Average lifespan of a Nigerian Goat

Queen Mum

N.E.R.D.
Joined
Nov 1, 2009
Messages
3,416
Reaction score
297
Points
278
Location
Dardanelle, Arkansas
My landlady keeps telling people that the average lifespan of a Nigerian goat and Nigerian Dwarf goat is 5 to 6 years. She swears that since she has been raising goats for 10 years and her goats don't live longer than that, this MUST be correct. I think this is NONSENSE and they should live at least 10 years or longer if fed and cared for properly. Can anyone chime in here and set me straight?
 

lilhill

Loving the herd life
Joined
May 22, 2009
Messages
2,075
Reaction score
9
Points
134
Location
NW Alabama
Nigerians can live 12 to 14 years on average with proper care. My friend has a doe that will be 10 years old by the time she kids the first of the year and then be retired.
 

MrsDieselEngineer

The Goat Lady
Joined
Jul 17, 2011
Messages
407
Reaction score
3
Points
66
Location
Ossipee NH
I don't see why they wouldn't live to 10 or more. The oldest goat I've heard of was 18. But it is reasonable to assume most goats should make it to 10!
 

Queen Mum

N.E.R.D.
Joined
Nov 1, 2009
Messages
3,416
Reaction score
297
Points
278
Location
Dardanelle, Arkansas
Thanks. I think the reason their goats aren't living longer is poor nutrition. I'm trying to convince them that their numbers are way off and they need to rethink their care.
 

elevan

Critter Addict ♥
Joined
Oct 6, 2010
Messages
13,870
Reaction score
739
Points
423
Location
Morrow Co ~ Ohio
Queen Mum said:
Thanks. I think the reason their goats aren't living longer is poor nutrition. I'm trying to convince them that their numbers are way off and they need to rethink their care.
I hope that you can convince them - for the sake of the goats. I personally consider 10 the lower side of the end for a healthy goat. Not living past 5 or 6 on a consistent basis would just not be acceptable to me.
 

Livinwright Farm

Goat Fancier
Joined
Jan 4, 2011
Messages
2,258
Reaction score
17
Points
0
Location
New Hampshire
Your landlady needs some education and apparently some proper goat health practices... Anyone who knows the breed knows that they have an average life expectancy of between 7-12 yrs, however, there are some does that just won't quit. I know of farms that have 13-15 yr old Nigerian Dwarf does that are still producing kids & milk splendidly... hoping that we get one or two that have such splendid longevity... although it is rare to have any goat live so long, unless it is a wether in perfect health & condition.

ETA: Well, it isn't rare that they live so long, but rather to be kidding past the age of 10 without any issues in the process or loss of decent structure in the udder(think of it like an old woman, they usually have a saggy chest)
 

Queen Mum

N.E.R.D.
Joined
Nov 1, 2009
Messages
3,416
Reaction score
297
Points
278
Location
Dardanelle, Arkansas
Well, I went over their spread sheet and since 2000, Almost ALL of their goats die at around 5 - 6 years of age. It's ridiculous! It's unacceptable. It's tragic. They just call it OLD AGE! I say that's Boloney!

My herd queen is nearly 7 and she looks great. (She's an Alpine dairy doe.) She looks young in comparison and they just claim it's because she's a different breed and bigger!

So I asked about feeding. Bottle fed babies are weaned at 6 weeks. That's way too young. They won't give them ANY alfalfa claiming that it gives the bucks urinary calculii. They feed sweet feed and crappy hay. They don't feed minerals or copper because they claim that they get enough from the sweet feed. They throw the feed and hay ON THE GROUND. If a goat isn't competing for food that goat is put in a stall for 2 - 3 months. No wonder they don't live long.

The animals have no graze or browse because the fences on both sides of the property are bad. They have 55 acres to browse the animals, but the fencing needs to be fixed and the neighbors won't cooperate. If it were me, I'd set them out anyway and just shepard them for about 4 or 5 hours a day and then bring them home with grain at the end of the day. You'd think the landlord would let me do that? NO, why, the reason is stupid. He doesn't like me and he's embarrassed that he can't care for them better and doesn't want to swallow his pride and admit it.

:barnie :he :duc
 

Queen Mum

N.E.R.D.
Joined
Nov 1, 2009
Messages
3,416
Reaction score
297
Points
278
Location
Dardanelle, Arkansas
One by one, I'm moving the weaker ones into Mama's paddock and the "handicapped/senior paddock". I have complete control in Mama's paddock. And I have more control in the Senior paddock because my bucks are in it and it is right next to Mama's paddock. I trim hooves, feed minerals, escort them out to pasture, drench with various supplements, give them quality hay and alfalfa, change the feed, brush them and generally take care of them.

And you should see the results. Coats get soft and shiny. Bellies get bigger. Eyes get bright. Behavior becomes more gentle and cooperative. "Elderly goats, don't look so elderly.

I'm desperately trying to set up a maternity ward so we don't lose babies when it gets cold.

Maybe if they can see that my feeding methods make a difference, they will come around. Maybe.

Those of you who pray, please do for my sheparding.
 

Latest posts

Top