Mini Nubians are a cross of Nigerian Dwarf and Nubian goats. The goal is straightforward: a smaller, easier-to-handle dairy goat that still pulls solid daily yields, with rich, high-butterfat milk built for soap, cheese, yogurt, and coffee creamer.
Mini Nubian Breed at a Glance
| Primary Purpose | High-quality dairy with rich butterfat |
| Temperament | Outgoing, social, sensitive, and often very vocal |
| Milk Quality | High butterfat and protein, perfect for value-added products |
| Ideal For | Homesteaders wanting standard teats in a manageable (but still not really “Mini”) body |
Sire: Cedar Creek Julian *B
Dam: Soaring Heart’s Lavender Blue 3*P (2023 Oregon State Fair Mini Nubian Total Performer, 2022 TMGR Milk Awards #2 in Butterfat & Milk Weight, 2023 TMGR Top 5 Butterfat & Milk Weight, 2025 TMGR Top 5 Butterfat & Milk Weight, TMGR All-Time Milk Weight)
Sire: Daystar’s Sir Jethro *B
Dam: Soaring Heart’s Obsidian 3*P
Soaring Heart foundation lines
Homeward Bound BA Ronald (about 2 years 5 months old; photographed August 2024).
Sire: Homeward Bound RB B.A. Baracus
Dam: Red Boots Farm Milk & Honey
When we built our Mini Nubian herd in Mishicot, Wisconsin, we did not shop by color, novelty traits, or registry labels. We focused on lines that repeatedly prove themselves in milk awards and show rings, then vetted breeders for health practices, temperament, and long-term consistency.
Our Mini Nubian dairy herd is still evolving, but the foundation is built on the boring things that matter: health history, udders that hold up over time, and goats you actually enjoy living with.
Our Mini Nubian herd goals
Biosecurity matters here
We do not rely on “closed herd” claims or visual health checks. Our Mini Nubian herd participates in routine screening and risk-based testing to reduce the chance of introducing or spreading disease.
You can see what we test for and why here: Annual Biosecurity Testing.
Registration and paperwork
Our Mini Nubians are registrable through the Miniature Dairy Goat Association (MDGA) and/or The Miniature Goat Registry (TMGR) , depending on lineage.
Designation matters for record keeping and transparency, but it does not override function. We track production, structure, and health across all designations and expect every Mini Nubian in our herd to earn their place through performance.
Some goats carry bonus traits like moonspots, blue eyes, or polled genetics, but those are extras – not selection criteria. What we are selecting for is a high-butterfat dairy goat that holds up over multiple lactations and is a pleasure to work with every day.
What is a Mini Nubian?
Mini Nubians are a cross of Nigerian Dwarf and Nubian goats. The idea was to get the rich, high-butterfat milk of a Nigerian in a bigger body, with the larger teats and better milk volume that Nubians bring to the table.
Simplified Logic: The “Loudspeaker” Trait
If Oberhasli or Guernsey Goats are the quiet neighbors, Mini Nubians are the socialites. They have big personalities and even bigger voices. Think of them like that one friend who has to tell everyone about their day as soon as they walk in the room – they aren’t being mean, they’re just “vocal enthusiasts”!
For us, the appeal is pretty simple. We wanted a smaller dairy goat that is easier to handle every day, without giving up the ability to make cheese, yogurt, soap, and coffee creamer from a single doe.
Realistic Mini Nubian milk production: Most Mini Nubian does produce roughly 800-1,200 lbs of milk per lactation (about 0.3-0.5 gallons per day on average) in typical homestead management. Well-bred, well-fed does may reach 1,300-1,800 lbs (roughly 0.5-0.7 gallons per day), while does producing over 2,000 lbs (about 0.75+ gallons per day) are out there but not something to count on. Keep in mind these are averages across the whole lactation — early on, production will be higher, and it naturally drops off toward the end.
Even on the lower end, Mini Nubians typically average 4.5-5.5% butterfat and 3.5-4.0% protein. That richness goes a long way when you are making cheese, yogurt, or soap, even if the total amount of milk is not huge.
How big are Mini Nubians, really?
Despite the name, Mini Nubians are not small goats. They land somewhere between a Nigerian Dwarf and a full-size Nubian in both height and weight.
Typical size ranges:
A Mini Nubian is closer to a small standard dairy goat than a backyard pet. They are solid, built to milk, and need to be managed like a real dairy animal.
Generation status and what it actually means
Mini Nubians are described by generation (F2, F4, F6, and so on). The number just tells you how many generations of Mini Nubian breeding are recorded behind that animal. Higher generations tend to be more consistent in size and look, but the number does not tell you much about quality on its own.
Honestly, some of the best animals we have seen are lower-generation, because good breeders bring in outside genetics on purpose to improve milk, structure, and overall quality. Chasing a high generation number within a small group of animals can work against you over time. We look at what the animal actually does, not what generation it is.
What is the difference between Experimental, American, and Purebred?
These are MDGA registry labels based on how many generations of Mini Nubian breeding are recorded behind the animal. Experimental animals are early crosses or carry traits outside the breed standard, like upright ears. American animals have several generations of Mini Nubian on both sides. Purebred animals have enough generations recorded to be fully established within the breed.
In practice, the label tells you about paperwork, not quality. Some of the nicest animals we have seen are Experimental or American, because good breeders bring in outside genetics on purpose to improve structure, milk, and overall quality. Breeding generation to generation within a small gene pool just to hit a Purebred label can actually make things worse over time. We care more about what the animal does than what line it sits on.
How long does a Mini Nubian lactation last?
A typical lactation runs about 305 days, though many does will keep milking well past that if you do not rebreed them. We have does that hold strong production past 10 months. How long you milk depends on your breeding schedule and what works for your setup.
Can you milk a Mini Nubian once a day?
Yes, but timing matters. Once-a-day milking works best after the first 6-8 weeks of lactation, once peak production has settled down. Switching too early can put stress on the udder and cut your total production shorter than it needs to be. Most homestead does handle once-a-day milking just fine once they are a couple months into their lactation.
Are Mini Nubians good for beginners?
They can be, but go in with your eyes open. Mini Nubians are friendly and people-oriented, which makes them easy to handle. The flip side is that they are loud, stubborn at times, and will find every weak spot in your fencing. They are not a low-maintenance animal. If you want something quieter and more laid back to start with, our Oberhasli Goats are a gentler breed to learn on. That said, Mini Nubians are hard not to love once you get used to them.
What is the difference between a Mini Nubian and a Nigerian Dwarf?
Size is the biggest difference. Nigerian Dwarfs top out around 19 inches tall and 75 lbs. Mini Nubians commonly stand 23-29 inches and weigh 90-150 lbs. Mini Nubians also produce more milk overall, with similar or better butterfat percentages. The teats on a Mini Nubian are much larger and easier to hand milk than a Nigerian Dwarf, which matters a lot if you are milking by hand every day.
Is Mini Nubian milk good for soap making?
It is one of the best options for goat milk soap. The high butterfat, typically 4.5-5.5%, makes a creamy, conditioning bar with a nice lather and good skin feel. We use milk from our own herd for soap here, and the butterfat is a big part of why we chose this breed over lower-fat options.
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