Nigerian Dwarf Goats – Registered or Unregistered?
Why Consider Registered Goats?
Nigerian Dwarf (ND) goats can be purchased from either registered purebred or unregistered lines, so when getting started with goats, another decision concerns registration.
If you are only interested in a couple of wethers as pets, then registration doesn’t make much difference, but if you intend to keep goats for milk, show, or breeding, then registration is important.
Unregistered goats are much less expensive, but registered goats have more potential for producing income. A good quality registered goat might cost around $500.00 (and some bloodlines cost much more) whereas an unregistered goat might cost half of that (see our kidding schedule for examples of registered ND goat kid costs).
Registered Nigerian Dwarf Doe – Bramblestone Peach Tea
Registered goats are worth more than unregistered goats, even if they are of equivalent quality. A registered goat has a pedigree that potential buyers can study, can compete in shows, may be linearly appraised, and can participate in milk production performance programs.
All of these activities help owners demonstrate and buyers judge the quality of a particular goat. Registered goats may be sold without registration papers, but unregistered goats can’t be sold with papers and neither can their offspring.
Example ADGA Registration Certificate (Breeder & Owners Names Removed)
The offspring of registered goats can be marketed to a larger audience than unregistered goats. Since Nigerian Dwarf goats are quite prolific, it makes sense to market to the largest group possible.
Even if you don’t plan to participate in shows, linear appraisal, or milk production performance programs, those buying goat kids from you may be interested in participating with their goats. Since the cost of a registered goat is typically about twice that of an unregistered goat, the profit margin is much higher.
The Registries
If you do intend to participate in shows, linear appraisal, or milk production performance programs, then you should buy goats that are included in a registry that is active in your area of interest and in your part of the country.
There are four registries that accept purebred Nigerian Dwarf goats in the United States. They are the International Dairy Goat Registry (IDGR), American Goat Society (AGS), the Nigerian Dwarf Goat Association (NDGA), and the American Dairy Goat Association (ADGA). The table below compares the differences in the registries with respect to Nigerian Dwarf goats.
Purebred Nigerian Dwarf Goat Registries
Initially, most of the registries didn’t allow Nigerian Dwarf goats to be as tall as they are today, but over time the height limitations have increased. The height of Nigerian Dwarf goats is measured at the withers and varies between registries. Allowing slightly taller purebred goats has increased their ability to produce significant quantities of their great-tasting milk and become a viable dairy breed.
Knowing the height limitations for each registry is important because they generally do not allow (without penalty) overheight goats. This is particularly troublesome for Nigerian Dwarf bucks which tend to exceed the height limitations when they are fully grown. When choosing your first registered goats, be sure to understand the height limitations of the registries in which you intend to participate and select goats that come from bloodlines not known for exceeding the height limits.
Comments or questions about registering goats? I’ll try to answer your questions.
Lesa Wilke is a homesteader and freelance writer who loves to inspire others on their journey to more sustainable lifestyles. She accomplishes this by sharing the skills she’s learned (plus support, advice & tips) while farming goats, chickens, honeybees, and produce.
Hello, I purchased a registered Nigerian Dwarf Doe with the previous owners not knowing she was pregnant at the time of selling her. Am I still able to register her baby under our farm name since we owned the doe at the time she gave birth? Or do I have to register her under the previous owners farm name since she was bred there? We also now own the buck that she happened to be bred to if that helps.
Hi Brittany,
The farm name that the baby should be registered under is the farm that bred her dam – not where her dam gave birth (it’s all about who did the breeding). However, since they were unaware that she was pregnant when they sold her, they may be ok with you registering the baby under your farm name. That’s something you really need to discuss with them. If you didn’t own the buck at the time of breeding, you will need a service memo for him. Hope that makes sense, Lesa
Hey! I have registered Nigerian Dwarf goats and someone wants to purchase a kid (buckling) from me unregistered. Can they claim him as there own somehow if they currently have registered NDs and register him under their name with ADGA? She has a ND who kidded 7 days from when mine was born. I actually think she wants him unregistered because he would be cheaper. Thanks!
Hi Mama Mae,
Yes, if you sell him to them unregistered, they could register him under the doe who just kidded and then he would carry their farm name. It’s highly unethical but there are people out there that will do things like that. For me, I either sell bucklings as registered or as wethers – it costs a few bucks to register a buckling but it’s worth it. Hope this helps.
Hello: I’m interested in purchasing a doeling to add to my tiny herd of 3…she isn’t registered but is what I’ve been looking for … I do have 3 registered Nigie bucks & would be breeding her eventually…My question is, is there any way to then register her offspring…? Thank you, Teri
Hi Teri,
Congrats on your tiny herd! It depends on the registry you want to try to register the offspring with, but unfortunately, ADGA is the most popular registry and I don’t believe there is any way to register her offspring with them. And that will make them much less saleable/profitable than if they could be registered.
I am now IGSCR, LLC (formerly IDGR).
We are the founding registry for the Nigerian Dwarf. Our herdbook stretches back to 1980 and encompases direct imports into the USA and Canada.
We register Heritage Fullblood (direct descendants of imports), Purebred, American and Grade Nigerian Dwarf.
Some service:
0 Registration and Transfer
0 Registry of Merit (shows that your goat kids easily and/or can raise their young to at least 60 days)
0 Excellent milk testing program
0 DNA testing (Genotype, Parentage, Alpha Casein, Genetic Defects
0 DNA Breed Analysis (tests goats against 12 breeds currently, to see if there is crossbreeding up close in the goat’s ancestry) https://www.igscr-idgr.com/
Hi Terry, My recollection is that most of the registries above will not register them based on conformation and type, but I seem to remember that one might (could be IDGR or NDGA). If you click on the underlined links above, it will take you to the registries site where you could check out the possibilities. I’d be interested in learning what you find.
Brittany says
Hello, I purchased a registered Nigerian Dwarf Doe with the previous owners not knowing she was pregnant at the time of selling her. Am I still able to register her baby under our farm name since we owned the doe at the time she gave birth? Or do I have to register her under the previous owners farm name since she was bred there? We also now own the buck that she happened to be bred to if that helps.
Lesa says
Hi Brittany,
The farm name that the baby should be registered under is the farm that bred her dam – not where her dam gave birth (it’s all about who did the breeding). However, since they were unaware that she was pregnant when they sold her, they may be ok with you registering the baby under your farm name. That’s something you really need to discuss with them. If you didn’t own the buck at the time of breeding, you will need a service memo for him. Hope that makes sense, Lesa
Mama Mae says
Hey! I have registered Nigerian Dwarf goats and someone wants to purchase a kid (buckling) from me unregistered. Can they claim him as there own somehow if they currently have registered NDs and register him under their name with ADGA? She has a ND who kidded 7 days from when mine was born. I actually think she wants him unregistered because he would be cheaper. Thanks!
Lesa says
Hi Mama Mae,
Yes, if you sell him to them unregistered, they could register him under the doe who just kidded and then he would carry their farm name. It’s highly unethical but there are people out there that will do things like that. For me, I either sell bucklings as registered or as wethers – it costs a few bucks to register a buckling but it’s worth it. Hope this helps.
Teri Collins says
Hello: I’m interested in purchasing a doeling to add to my tiny herd of 3…she isn’t registered but is what I’ve been looking for … I do have 3 registered Nigie bucks & would be breeding her eventually…My question is, is there any way to then register her offspring…? Thank you, Teri
Lesa says
Hi Teri,
Congrats on your tiny herd! It depends on the registry you want to try to register the offspring with, but unfortunately, ADGA is the most popular registry and I don’t believe there is any way to register her offspring with them. And that will make them much less saleable/profitable than if they could be registered.
Peggy Boone says
I am now IGSCR, LLC (formerly IDGR).
We are the founding registry for the Nigerian Dwarf. Our herdbook stretches back to 1980 and encompases direct imports into the USA and Canada.
We register Heritage Fullblood (direct descendants of imports), Purebred, American and Grade Nigerian Dwarf.
Some service:
0 Registration and Transfer
0 Registry of Merit (shows that your goat kids easily and/or can raise their young to at least 60 days)
0 Excellent milk testing program
0 DNA testing (Genotype, Parentage, Alpha Casein, Genetic Defects
0 DNA Breed Analysis (tests goats against 12 breeds currently, to see if there is crossbreeding up close in the goat’s ancestry)
https://www.igscr-idgr.com/
We would love to hear from all.
IGSCR, LLC
(formerly IDGR)
Tim says
Got a Nigerian dwarf buck 3 months old. Would like to register him. How can I do that if possible
Lesa says
Hi Tim, Are his parents registered and did you get his registration paperwork when you got him?
Brittany says
IDGR will register grade goats. Check out the website for more information
Lesa says
Hi Terry, My recollection is that most of the registries above will not register them based on conformation and type, but I seem to remember that one might (could be IDGR or NDGA). If you click on the underlined links above, it will take you to the registries site where you could check out the possibilities. I’d be interested in learning what you find.