Quadruplets arrive for rare goat breed
The population of a rare goat breed in Tasmania has been given a boost after the unexpected arrival of quadruplets on a farm in the state’s south.
The latest arrivals at a southern Tasmanian goat stud have brought a cuteness overload for the owners of one of the state’s rarest breeds.
A set of quadruplet Nigerian Dwarf Dairy Goats was recently born at the Hoffman family’s Kirrasumm Kidz Miniature Goat Stud.
They are the only full blood Nigerian Dwarf quadruplets to be born so far in Tasmania and were produced by a doe the family brought into the state last year.
The quads, which are all bucks, ranged in weight from 900gm up to 1500gm.
Because of the demand for the breed which is still new to Australia there are already some people keen to buy them one they are old enough.
Last year the same doe produced a set of twins.
Sandra Hoffman said while quadruplets are quite common in the breed, they are still unusual in Australia due to the low numbers of full blood Nigerian Dwarfs in the country.
Nigerian Dwarfs are an American breed of dairy goat that first arrived in Australia in 2014.
Because no live animals can be imported into Australia, the breed has been developed through from semen and frozen embryos imported by founding Victorian breeders, Michael and Ulrike Garwood of First Fleet.
Does in the breed must be no larger than 57cm and bucks must be under 60cm.
Despite their small size however the breed are highly productive and can produce significant amounts of milk which can range fir an average of 1.8 litres a day to up to 4 litres a day for exceptional quality does.
The Nigerian Dwarfs also have a higher butter fat percentage in their milk compared to other dairy goat breeds, despite the fact they are the smallest dairy goat breed in the world.
As well as the Nigerian Dwarfs, the Hoffmans also breed Australian Miniature Goats on their property at Pawleena.
They started breeding goats in 2013 and were the first stud to import purebred Nigerian Dwarfs from American genetics into the state last year.
Kirralee Hoffman said the Nigerian Dwarfs are quickly becoming her favourite due to their temperaments and friendly personalities.
“They are useful little animals as well as being fabulous, all around pets, perfect for the family,” she said.
With only a select pool of full-blood genetics available to Australia, Miss Hoffman said they will continue to improve their stud stock through the use of the imported semen straws from the USA and are also currently searching for the perfect buck in the US which they would like to import eventually.
At present there are two other breeders in Tasmania breeding part bred Nigerian Dwarfs, which are a cross between an Australian Miniature and a Nigerian Dwarf and can be graded up as percentages from 50 per cent to 75 per cent and upwards as the breeding programs continue.
As well as being valued for their milk production, the goats are also proving highly sought after for breeders and show enthusiasts.
There are currently a number of goat registries in Australia that recognise the breed, both the full bloods and percentages.
All stock carrying Nigerian Dwarf genetics are DNA verified back to the sire and dam, with traceable genetics back to American bloodlines.
This shows proof of the Nigerian Dwarf genetics present in that animal.
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