Nubian

The Nubian, also known as the Anglo-Nubian, is a large dairy goat developed in England in the late 1800s. It is one of the most widely kept dairy breeds in the world, valued for milk with a higher butterfat percentage than most other dairy goats produce. The breed is easy to pick out by its long, pendulous ears that hang well past the jawline and its convex facial profile, often called a Roman nose.

Nubians are sociable, people-focused animals. They like to stay close to their handler, follow you round the paddock, and respond well to attention. The breed is also known for being vocal: individual goats will call loudly when hungry, separated from the mob, or simply after a bit of company. This makes them entertaining company on a lifestyle block, though it is worth thinking about if neighbours are close by.

As a dual-purpose dairy breed, the Nubian produces a moderate volume of milk with high butterfat, which suits cheese and soap making as well as drinking fresh. Does reach a fair size, and bucks are noticeably larger again. The breed copes well with heat and humidity, a trait often put down to its part-tropical ancestry, and it also holds condition through a cold, wet winter provided decent shelter is on hand.

Who the Nubian suits

The Nubian suits owners after a productive dairy goat with a sociable nature, who do not mind an animal that likes to talk. The high-butterfat milk appeals to home cheese and soap makers. The breed handles heat and humidity well, which makes it a practical option in warmer parts of the country, and it also holds up through a damp southern winter given decent shelter. Owners on smaller sections in town should weigh up the breed's tendency to be loud before taking one on.

The breed was put together in England during the 1800s. British goat keepers crossed their local does with bucks imported through trading ports linked to North Africa, the Middle East, and India. These imported animals brought the lop ears and convex nose that still mark the breed today.

The name reflects that mixed background. Nubian points to the region of northeastern Africa, though the breed as it stands today was assembled and standardised in Britain rather than in any single source country. To separate the British composite from the original imported stock, the breed carries the formal name Anglo-Nubian.

A settled breed type was in place in England by the early 1900s, with breeders fixing the long ears, Roman nose, and dairy purpose that still define the standard. From Britain the breed spread further afield, and keepers elsewhere valued both its milk quality and its tolerance of heat.

New Zealand's biosecurity settings have shaped how the breed built up here. Live goat imports face strict Ministry for Primary Industries quarantine requirements, so New Zealand herds have largely been built up through closed local breeding, careful pedigree records, and the occasional import of semen or embryos under controlled conditions rather than live animals crossing the border. Even so, the Anglo-Nubian became a familiar sight on dairy goat studs and lifestyle blocks around the country, valued for its high-butterfat milk and its easy-care coat in a pastoral climate.

The Nubian carries a large, upstanding frame with a long body and fine bone for its size. The two features that mark the breed out are the ears and the face. The ears are long and wide, lying flat against the head and hanging below the level of the muzzle. The facial profile is strongly convex, giving the breed its trademark Roman nose. Both sexes may carry horns or be naturally polled, and many farm animals are disbudded as kids.

Coat and colours

The coat is short and lies close to the body, which suits the breed's tolerance of warm weather. Colour is not restricted by the standard, so Nubians turn up in a wide range of shades and markings. Solid black, red, and tan are common, along with spotted and roan patterns and combinations such as black-and-tan. The skin and short hair need little grooming, though the long ears should be checked regularly for cleanliness and parasites, particularly after a damp spell.

Nubians are sociable and form strong attachments to the people who look after them. They are curious by nature, will investigate anything new, and often push for attention from whoever is around. Within a herd they are generally settled and get on with other goats, and they usually accept other stock such as sheep or poultry when raised alongside them.

With family members the breed is gentle and patient, which makes it a common pick for lifestyle blocks and supervised children's projects. With strangers Nubians tend to be nosy rather than nervous, though a settling-in period helps. As herd animals they do best with at least one other goat for company and can become stressed and noisy if kept on their own.

The trait that defines the breed for many owners is its voice. Nubians are loud, persistent callers. They vocalise when hungry, in season, separated from the herd, or simply after interaction. Anyone considering one on a smaller section close to neighbours should factor this in before buying.

The short coat keeps grooming needs low, but the breed still needs regular health-related care, particularly hoof trimming and ear checks. Like all goats, Nubians are social and need companionship, room to move, and protection from weather and predators.

Grooming

• Brush occasionally to remove loose hair and check the skin for parasites
• Trim hooves every 6 to 8 weeks to prevent overgrowth and lameness
• Check the long ears regularly for dirt, mites, and injury
• Keep the coat dry; the short hair sheds water poorly in prolonged wet weather

Exercise

• Give daily access to a paddock or browsing area for movement and foraging
• Provide climbing objects such as stumps, rocks, or platforms
• Allow at least a few hours outdoors each day in good weather

Environment

Nubians need secure fencing, since goats test boundaries and will find a way through a weak enclosure. A dry, draught-free shelter protects them from rain, wind, and cold snaps, while shade and airflow matter over summer. The breed handles heat better than many dairy goats but still needs clean water on tap at all times. Run goats in groups rather than on their own.

The foundation of a Nubian's diet is forage. Good-quality hay, pasture, and browse should make up the bulk of what the goat eats. Goats are natural browsers and prefer shrubs, leaves, and weeds alongside grass. Milking does and growing kids have higher energy and protein needs and are usually given a concentrate feed on top of forage. Sudden changes in diet should be avoided, since goats have sensitive digestive systems.

Treats and supplements

Provide free-choice loose minerals formulated for goats, since goats have specific copper needs that sheep minerals do not meet. A clean, constant water supply is essential, especially for milking does. Treats such as small amounts of fruit and vegetables can be given now and then, but they should never replace forage.

Nubians are robust goats and, with good management, commonly live 12 to 18 years. Most health problems in the breed are the same ones that affect dairy goats generally: internal parasites, hoof disease, and a small number of chronic infectious diseases that responsible breeders test for. Heat tolerance is a strength, but the breed still needs parasite control, vaccination, and routine foot care to stay in good condition.

Preventive care

• Schedule regular faecal egg counts and drench based on results, not a fixed calendar
• Trim hooves every 6 to 8 weeks
• Vaccinate against clostridial diseases and tetanus (often given as a 5-in-1 vaccine in New Zealand) on veterinary advice
• Buy from herds tested for CAE, CL, and Johne's disease
• Provide goat-specific minerals to meet copper needs

Nubian does usually reach breeding age between seven and ten months, though many keepers wait until a doe weighs around 30 to 35 kg and is well grown before her first mating. Unlike some dairy breeds, Nubians can cycle over a long season and in some climates breed close to year-round, which allows flexible timing of kidding and milk production.

Gestation runs about 150 days, or roughly five months. Twins are the most common outcome, with single kids and triplets also turning up. Does are generally attentive mothers and kid without assistance in most cases, though first-time mothers should be watched.

Kids may be left to suckle on the dam or removed and bottle-raised on heat-treated colostrum and milk, a practice some dairies use to control disease such as CAE. Kids are usually disbudded within the first fortnight if horn-free animals are wanted. Weaning typically happens around 8 to 12 weeks. Bucks are run separately from does outside of planned matings because of their strong odour during the breeding season.