Nubian goats are one of the most recognizable breeds, with their unique, toothy smile, their convex profile and their large, pendulous ears.
They have been bred for both meat and dairy in over 60 countries.
I have only ever been a humble homesteader with a few little goats to keep me company, but I have been thinking recently of expanding my herd to something larger.
Nubian goats seemed like a great choice, but with my space limitations, I thought I would do some research into their size first.
So, how big do Nubian goats get?
Mature Nubians weigh anywhere from 100-250 pounds and stand on average around 30-35 inches tall at the shoulders. As with almost all goats, there is quite a pronounced difference in size between bucks and does, which we will get into. They are, comparatively speaking, entirely average in height and weight.
Nubian goats are not especially large and not especially small.
This has made them very popular for all sorts of purposes—as meat and dairy animals they provide a good yield without being too large to handle, and as pets they fulfil the needs of those looking for a more full-sized goat without being impossibly large.
In the first place, let’s look at how does and bucks compare in size.
| Breed | Weight | Height |
| Boer | 190-300 lbs. | 20-25 in. |
| Nigerian dwarf | 75-95 lbs. | 17-20 in. |
| Anglo-Nubian | 150-175 lbs | 30-35 in. |
How big do Nubian goat bucks get?
Bucks are generally a lot larger than does, in any goat breed.
Bucks usually weigh at least 175 pounds and very often way well over 200.
They’re both reasonably large in stature but also, as I mentioned, their relatively heavy muscles has made them a great meat breed.
So, they do weigh quite a lot for their height.
Buck Nubians tend to stand above 30 inches tall and usually sit around 35 inches tall at the shoulders.
This is reasonably tall as goats go, although height variation in goats is lessened once you get beyond the heights of breeds like pygmies and dwarf goats. 35 is also, more or less, the minimum height for bucks.
How big do Nubian goat does get?
Does are not quite as big.
They usually don’t weigh much more than 135 pounds, as they are not as heavily muscled as bucks.
Again, there’s some variation between individuals and does can weigh quite a lot more than this.
On average, they will be somewhere around 135-140 pounds.
Does will stand at least 30 inches tall, and usually a bit taller.
Height variation is certainly less pronounced than weight variation, although it can be quite striking.
A good rule of thumb, then, is that you won’t get a Nubian goat shorter than 30 inches or lighter than 135 pounds.
How big are Nubian goats compared to Boer goats?
So, let’s try and put this into perspective in the wider world of goats.
One of the biggest breeds is the Boer goat, originating in South Africa.
Here, however, by biggest, we are referring to the breed’s weight rather than its height.
The Boer goat is extremely stocky and bulky with powerful muscles, although it doesn’t actually stand as tall as Nubian.
Nubians, standing between 30-35 inches tall, are in some cases almost a foot taller than Boer goats, which don’t usually get more than 25 inches tall.
Nubians, as I said, are quite tall as goats go.
In weight, though, there is a fairly vast difference.
The bulkiest, stockiest buck Boer goat can weigh up to 340 pounds in some cases, and they average out at least 250-300 pounds.
The slimmer, more streamlined Nubian goats barely weigh half this, on average, at 150-175 pounds.
Boer goats have been famed as meat goats for generations, given their stocky build and powerful muscles.
Nubians are more all-rounders, and so it hasn’t been as important to breed them so stocky and muscular.
How big are Nubian goats compared to Nigerian dwarf goats?
So, Nubian goats don’t really match up to the stockiest of goats, but few can compare with the Boer.
They are lucky to stand so much taller than them.
Again, putting Nubians in the grander perspective of the goat world, let’s look at an equally popular but much more diminutive breed, the Nigerian dwarf goat.
As the name implies, Nigerian dwarf goats are very small.
Indeed, they’re among the smallest of all breeds, in close contest with pygmies.
Nigerian dwarf goats weigh between 75 and 95 pounds, and often don’t stand much taller than 17-20 inches.
They’re favored for their small heights, a favorite as pets all over the world.
Nubian goats can weigh as much as twice the average Nigerian dwarf goat, and stand almost 2 feet taller.
Nigerian dwarfs and Boer goats represent the 2 extremes of goat physiology.
Indeed, Nubian goats seem to fall so neatly in the middle that it makes it much easier to put into perspective.
Though they are very tall, it has been standard to talk about goats’ size primarily as a measure of their weight simply because quadrupeds are built in many different ways, and goats too.
Short, stocky goats are the largest, though not the tallest, obviously.
Nubian goats are sort of in the middle.
They’re much bigger than the smallest breeds, but they’re much smaller than the biggest breeds.
If you want to keep them on your homestead, you’ll have to know you can provide ample space for several of them to roam. If you want dairy goats,
Nubians are definitely a great choice, but they’re also a great choice just as companions.
They’re the all-purpose goat that will keep you happy for years to come.