Nubian vs Mini Nubian

[Kiwi]

I am fairly new to goats. I purchased two Nubian bucks as bottle babies last year. They were unregistered but sold as full Nubians. However, they will be a year old in March and seem rather small for Nubians. My buck is weighing in at 42lbs and about 24inches tall. They have received all vaccines and dewormer as needed. They have free choice hay and minerals at all times. They eat/act normal and happy. The wether is close to the same size maybe slightly heavier/taller but not by much. I’m hoping to breed the buck this year. I’m just trying to determine if maybe I have Mini Nubians instead?
I want to rule out malnutrition or any other concerns I might not be aware of.
I am attaching recent pictures for reference.
*The buck does have a cyst on his jawline however it has been checked and cleared by our vet as nothing concerning.
I appreciate the help!

 

[Baymule]

I raise sheep, don't have goats, but it looks like you have mini nubians. If you want a full sized doe, I'm pretty sure the mini buck would be able the breed a full size doe, After all, that's how they get the mini's, just breed a Nigerian Dwarf to a full size doe.

 

[Kiwi]

I would prefer standard Nubians. I was concerned that he might be to small too breed a standard Nubian doe. However you are right that is typically how they breed Mini’s. So maybe it wouldn’t be an issue.

 

[Mini Horses]

Minis. Go back to breeder and ask for a full sized doe, at a very reduced price, since she sold these as full and are not. If she's worth her word, she'll help you out. They can still breed the full size does -- on occasion the height difference can be a issue but, the generally figure it out. They're not done growing either.

They are sexually mature now, so don't put a young doe with then who's not old enough to breed. Trust me, it'll happen.

 

[Kiwi]

Honestly it’s on me for buying an unregistered Facebook goat haha. I don’t actually mind that he’s a mini because he’s extremely sweet and gentle. I think he will make a great herd sire. I just wanted to confirm my suspicions that he was a mini from others with more experience and be sure I wasn’t causing an issue with his nutrition/health. Also to confirm what type, standard or mini, Doe I could breed him with before purchasing them this spring.

 

[Baymule]

We all live and learn. Buy your doe from a reputable breeder that will mentor you along your journey.

 

[GLENMAR]

My boys were over 200 lbs. so I’d say you did not get purebreds. I used to raise registered Nubians. I believe that if you are going to breed animals that you should always buy the best quality you can afford and always register them. Anyone can breed junk. There’s enough bad quality out there that should not be bred.

 

[Baymule]

My boys were over 200 lbs. so I’d say you did not get purebreds. I used to raise registered Nubians. I believe that if you are going to breed animals that you should always buy the best quality you can afford and always register them. Anyone can breed junk. There’s enough bad quality out there that should not be bred.

That's how I feel about my livestock guard dogs. I've had LGDs for over 15 years, never bred any because mine were not registered. I finally bought a registered male Anatolian puppy. I raised and trained him and he's a excellent guardian. A friend that has raised Anatolians for 40 years was looking for an outcross and I sent him pictures of Buford. He was so impressed, he wanted video to check his movement. He sent the pictures and videos to another breeder, who also got excited over Buford. Upshot is, Buford has bred one of Eric's females and she will deliver in March. I will get a puppy. I'm thrilled.

I had crossbred dogs, half this a quarter that and a quarter something else. A real hodgepodge of breeds, all LGDs, but not pure bred. They taught me more than I taught them. I am grateful to every one of them, I loved them all. They had their place and purpose.

My sheep-I started with mixed breed hair sheep. I called them my learning sheep. They taught me so much. Then I started buying registered Katahdin rams. I bought a few registered ewes. I still have percentage sheep, but moving up slowly to fully registered. I honestly can't tell you right now how many sheep I have. I know I have 38 lambs. I know I'm probably keeping 17 of them, selling the rest. I have 15 grown percentage ewes on the sell list. Maybe around 70-ish, more or less, I really don't know. I'll do a head count after I sell what I'm going to sell and the dust settles. Sheep math is real. Thankfully I flunked out on math in high school.


@Kiwi you enjoy your goats. Buy a doe or two, breed them and you will die and go to heaven when you hold that first baby. There is nothing like it. Have fun with them, Milk your doe and learn to make cheese, it is a journey of excellence. Post pictures of your doe(s) when you get them, and tons of pictures of the babies! Then comes the hard part, selling the kids.