be registered as mini Saanens (due to the dominance of white genetics).
For kids meeting the mini Sable breed standard which are born of mini Saanen to mini Saanen breedings, or mini Saanen bred to Saanen or ND, the breeder has the choice at time of registration to register the animal as mini Sable or Experimental mini Saanens.
Once a goat is a mini sable, it only produces mini Sables. While it should not happen (due to current understanding of Saanens/Sable color genetics), if the breeding of two mini Sables produces a solid white or light cream kid, that kid is registered as an experimental Sable (due to not meeting breed character), it cannot be registered as a mini Saanen.
We do not allow the breeding of mini Saanens to mini Sables. Similarly, we do not allow the breeding of a mini Saanen to a standard Sable or a mini sable to a standard Saanen. Goats from these kinds of crosses are not eligible for registration.
Toggenburg
Guernsey
Mini Toggenburg -
Mini Toggenburgs tend to be smaller and more angular than the other breeds. Ears are erect and the face is dished.
They may be any shade of brown, with white on edge of ears, facial stripes, lower legs and triangle at base of tail. Frosted ears and muzzle will be accepted. Blue eyes are allowed.
Mini Guernsey -
Mini Guernseys tend to be smaller than other mini breeds. Ears are erect and set lower than other Swiss breeds. Ear can be carried in a bonnet position, being forward swept and with ear tips slightly turned up. The face is dished or straight. They may be any shade of cream to gold, ranging from a pale flaxen to deep bronze or russet gold. The body should be clearly gold, with no preference on shade. Partial to full roaning is allowed. White patches, face, and star/blaze are allowed.
Hair may be short or long and flowing or both. A long curtain, skirt, and/or dorsal fringe is desirable, but not required to meet Breed Standard. Skin must display gold tone, ranging from peachy-flesh to orange gold in one or more of these locations on the animal: muzzle, ears, ears, under tail, mammary or scrotum. Frosted ears and muzzle will be accepted. Blue eyes are allowed.